Two years from now, the Daniel Island Community Association will likely have a resident-controlled board, marking the first time in the association’s 22-year history that it will not be governed by the developer. Daniel Island Company President Matt Sloan addressed audience members at the Daniel Island Community Association Annual Meeting, offering updates on a variety of projects underway or planned for the near future.
“This is my 22nd year of helping play a role in these meetings,” said Sloan at the start of his remarks. “The first one was at Bishop England.” Back then, the vast majority of the island was undeveloped, so residents had many questions about what was coming and when.
“And now, standing before you this year, you’ll see when I walk through this we’re kind of done with development,” he continued. “At least our end of the construction process here, which is building roads, water and sewer and parks, is very much nearing completion – sooner than you might realize.” The island’s original master plan was approved by the City of Charleston for a total of 7,500 housing units, but Sloan reported that the actual build-out number will be closer to 6,300.
A few residential development sites remain, he noted, including one in the area of Robert Daniel Drive that will feature a possible mixed use project of apartments and commercial space. Another 90 housing units are planned by an independent developer for a 20-acre site adjacent to Fairbanks Oaks Allee. A first phase of lots in Captain’s Island in Daniel Island Park sold out 18 months ago. Further development there is expected next year.
A few pockets of residential development remain on the island’s south end – one at the end of Dunham Street in Cochran Park (22 units), four lots at the end of Pierce Street, and a new section known as “The Cove” at the end of Village Crossing Street along the Wando River. Sloan called The Cove “a neat little peninsula property” with “some interesting views.” Homesites will be released there early next year. A project known as “River Landing Village,” developed by East West Partners, is still slated for the area near Children’s Park, added Sloan. That will be a mixed use high end condominium project.
On the commercial end, Sloan reported that a site formerly set aside for the now defunct Daniel Island Performing Arts Center (DIPAC) is being reviewed for a possible event venue. “As the feasibility studies were completed on (DIPAC), eyes were bigger than stomachs in terms of capital raising,” he said. “So it’s not gonna happen in its original form. The site is owned by others. They’re interested in doing a smaller scale event space that could be a community theatre one night, a Bar Mitzvah another night, a wedding the night after. So, instead of having a stand alone thing that’s single purpose, that’s what they’re interested in studying. They were involved in the original concept to make it a performing arts center so that weighs heavily on them. They are committed to try and do something that brings a good use back to the community.”
Two new hotels are also in the works for the island, said Sloan – a Home 2 Suites is currently under construction on Fairchild Street and a Courtyard Marriott is planned for the site next to Starbucks and Bin 526. “We’ve operated here for a very long time with only one hotel, so the demand is certainly there,” he said. As he has stated at many DICA annual meetings over the years, Sloan would also still like to see a waterfront restaurant and entertainment venue happen on the Wando River shoreline at the end of River Landing Drive. “I’ve been saying that since 1996,” he told those gathered. “And obviously I’ve not delivered on that, but this is the closest we’ve been.”
An expansion of the self-storage and boat storage facility at the end of Seven Farms Drive is also in the works, he said, as well as a new senior housing facility known as “The Overture,” and the extension of Farr Street. “Our goal is to have frankly not just all of our infrastructure in place by this time next year on the south end, but on the north end as well. It’s an ambitious goal. But those are our marching orders and we’re well underway.” (Credit: Daniel Island News)
For more information on beautiful Daniel Island, please contact THE BRENNAMAN GROUP: 843.345.6074 – bob@charlestonproperty.net
