Another chance for Watson Hill
A few weeks ago, it appeared the Watson Hill door had slammed shut on the conservation-minded community and that the too-dense development on Ashley River Road would be built.
Now it might be ajar enough to offer a glimmer of hope that something can be done to protect the historic area from inappropriate development and the heavier traffic and compromised scenic views that it would bring.
The bad news came just before Christmas when Summerville suddenly dropped its lawsuit to stop North Charleston from annexing the property to allow some 1,200 houses and hotel rooms to be built across from historic Middleton Place.
Conservationists believe 400 houses would be appropriate for the 6,670-acre tract of land. Dorchester County's plan allows 800. The 1,200 number developers have presented could grow to 4,500 with more road access.
Then things changed again. The developer, S.C. Property Holdings, failed to make loan payments by a December deadline. Principal Commercial Acceptance, the lending group, called the loan last week.
Ashley River historic area advocates, who have fought the proposed development of Watson Hill for more than four years, haven't had a chance to devise a specific response to the news, but George McDaniel, director of Drayton Hall Plantation, says the foreclosure presents an opportunity to look for a new solution. Drayton Hall, Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are among the historic properties that would be adversely affected by the development of Watson Hill.
The support for protecting the scenic highway and the surrounding historic area has been impressive, with organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Charleston Foundation, the Summerville Preservation Society and the S.C. Coastal Conservation League joining the effort. So have the town of Summerville and the city of Charleston.
Additionally, Dorchester County citizens have indicated they want to take care of that district. The Ashley River Historic Overlay District and the recently completed comprehensive plan both address protecting the character of rural areas and slowing suburban sprawl.
The answer might be finding a conservation-minded buyer or buyers, or at least reducing the planned scale of Watson Hill's development.
This is the time for those advocates and others who recognize the significant value of the historic corridor, its landmarks and landscapes to renew their efforts. There's still an opportunity to preserve Watson Hill.
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