Real Estate Committee report accepted: lease amendment at 3 Lockwood, Hope Center extension, Brittlebank wireless permit, 15-acre purchase approved

The Charleston City Committee on Ways and Means on Jan. 14 accepted the Committee on Real Estate's Dec. 16, 2024 report, which included multiple committee approvals: a revised fourth amendment to the ground lease at 3 Lockwood with Charleston Marine Holdings; an extension of the lease for the Hope Center at 529 Meeting Street through the end of 2026; annual authorization for wireless technology at Brittlebank Park for Verizon; a purchase-and-sale approval of roughly 15 acres in Berkeley County for public-safety facilities; and leases for 108 Meeting Street and 200 Meeting Street to relocate city staff as part of the 75 Calhoun move-out.

The 3 Lockwood ground-lease amendment was revised from an earlier proposal that would have allowed four extensions of five years each. The committee approved revised terms described in the report as four terms of five years, a three-year extension, and two additional five-year extensions until the lease reaches market rate. The committee said the net effect reduced the number of months of below-market rent from 88 under the original proposal to 64 under the revised terms. Safe Harbor had been involved previously but is no longer part of the transaction; the revised agreement removed language about moving or relocating improvements. The report records the item as unanimously approved by the committee.

The committee also approved an extension for the Hope Center at 529 Meeting Street that runs to the end of 2026. The report notes the city does not pay rent under that lease but is responsible for taxes, insurance and maintenance; the extension is intended to allow more time to finalize a permanent home for the Hope Center. That extension was unanimously approved, according to the report accepted by Ways and Means.

The report recorded annual approval for wireless technology at Brittlebank Park for Verizon covering a 45-by-45-foot area and a 6-foot tower; the committee approved this annual authorization. Separately, the committee approved a purchase and sale agreement for a little over 15 acres in Berkeley County intended for public-safety facilities, police laydown and fleet uses, and unanimously approved leases for 108 Meeting Street and 200 Meeting Street tied to staff relocations related to the 75 Calhoun move-out.

The Real Estate Committee also reported four residential annexations that the committee recorded as unanimously approved. The Ways and Means meeting accepted the Real Estate Committee report without amendment and recorded a voice vote of approval.

Why it matters: The lease amendments and property actions affect long-term city property commitments, the location of city staff and public-safety facilities, and temporarily extend housing or service arrangements for the Hope Center while a permanent site is finalized.

Clarifying details recorded in the report: the 3 Lockwood amendment reduces total months of below-market rent from 88 to 64; the 529 Meeting Street extension runs to the end of 2026 and keeps the city responsible for taxes, insurance and maintenance but not rent; the Brittlebank Park wireless authorization covered a 45-by-45-foot area and a 6-foot tower for Verizon; the Berkeley County purchase was described as "a little over 15 acres." The committee minutes and the transcript indicate each of these items was approved unanimously by the Real Estate Committee and that the Ways and Means committee accepted that report.

Requests and follow-ups: During the Ways and Means meeting, a council member requested a consolidated listing of all leases the city is involved in with amounts (including leases used to relocate staff) and a separate request to provide a list of all bids and purchases under $100,000 to evaluate small-purchase thresholds. Staff (identified in the meeting as "Malina") was asked to assist in compiling that information.

Ending: The report was accepted by Ways and Means and the committee directed staff follow-up on lease accounting and bid reporting; no additional substantive debate on the Real Estate items was recorded in the Jan. 14 meeting.