Summerville Growth
Summerville, South Carolina, about a half hour just north of Charleston, is already the fastest-growing greater Charleston municipality. However, it is poised to shatter more records this year, causing many local officials and residents to ponder the severity of the situation upon Summerville real estate and greater Charleston real estate.
For the first quarter of this year already, 307 building permits have been issued for new Summerville homes. According to the local planning department, those figures are up from last years first quarter figure of 273 new permits. The concern lies in the continual pace of this quarter’s figure, which could lead to an approval of over 1,200 new homes for the year breaking the record just last year at 1,047 new permits.
Summerville’s growth has gained the attention of Mount Pleasant’s local officials. Mount Pleasant, situated across the Cooper River from Charleston, has already placed a cap on the building of new homes. At one time, Mount Pleasant saw itself distribute 2,000 permits for new homes per year before placing a cap on the growth in 2001. Last year the number of permits issued was limited to 620, making possible for the infrastructure to even up with growth. However, critics say the cap on building has created the unaffordable housing market in Mount Pleasant to most people and is the major cause behind the builders’ initial exodus to Summerville. The cap on growth has been the recent subject of debate among the Mount Pleasant Town Council.
A resolution passed last year by the Summerville Town Council authorizes the township to pass a suspension on building, but the main purpose of this act was admitted to relay a message to the association of local builders to drop their lawsuit regarding Summerville’s imposed impact fees. Local residents are voicing concerns on the effects of any new developments on its overcrowded roads. The majority of the complaints from locals speak out against new greater Charleston homes in building phase just outside of town in Dorchester County. Local Summerville citizen groups continually urge the County Council to cease approving any new development projects until all roads and schools are caught up with the growth.
The population of Summerville has seen a 23.4% increase from 2000 to 20004, seeing a rise from 27,752 up to 34,241 during that period according to studies shown from the South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics. Nearby, with its cap on growth, Mount Pleasant has seen an 18.4% increase, rising up from 47,609 up to 56,350 during the same period.
For the first quarter of this year already, 307 building permits have been issued for new Summerville homes. According to the local planning department, those figures are up from last years first quarter figure of 273 new permits. The concern lies in the continual pace of this quarter’s figure, which could lead to an approval of over 1,200 new homes for the year breaking the record just last year at 1,047 new permits.
Summerville’s growth has gained the attention of Mount Pleasant’s local officials. Mount Pleasant, situated across the Cooper River from Charleston, has already placed a cap on the building of new homes. At one time, Mount Pleasant saw itself distribute 2,000 permits for new homes per year before placing a cap on the growth in 2001. Last year the number of permits issued was limited to 620, making possible for the infrastructure to even up with growth. However, critics say the cap on building has created the unaffordable housing market in Mount Pleasant to most people and is the major cause behind the builders’ initial exodus to Summerville. The cap on growth has been the recent subject of debate among the Mount Pleasant Town Council.
A resolution passed last year by the Summerville Town Council authorizes the township to pass a suspension on building, but the main purpose of this act was admitted to relay a message to the association of local builders to drop their lawsuit regarding Summerville’s imposed impact fees. Local residents are voicing concerns on the effects of any new developments on its overcrowded roads. The majority of the complaints from locals speak out against new greater Charleston homes in building phase just outside of town in Dorchester County. Local Summerville citizen groups continually urge the County Council to cease approving any new development projects until all roads and schools are caught up with the growth.
The population of Summerville has seen a 23.4% increase from 2000 to 20004, seeing a rise from 27,752 up to 34,241 during that period according to studies shown from the South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics. Nearby, with its cap on growth, Mount Pleasant has seen an 18.4% increase, rising up from 47,609 up to 56,350 during the same period.
posted by Jeremy at 3:14 PM
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