Extend Mark Clark Expressway? 'Yes!' 'No!'
More than 400 turn out to tell state DOT their opinions of proposed I-526 expansion
By Sophia Rodriguez
The Post and Courier
The Post and Courier
Speros Drake of James Island studies a map the S.C. Department of Transportation is using for Interstate 526 expansion during a community meeting Thursday at Murray-Lasaine Elementary School. Drake said he has mixed feelings about the expansion.
On the Web
To see the Coastal Conservation League's site proposing alternatives to the I-526 extention, go to www.newwaytowork.com.
Have your say
On the Web: The S.C. Department of Transportation is taking comments about the proposed extension at www.scdot.org/i526.
On the phone: You can also get information about the project or leave a message about it at the agency's hot line, 888-623-4526.
James Island — An extended Mark Clark Expressway can't be finished before 2013, but the floodgates of public opinion already are wide open.
More than 400 people showed up at Murray-Lasaine Elementary School Thursday night to tell the state Department of Transportation whether they want the the $420 million Interstate 526 extension built. Some also offered possible alternatives to the controversial road that would connect the West Ashley end to the James Island connector, passing through Johns Island.
The meeting was the beginning of the public input process into the Transportation Department's Environmental Impact
Statement for the project. Residents can comment for two more weeks by phone or at the project Web site.
"People are looking at environmental concerns, traffic concerns, community concerns," said Dave Kinard, a project manager with the Transportation Department. "I'm asking people to make comments in writing. The comments will become a part of the official record and the environmental document."
And comment the people did.
Attendees dropped written opinions and ideas into boxes for future consideration. They scrawled hundreds of notes on pads set up in the school's cafeteria.
Some of the comments from I-526 extension supporters:
--"Traffic relief on U.S.-17 and St. Andrews Blvd."
--"Help to relieve congestion" caused by development.
--"Safety in hurricane (evacuation)."
--"Help to reduce accidents on Main Road and Bohicket Road."
Some from I-526 opponents:
--"Uncontrolled city-driven development on James and Johns Islands."
--"Grand oak trees being destroyed at Folly Road and the connector."
--"Added traffic on the James Island community going into downtown."
--"Impacts on salt marshes."
Tim Muller and his wife, Alice, are vehemently opposed to the I-526 extension. They live in the Oakland neighborhood off U.S. Highway 17 in West Ashley, close to where the extension would start.
"It's going through my backyard," Tim Muller said. "The only reason this is getting pushed through is because of Kiawah and Seabrook. They want it for the golf tournaments."
Alice Muller added: "It's a very limited benefit, but a huge negative impact."
They suggested that downtown roads and other common traffic problems be fixed.
"Why not do mass transit from West Ashley to Mount Pleasant?" he asked. "I'd take it, the way fuel prices are going."
Members of the Coastal Conservation League handed out stickers that read "Fix My Roads First" and showed aerial maps of proposed alternatives to the extension. The group hired the planning and engineering firm Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Inc. last fall to find those alternatives.
"They came up with alternatives for the primary congestion problems west of the Ashley," said Conservation League member Lisa Jones-Turansky. "This is our opportunity to serve as a model in transportation planning."
Plenty of people were at the meeting to voice their support for the project.
"Living on James Island, when the last hurricane came, traffic backed up for miles because there was no evacuation route," said Allen Miles, who has lived on the island since 1963. "The Mark Clark would alleviate that. We pay a half-cent sales tax to get this done."
Mike Garn, a Johns Island resident, said he thinks the extension should be put in, even though a potential first step would be to widen existing roads and to put a turning lane on Maybank Highway.
"It's inevitable with growth," he said. "It's just a logical step to have better access off the island."
SCDOT plans to hold more public meetings and comment forums in the fall after the draft version of the environmental impact study is complete.
What's next
--Comments and suggestions from Thursday's meeting will be used to define current traffic issues and goals the Mark Clark Expressway extension would accomplish.
--The state Department of Transportation will develop alternatives and study the environmental impacts of all possible routes.
--A draft impact statement that identifies the preferred alternative will be presented to the public for review and comment. The department's project team will hold field studies of the alternative route.
--The team will develop a final environmental impact statement and submit it to the Federal Highway Administration for approval. The DOT estimates the final statement will be completed around fall 2010.
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theronce (anonymous) says...
No problem...aren't they going to build a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the river into downtown Charleston that people will flock to as an alternative to using their vehicles?
April 11, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SJ1 (anonymous) says...
Perhaps the dear people of John's Island and surrounding areas should do their homework before buying a house. This plan has been around a lot longer than most of "the residents that would benefit". Do you actually think you have the right to say who would benefit and who wouldn't just because you live there? Stop trying to control what other people do with their money. The NIMBY attitude here is pathetic. If you don't like it, buy the land and donate it to a conservancy or shut up.
April 11, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
teeitup (anonymous) says...
thomas1776-What an idiot. Where do you get your information?Are you a prophet of some kind. How will every inch of land be built on when all this is private property?
Developers can't develop without the current land owners selling first. I'm sure if you had property on Johns Island and someone wanted to buy it and offer you a hugh profit, you would surely sell. Such greedy property owners, selling for a profit.
Where in the world is Watermalaw Island anyway? Go sell your aluminum cans and buy your self an education.
April 11, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
Presently, we people of Johns Island do not have an extended 526 going across our beloved island and yet, housing projects are popping up like fire ant hills out here. About the only point that I can see in this debate is whether we will be urbanized now or later. The Mark Clark extension will only serve to speed up the development of Johns Island into another James Island.
April 11, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Could Johns Island incorporate and make their own rules?
April 11, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Captivated, the very truth you just posted actually counter-argues what many opponents of this extension contend: that I-526 will bring in more housing development, etc. They say this, and yet, development is rapidly going around the island WITHOUT it.
SJ1 and Early, your comments basically sum up my feelings. Build this extension. This highway has been on the planning block for almost 40 years, and if any of the opponents with property nearby didn't bother doing their homework to see that, they need to suck it up. Indeed, sell your property to conservancy, bulldoze your home, and move. There is a mentality that many of these people exude; they think if government purposely lets traffic get worse by not building the extension, that will deter growth on the island. Developments in Goose Creek, Summerville, and Mt. P all refute this idiocy. This regressive way of thinking needs to be eliminated.
April 11, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
I don't have any idea what those that oppose developement are thinking but look at the statistics. In 1700 the total U S population was 250,000. By 1800 it was 5.3 million. In 1900 we hit 76.2 million and by 1950 161 million of us were looking for space. In 2000 we reached 300 million and the population of the us is projected to be almost 500 million by 2050. Now with the increased illegal immigration that will follow the next election where do you anti developement folks think all these folks will live? If you are really concerned don't have children!
April 11, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonian (anonymous) says...
Build it, it's the only real solution to traffic issues in the area..
April 11, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rooster07 (anonymous) says...
This extension may actually alleviate some of the current traffic woes on James Island. Currently, Johns Island residents have to travel through an already congested James Island to get home ( or fight 17 south traffic thru WA). Opening an expressway would allow traffic to flow through much more smoothly because there would be no traffic lights to slow you down.
From a safety perspective it makes sense too. Statistically interstates are much safer than streets with intersections and traffic lights.
This will lead to development of Johns Island, but thats going to happen with or without this extension.
April 11, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
Crankyyankee; exactly where did you get your crystal ball? You seem to know something we don't. How did you come by that 500 million figure?
April 11, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
I copied it off of a census site that had the population figures. Looking at where we were in 1900 and where we are headed the figures look pretty close to those already counted. I'm just glad I grew up when I did. I don't think I could take another doubling of the population like I've seen over the last fifty years. Talk to anyone over fifty and ask them to discribe the Charleston they grew up in. It was a lot different then and the changes will be even more dramatic in the future.
April 11, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Amen and a big Amen, Crankyyankee.
April 11, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Crankyyankee, I grew up in the 70s through the 90s in Chas, and to be honest, things weren't really that great until the mid-90s. In comparison to other cities (which many in Chas seem to ignore, hence they're in their own little world), Chas was at best, a second-rate military, mill, and port city with a small tourism contigent. Now, it's coming back to prominence and getting noticed internationally as well as nationally. Was it really better back then? I don't know.
That being said, street lighting throughout this city hasn't improved AT ALL since the 70s!
April 11, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Landbuyer (anonymous) says...
Don't you like the idea of a half completed loop around Charleston? The Highway Dept. bought the property on the Southwest side if the JI Expressway about 20 years ago. Think they were planning on building a road there? Darn right they were. This is not new stuff, unless you just bought a home here in the past five years. If you did, sorry you didn't have a better Realtor to tell you the facts.
Progress happens.
April 11, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Mayor said,
"The residents that would benefit most don't want it. Get the drift?"
.........Yes, I get it. They expect rapid emergency services and ask about foresight in the aftermath of the next Hurricane Hugo. I get it. It's all about my personal convenience today. Tomorrow will never come.
April 11, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Native_Ink (anonymous) says...
4,000 people could come out to oppose this extension, and it still wouldn't matter. This is definitely a top-down decision. Mayor Riley wants it and he'll get it, no matter how the "little people" feel.
April 11, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SJ1 (anonymous) says...
People love moving here and telling us natives how terrible our state is and how to run it. I'm sick of it. If you don't want the land to be developed THEN BUY IT! The real reason you hate developers is because they can afford the land and you can't. You DON'T own the land so you DON'T have the right to tell others what they should do with it. You can either buy the land, move or SHUT UP!
April 11, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
Thanks Cranky and Archdude. Those figures are scary. With that in mind, I am heading to Lowes for bricks and mortar to build a tall wall around my precious little acre on Johns Island. I wonder what our grandkids will think of us when they look back at this little period in history?
April 11, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
captivated, I'll take a stab at your question.
They will wish the same thing every generation wishes. They will wish that YOU had the foresight to purchase some "worthless land" that they could have inherited. Instead, most are sitting raising a stink about those that participated in such an endeavor. They are the people selling to the developer afterall. They are "cashing out". Cha-ching!
April 11, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SJ1 (anonymous) says...
TP: "The bigger question is, who is buying all of these houses, etc? I can tell you it ain't $27k-a-year guy that's teaching or working at Starbucks."
My guess is the same rich northerners buying the local yokel's property.
TP: "Summerville and Ladson and Goose Creek might be more affordable, but who wants to live out there?"
Let's see:teachers, police officers, firemen and anyone trying to get away from the whiney rich implants.
April 11, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bpwnz (anonymous) says...
unhappy with development? move.
April 11, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
"Wasn't the West Ashley K-mart area (and most of the "Auto mile" a Pine Tree farm as recently as the 1970's?"
Archdude, that could be said for most of the lowcountry.
The funny thing about the "good ole days" is that they were not all they are hyped up as being. I mean I know a man who still refers to his childhood home in Charleston Farms as "the farm". Have you ever seen Charleston Farms? Far be it from me to point out that it ain't your mind's first picture of a "farm".
April 11, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tjm71 (anonymous) says...
The 526 extension should be built, in the interest of human lives. This would reduce stress and ease our travel time (more time with family), allow faster evactuation for any life threatening situation (hurricane, haz-mat incident, etc), reduce accidents by eliminating some intersections and narrower two-lane roads.
I moved to James Island about a year ago, and have never seen an area so anti-betterment. Wal-mart was shot down (for now), and now there is a lobby against this project (which would help the traffic situation). This is a project that would benefit thousands of people. However the few who are against it want to ruin it for everyone. I know the topic is the extension, but I think there is also an underlying issue for some.
This is a very nice town, but could be nicer. Why are we not taking care of it? I travel Folly Road and see buildings in need of repair and a little paint, debris along the roads, and a bridge that has been "under construction" for a year or more with no progress, etc. WHY?
April 11, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SJ1 (anonymous) says...
TP- I've read many of your comments under several different topics and agree with you most of the time. Can't do it here, sorry. I'm not being a hypocrite. I'm not opposed to selling granny's land. For the record, my grandfather was a successful developer. If he could roll over in his grave he'd rather get out and give me a high-five for suckerin' the rich northerner's into securing his great-grand children's financial future. I wouldn't sell, nonetheless. My gripe is with people who practice the NIMBY principle and most of the time that's people who moved here in recent years. I was born in Charleston and never wanted to live any where else, regardless of how many times I've heard implants tell me how corrupt it is. Regardless to your inverse reasoning, it is possible for "local yokel's" to sell to other "local yokel's", which is happening more and more.
April 11, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Archdude, I don't know who you've been talking to, but Chas wasn't that nice 30 years ago. You had homeless people and dilapidated buildings on the streets where now Chas Place and millions of people walk around every year. The only way to get to the north area and the airport was either through downtown or Sam Rittenberg! Driving across the old Cooper River bridge was an exercise in testing nerve and reflexes. Many parts of the area were trashier than they are now. Think industry is limited here now? 30 years ago, it was VERY hard to get a job here. Shopping here was a joke.
Indeed Hugo was a curse and a blessing for the Chas area. It made people finally start re-modeling homes and businesses and made governments tear down disgusting dumps. But the growing pains are part of progress. Until Chas learns to densify and build taller buildings, more land will be developed. Blame that on the NIMBYs as well.
April 11, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
Build it and they will come; but they are already here. Chas 30 years ago was quaint and better - - too many rude people here now who do not belong or should not exist anywhere. Most of the people who have moved here are "me first" and "regulate everything" type people. Nuts.
April 11, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SJ1 (anonymous) says...
NIMBY: Not In My Back Yard.
These people will sop up all the best sales at Wal-Mart but don't want them to expand. They think special needs children need a good school..."in the North area". They buy a house in Park West or St. John's Woods and complain about growth.
April 11, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
alanvotta (anonymous) says...
To The People Against; You have forgotten "who will be helped most!!!) Your fellow James Island/John's Island/Wadmalaw? -Your Island-NEIGHBORS!- That have to leave there respective Island's to go to work all over "The Low Country.... Creating traffic problems away from there Island sancturaries,by the way!!!...Putting that aside,when your neighbor now wants to go home,he has to face: An antiquated RT. 526 -TWO LANES- That is a well designed,high priced "BOTTLE NECK", On any given day...FROM ONE END TO ANOTHER!!!! However,once your on RT.526 "island folks"! You know -the infamous "PAUL CANTRELL EXIT" HAS TO BE EXPERIANCED!!!!.. What Cantrell exiter's do is another unbelievable-COMI COZI-(suicide) for another day... Back to the real issue. The Island folks make it past,Paul Cantrell Exit, RT. 526 "ENDS" NOW Savanah Hwy. North And South becomes becomes a disaster---Face the facts,Island Folk's,now your neighbor have to "Go around there elbow to get to there head! (Home)--. YOU! don't want our traffic to clog your roads---What do think you do to us, on a daily bases when you leave "TARA AND RHETT BUTLER WORLD" AND "INFILTRATE OURS".. Fact is,Island Folks aren't you really saying " YOU GOT YOUR PIECE OF THE PIE " And you don't somebody bursting your dream of perfection and your "TARA".. IN CLOSEING,FINISH RT. 526,GET HOME AT A DECENT HOUR AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND SOME DAY LIGHT LEFT AT HOME INSTEAD OF IN YOUR "" CARS & TRUCKS "" On RT.526 0r Savanah Hwy!!!!!!!!!!!
April 11, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Archdude, West Ashley was just dull...that's where I grew up. We only had Ashley Plaza Mall for our shopping before Citadel (that was a joke of a mall). We didn't even have all the cool local restaurants that now exist.
My point is that if you like small, unimportant, dull cities to live in, Chas is not going to be your cup of tea anymore. Believe it or not, had it not been for the Civil War and several natural disasters, Chas would've kept its prominence as the biggest city in the South and one of the biggest in the U.S. People would not have gotten used to the mediocrity and dullness that existed before Chas' current resurgence. People need to reject this mentality that Chas is supposed to be a cozy hamlet by the sea. If you want that, Beaufort and Georgetown are perfect areas to relocate...but good luck finding a well-paying job.
I-526 isn't going to make the area become a Myrtle Beach, or whatever, and this is just preposterous, extremist thinking. As a sidenote, cities in Florida are far MORE prosperous, and people still continue to move there in droves. I think Chas could learn a few things from cities in Florida. That being said, one lesson would be to stop inhibiting common sense, planned highways. If you want to prevent the islands from over-developing, start demanding high-rise, density developments in midtown and the Neck. That is now being done in places like Miami and Tampa to avoid development of pristine wetlands.
April 11, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scottmcx (anonymous) says...
I'm a property owner on Johns Island with my home West Ashley on Savannah Hwy and I've lived here all my life.
My JI property will be cut in half by 526 but it will reduce traffic, at least for a while, on Savannah Hwy.
As I see, it we need the roads, heck, Savannah Hwy in Windermere needs to be 8 lanes.
We also need a "Coastal" Interstate from Wilmington to Savannah. Have you driven to Georgetown, Pawleys or Myrtle Beach lately?
I really think it is counter productive to drive 60 miles inland and West, the wrong direction, on I-26 to go up to Hatteras or other points North. Please build I-77 all the way from Wilmington to Georgia!
I get a kick out of the "No 526" bumper stickers on cars driving on 526. The term "mentally challenged" comes to mind. You'd look a lot less like dunderheads if you took another route.
April 11, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
TP, maybe you need some "TP" to clean the crap out of your neurons. No, Olive Garden is NOT my favorite restaurant, but I do like it. However, WTF is your point with that question? Like my opinion is somehow irrelevant because of the places I eat? What a juvenile comment.
You agree with my statement about high-density, but disagree that Chas should learn from cities like Miami and Tampa of what not to AND what to do?! Please re-read my post; Miami and Tampa, as well as Jacksonville and Orlando ARE building high density buildings because of the continued high growth they have. In addition, they have far superior infrastructure within their metro areas: wide grided streets, multiple loop freeways and expressway links, and mass transit through light rail and monobeam systems (Jax is still conflicted with getting that done). They also have tons more local restaurants as well as chains...though I don't know why you would continue to use that as a relevant argument. Again, it's juvenile.
I've been to G'town, B'fort, and HHI all within the past year, and they're FAR from exploding. They're growing, yes, but not at they rate you think.
I think reading comprehension is not your best skill. You may want to work on it. My arguments were completely coherent, and they did address all of your juvenile comments: "Myrtle Beach/Florida sucks", "Charleston is just going to be a Myrtle Beach", "Chains suck", "Bring Calabash to Chas", etc. I'll try not to use complex sentences next time: Build...the...I-526...extension.
April 11, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
By the way, scottmcx, I meant to say to you: EXCELLENT post. I agree with you completely. More common sense people like you should be running things!
April 11, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
Posted by Native_Ink (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
4,000 people could come out to oppose this extension, and it still wouldn't matter. This is definitely a top-down decision. Mayor Riley wants it and he'll get it, no matter how the "little people" feel.
It never ceases to amaze me that every foolish mistake and error that every other area learned too late is repeated in Charleston.
Its simple: the greater the density of development, the greater the need for infrastructure and social services. The consequence is higher taxes.
Northern reitrees come to Charleston to escape the congestion that they caused with thier bone-headed development decisions of the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. Now the same choices are being made in Charleston and NOT ONE LOCAL-YOKEL learned the lesson.
Reily looks at James Island and Johns Island as the PLANTATION for the City folks.
April 11, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PalmettoDP (anonymous) says...
I support completing 526 because it will provide an alternative route to Savannah Highway - which would be difficult to widen because of the many buildings very close to the road. I also think it is important that the city and county have a coordinated growth plan for Johns Island so that the extention doesn't become a parking lot just a few years after it is built. I think the city has the right idea for the incorporated areas (interconnected neighborhoods, preventing strip development, etc.). Greenbelt funds, the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, and the State Conservation Bank can all take an active role in preventing over-development on Johns Island.
April 11, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
TP, when you make asinine comments like "Let me guess, Olive Garden is your favorite restaurant? (it must be good b/c it's always crowded" or "I know, i know..you go for the salad and breadsticks all-you-can-eat", how do you expect me to react? Those questions indicate condescension, as if you are better than me because I like to eat at chain restaurants sometimes. Did it ever occur to you that some people like to go to those restaurants because the food tastes good? BTW, many chains once started out as 1 local place in 1 city. I don't go to chains because tons of people go there; I go there for the food. And since when was it "right" or "wrong" to eat at a chain? Sorry, that's just ridiculous. You may be using sarcasm in your posts and being lighthearted, but it comes across as condescending. Usually in forums like this, one needs to use a smilie or symbol such as "" to indicate his/her tone.
In my FL argument, I think you're missing my point. You're saying its a sh*thole, and I would disagree, because if it were, the state wouldn't be continually growing at its current rate. Another point about FL is that the state is FAR more developed than SC. Knowing this, it would be smart to look at how the state's cities have been successful with growth as well as their mistakes.
I really wasn't arguing with you about I-526. However, since you signed up for reading comp, you should focus more on sentence and paragraph structure . I was just merely using a brief sentence to illustrate my point, and I used a sentence that would try to stay on-topic. Guess I failed on that...I'll work on it.
I don't think you're a bad guy either, TP. But if I see BS, I'll call anybody on it. I can get into it with anybody and come out just fine, thanks.
April 11, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Archdude,
I do not think Hugo was the impetous. I think our growth was a culmination of events. Sure Hugo brought some attention to Charleston but I do not think it was a "I want to live here" situation. I think a relative few came for construction jobs and liked what they saw. So they stayed. But that was only a relative few in number.
I think number one among the growth reasons was the Navy base closure. Many of the active military were simply riding out their military career right here in a place that they loved. I knew one personally that had been here for 8 years. Upon retirement and base closure he remained. He and his family. If you look back at the period in history you will find a significant downsizing of our military. Those people had to find a place to live and a place to work. Some chose Charleston. That downsizing was taking place right around the time of Hugo and finally the base closed in 1992.
The area stayed depress for the next couple of years. But the local economy had some major attributes. We had two powerful Senators in Washington that were working to recover lost government jobs. Just some examples - Border Patrol, the recently closed Military Finance and Accounting, Navy Nuclear School, and the influx of money from being chosen as the home of the C-17 brought an astronomical sum of money to the region. In alot of ways the base closure worked to diversify our economy.
Many also forget the leg work done by every Republican we put in charge in the governors office. I remember reading article in the early nineties about foreign investment. Carrol Campbell worked to set all that up. We had offices in other countries beckoning for foreign investment in our state. It's paid off for the local economy in places like Robert Bosch whose total investment has created upwards of 15000 jobs. That was not there original investment. That was a steady growth to that number.
Most in our region do not have a clue as to how much money Nucor actually brought to the economy. At the same time, BP-Amoco was expanding right next door. EI Dupont was expanding in Goose Creek and Miles was filling up the property next door to them with expansion.
Combine all those factors with an "advertised" skilled workforce from the base closure. The state was giving tax credits beyond belief to major manufacturers. This was primer for the US economic recovery occuring in 1993-1994. Many people forget about the recession that was responsible for the Clinton presidency. The country came out of recession. Charleston soared out of the recession mainly because we had been in a DEPRESSION for at least two years prior to the rest of the country. That would make our pain at least four years. There was nowhere to go but up.
JOBS were the reason for Charleston's growth. There is simply no other reason. Everyone is guilty of assisting that growth. If you have any form of income, you contributed to growth.
April 11, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Well....SHAZAM! ...people.
Read through these links I provide below and let your mind ponder the possibilities.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/
stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/
02-05-2001/0001420053&EDATE=
http://www.startech.net/
demonstrationCenter.html
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/
2007-03/prophet-garbage
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/
03/18/hydrogen.buses/
index.html#cnnSTCText
these 4 links need to be entered without the individual lines.
I went last night to the public hearing on the proposed I-526 continuation. I heard of 500 million dollar estimates being thrown around and 6-8 years down the road for completion. Use the 500 mill. to buy these machines instead...solving our Bees Ferry Landfill Problem FOREVER! and use the sellable energy to pay for the *1@** I-526 completion. No one thinks out of the box or conserving tax dollars. Does anyone think about issues 50 years from now! It doesn't seem like it.
FURTHERMORE:****
The energy generated would power the electricity to run an
ELEVATED MAG-LEV RAIL system along Hwys 17, 26, and 526. Do away with CARTA all together!!! Dont use the hydrogen for Buses as such but Trolleys in certain areas.
Talk about a clean city. Use City and county municiple issued tax free Muni-Bonds to pay for this if we can't work with the DEHEC/DOT funds.
April 12, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Continued.....
What needs to happen is have state and local gov officials negotiate with Startech to purchase these machines in volume and stage them strategically to provide power for a statewide ELEVATED MONORAIL MAG-LEV rail system (Think DISNEY). Start small in each identified region and install
these STARTECH Plasma Units to power the rail system and use all "profit" to build out the rail system over time. Make it financially closed loop to keep it from being a political football or having politicians "rob" the "profit" to fund other crap!! Have Retired person be the czar so mayors dont squabble. (Like a supreme court judge. BUT HE IS NOT PAID...He is doing it for civic duty!! HIS/HER EGO will drive them. Have reporters watch him/her like a hawk!!!) Use highway and power line easements for elevated rail line pediments to minimize property owner issues. This is not rocket science!!! This newspaper should be blasting numerous officials. I dont think it took disney a decade to build their monorail. 250 million for a STARTECH is ludacris also. Negotiations for a volume purchase would be a first step by these so called consultants (Consultant Jennifer Humphreys of Wilbur Smith Associates ). Getting the rail system to pay for itself is a must. SCREW GRANTS??
or matching funds..it only opens the doors for politicians to rob and control it (Boston's BIG DIG).
"Riley had urged the subcommittee of Charleston Area Transportation Study to take the action now, to get things rolling with the state funding process, although it could be a year or more until a major study of the feasibility of commuter rail is completed".
They've known about the coming landfill and I-526 issues......Hmm....are they looking forward at all?
Trash actually being ...ENERGY! A green solution that actually can plasma-fy what is already buried to boot. Just dig it up and WHAM-O. Use the energy to power an ELEVATED rail system(MAG-LEV) like Disney world. Just look at the HUGE power poles they just installed down Folly Road. Those should have actually been pedestals for a rail system instead.... How much did that cost?? Guess were the cell companies can mount there WI-MAX antennaes (at a minimal cost)...on the pedestals for the elevated rail system!!! WOW!
I was very "disgusted" last night when I observed the maps not showing the overlay that was previously approved over a decade ago or more. If what they are planning now won't be finished for another 8 years due to "impact" studies......move NOW!!! It WILL NOT handle the traffic once it is built. Look at the I-26/I-526 interchange. If impact studies are the main concern ....grab your wallet and SELL your daughters!!! Statements have been published about raising taxes to ship our garbage to kindom come and now we are looking at 6 years of IMPACT Studies. They need to spend time studying the IMPACTS to our WALLETS!!!!
April 12, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
TP, I tried to be cordial in my last post, and I tried to explain myself and my attitude toward what you were posting, yet you insist on being arrogant towards me. Obviously, you don't get it. You merely spew your idiotic generalizations of what I said about FL, castigate me because I'll eat at a chain every now and then (and yes, I get your argument about the "masses" and their choices for food), and then declare victory about dismantling my arguments when you've done nothing of the sort.
You are nothing more than a pseudo-intellectual with environmental tendencies, which IMO further negates your opinion. Read some articles: FL is still growing despite the housing slump. Just last year, the major cities of FL had a steady rate of growth. There are parts of FL, even within the urban areas, that still have their natural beauty and blend within the environment. I never said that FL was the shining example that cities in SC needed to completely follow; I DID say that there are good and bad things that SC cities can learn from. FL DOES get highway projects done quicker than SC; from repaving old roads and widening roads to properly lighting roads and building new highway extensions. The ONLY project SC has done well and quickly is the Cooper River Bridge. You just make a sweeping generalization that FL is all bad...which further illustrates your bias, your idiocy, and your myopia.
Thomas, you obviously need to read more of my posts before making more asinine comments. Are you and TP twins or something? What homework do I have to do? I went to school downtown and I lived West Ashley. I KNOW the area. I didn't say WA was dump or had nothing to do, but it was rather dull. Oh yes, Bessingers was and still is a great place. But I think after the 100th time of eating there got rather tiresome. Morris Nissan?! Oh yeah, that's a great place to hang out as a kid! Magnolia Drive-Thru would've been great if it stuck around. The ONE point I'll concede to you on: indeed, Putt-Putt was a cool place. I just wish it had stayed and expanded.
If anything is apparent, you need to pull your head out of TP's rear end.
April 12, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
TP, you seem to have a talent for making non sequitur statements, red herrings, and false declaration of some sort of victory. You need to keep in mind that your tone of condescension and arrogance is going to get you responses such as mine. You have cemented to me and others on this forum that you are nothing more than an arrogant troll.
There is no need to further discuss anything with you.
April 13, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
TP, you are a troll as evidenced by your last post (misinformed dolt, huh? Calling the kettle black on that one). I'm not going to talk to somebody as worthless and as idiotic as you. Have a nice life.
April 14, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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