James Island council authorizes offer up to $340,000 to buy 1128 Hillman Road for public parking

The Town of James Island council voted unanimously at a special meeting to authorize Mayor Brooke Lyon to offer up to $340,000 to buy 1128 Hillman Road for use as public parking or other town purposes.

Councilwoman Julia Drayton Crumlin moved the measure, saying the purchase would serve event parking needs for the town's new Art and Community Center and help the town hold property within its borders. Crumlin moved "to authorize the mayor to offer up to $340,000 for the town to purchase this property, 1128 Hillman Road to serve as public parking for the town or alternatively to be used by the town for any other public purpose," a motion the council seconded and discussed before voting.

Mayor Brooke Lyon told the council the house is "in terrible shape," that it had drawn multiple showings and competing offers, and that the seller could extend the offer deadline only briefly. Lyon also said staff had roughly estimated the site could provide "at least 22, potentially 40 parking spaces," depending on zoning and design, and cautioned the town would require a survey and title search before closing. Lyon noted that hospitality funds in this year's budget are available and stated, "I believe we have 425,000 that we're not utilizing this year," as a possible funding source.

After a brief round of council comment and a clerk-conducted roll call that recorded affirmative responses, Mayor Lyon announced, "Motion carries unanimously." The council did not record any conditions in the meeting minutes; the mayor said she would follow up with the seller after the meeting to inform them of the council's decision.

Next steps noted in the meeting record included conducting due diligence (survey and title search) and returning any required contract or closing documents to the council for oversight before using public funds to complete a purchase.