tourism

Folly Beach Pier to Begin 24-month Renovation

The infamous Folly Beach pier is getting a facelift!

The iconic wooden pier that offers visitors stunning views of the beach, as well as a place to reel in a fresh catch, is being renovated.

Starting on October 19th, the current pier will be closed to visitors as renovations get underway. The pier, which first opened in 1995, has seen over 6 million visitors in 25 years. Understandably, it has undergone a substantial amount of wear and tear over the years prompting this much-needed renovation.

While the new pier will be similar in layout, it will now be composed of concrete piles instead of wood in hopes that it will be more durable. The project is expected to cost around $13.8 million and will be open to the public in the Spring of 2023.

Featured

Exploring Charleston In 24 Hours: Your Guide To The Holy City

Featured Image Source: Explore Charleston FB

24 hour trips are great for a quick getaway or an easy way to explore a new city in a short amount of time. And, there’s no better place in the South for a day trip than Charleston, South Carolina.There’s a reason Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked Charleston the No. 1 city in the United States six years in a row.

The Holy City has risen to the world’s stage as a top travel destination, and we’ve got your guide on how to spend just 24 hours in our magical city:

Stay

While Charleston has all of the national hotel chains, visitors can better soak in the spirit of the city in one of the many boutique hotels all over the city. Check out Zero George Street to experience beautifully manicured gardens or the Planters Inn in the center of the historic district. Both hotels are steps away from great food and nightlife.

Eat

Charleston has become the epicenter of the food scene throughout the Southeast. For good reason, with endless options from traditional southern cuisines to modern high-class dining. If you only have one dinner in town, you can’t go wrong with Husk. The treasured creation of world renown chef, Sean Brock. Be aware, reservations book up well in advance so call ahead.

See + Do

For art lovers, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art on the College of Charleston’s campus curates a small collection with exhibits from famous artists around the world. For those visiting on the weekend, the Charleston Farmers Market, in Marion Square every Saturday, brings in vendors from all over the Lowcountry selling fruits, vegetables, and artisan goods.

Explore

Charleston has everything, even activities for outdoor, adventure seekers. Rent a kayak and explore the Lowcountry in an off-the-beaten-path way. Kayaking gives those the opportunity to see wading birds, oyster beds, barrier islands, and wild dolphins up close. Paddling through the Lowcountry is sure to give anyone an experience they’ll never forget.

Even though it is impossible to experience everything Charleston has to offer in just 24 hours, it is still possible to see much of the city and get a feel of the culture due to the high walkability and short walking distances in between the majority of attractions. The Holy City is sure to leave any visitor with a desire to come back.

News

Short-Term Rental Business Continues To Create Growing Issues In Charleston

Featured Image Credit: Airbnb

It’s out with the old and in with the new, the “new” being short-term rental businesses. Airbnb has taken the hospitality market by storm, helping tourists book 3,600 nights in Charleston over the recent Memorial Day Weekend, a 58 percent increase since last year.

However, the City of Charleston’s zoning codes prohibit short-term rentals in most areas of downtown, only allowing a portion of the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood to legally work with Airbnb and their competitors. These strict codes and regulations have resulted in at least 63 residential property owners being sued for operating illegal short-term rentals in the city.

Image Credit: Airbnb

Charleston is one of the top cities in the world, attracting millions of tourists annually. This type of marketplace allows for short-term rental platforms to thrive, with around 500 properties on Airbnb. Homeowners will put their rentals online, avoiding the city’s zoning rules, and then services like Airbnb will act as agents for the renters, benefitting from a percentage of the rental price.

But what’s so wrong with homeowners earning some easy, quick money? In an already heavily populated city, Charleston parking, traffic, and noise are suffering from the short-term rental company’s growth along with the disappearance of neighborhoods and growing issues of tourists integrating into residential areas. Not to mention a shortage of housing for long term tenants could result. Therefore, to avoid an over capacity and dwindling Charlestonian population, the city regulates where companies like Airbnb are allowed jurisdiction.

Image Credit: Airbnb

Often times services like Airbnb avoid having to pay for business licenses and accommodation taxes, causing issues with other rental companies and hotel businesses. But many people believe that it is ultimately the property-owners right to decide how they manage their home.

Because Charleston is such a unique city where tourists and residents interact closely, it is important to find a healthy balance of economic growth and appreciation for tourism while also keeping in mind the resident’s quality of life.

News

How Many Hotels Is Too Many In Charleston?

Image Credit: Charleston.com

It’s no secret that Charleston has been drawing visitors from all over the world for years, and continues to do so. The Holy City draws an estimated 6 million visitors every single year, most of whom are coming downtown. Managing them is Charleston’s biggest opportunity, yet also its biggest challenge.

How many hotel rooms are there exactly in Charleston? Jacob Lindsay, city planner, says there are nearly 5,623 hotel rooms JUST on the peninsula! That number does not even include the amount of hotels rooms in West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant. Most of the guests that occupy those rooms directly affect the peninsula, since they head straight to the gem of Charleston, the Historic District.

This number of hotel rooms also does not include B&B’s, private, short-term rentals and individuals renting rooms to travelers using sites like Airbnb (the “nuisance” in the accommodations industry.)

Helen Hill, CEO of Charleston Visitor’s Bureau, says many guests “drive in, drive out and drive in, looking for downtown parking places, adding traffic and congestion to the city.”

Image Credit: Charleston CVB

Cannon Street, a neighborhood that was in crumbles just a few years ago, is blowing up with hotels, restaurants and bars. The decaying houses caught the eyes of investors who were wanting to renovate them at a low price to provide student housing for the schools located in Downtown Charleston. Now, historic houses are being renovated into luxury boutiques and inns.

So the question we all must ask ourselves is how much is too much? Where do we draw the line between tourism and livability?

About a year ago, the mayor and the city council conducted a 90-day hotel study that involved discussions with experts, stakeholders, an impact study and a comparison to other cities. The study revealed that hotels are actually not the cause of traffic congestion throughout downtown, offices are.

Hotel Bennett is set to open in fall 2017 overlooking Charleston’s iconic and historic Marion Square. It will have 179 rooms.Image Credit: Moultrie News

The city is planning to “set limits” on the expansive hotel growth…once again. It is on the agenda of a June 21 meeting of The Planning Commission, which is a group of citizens appointed by City Council. Though this debate has taken place many times before, this will be the first time that the commission is going to weigh in on the debate.

Whatever happens, there MUST be a balance here. There must be a healthy balance between hotels and the city itself. Before it’s too late.