Charleston panel recommends airport appraisal price for land Boeing wants

A three-member panel of Charleston County Aviation Authority voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend the airport’s appraisal price for land that Boeing wants to buy around Charleston International Airport.

The price was not disclosed.

The recommendation will go to the full board at its next meeting in February.

Boeing, which operates its aircraft assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner on leased airport property, wants to buy 320 acres along International Boulevard across from its sprawling campus for future development.

Boeing conducted its own appraisal of the property, and the airport’s Land Sale Special Committee considered both of them. The Boeing appraisal price was not disclosed either, but Airports Director Sue Stevens said the two appraisals were not an “apples to apples comparison.”

She declined to say how far apart the two parties are, but said the selling price would be disclosed once the deal is finalized.

Boeing also wants the right of first refusal on 488 acres straddling Michaux Parkway over to Dorchester Road and bordering Charleston Air Force Base. Additionally, the Chicago-based company wants an option to buy 265 acres under its existing plant. Those properties are not part of the current land values being discussed, Stevens said.

Boeing spokeswoman Candy Eslinger said Tuesday afternoon the company had not been notified of the panel’s decision, but it will continue discussions with the Aviation Authority.

Read more in upcoming editions of The Post and Courier.

Reach Warren L. Wise at 937-5524 or twitter.com/warrenlancewise.