Oak Terrace Preserve 'succeeding admirably'

Taxpayer investment

I was surprised and disappointed at the tone of Robert Behre's recent article on Oak Terrace Preserve, "Quality at what cost?" Just reading the headline and the subhead ("North Charleston's building project has already cost $10 million") showed that this was not meant to be an impartial description of what's going on in my community.

To be sure, the entire article was not negative. The first five paragraphs accurately described some of the positive aspects of the community and quoted from supporters including Mayor Keith Summey, me and my wife. But a fundamental misunderstanding began when Mr. Behre wrote, "But absent from all the hoopla was any discussion on just how much North Charleston taxpayers are spending."

The publicizing of Home Depot Foundation's award for excellence in sustainable development is scarcely "hoopla" (defined as "blatant or sensational promotion"). The City of North Charleston's taking credit for replacing a significantly run-down area with a modern, attractive and affordable community is scarcely "hoopla." Talking about Noisette's development of a water filtration system that filters out pollutants before they go outside of the community isn't anything close to "hoopla."

Behre would have been much more accurate had he not referred to what North Charleston's taxpayers are "spending," but rather what they are "investing" in their community.

Governments, as it happens, don't have the same goals as corporations. The goal of a government isn't to make a profit; the goal of government is to benefit the citizens of the area governed. Does anyone think that the Town of Mount Pleasant is going to be getting a monetary return on the $14 million spent on the Memorial Waterfront Park?

Is North Charleston expecting a dividend check in return for providing absolutely stunning Christmas displays in the Park Circle area? North Charleston chose to act as a developer for Oak Terrace Preserve for two reasons. First, they saw a run-down project that was a blight on the area and needed cleaning up. Second, no private developer could make a profit on doing what needed to be done.

When North Charleston City Councilman Steve Ayer says, "My belief is we're still not in the real estate business," he seems to misunderstand the role of the city with respect to Oak Terrace Preserve. North Charleston never wanted to be in the real estate business -- it wanted to be in the "benefit our citizens" business. And by developing OTP, it's succeeding admirably.

PAUL WILCZYNSKI
E. Dolphin Street
North Charleston

Revitalization over blight

It has been said, "Statistics are like bikinis: What they don't show is often more interesting than what they do." I was reminded of this by Robert Behre's Jan. 3 Oak Terrace Preserve article. He's a great writer, and in fact much of this piece was complimentary to the neighborhood, describing it as attractive, affordable, sustainable and a welcome revitalization of a formerly blighted area.

But then he offers some statistics, suggesting the neighborhood began and now succeeds only because each home there has been "subsidized" by North Charleston to the tune of over $180,000 apiece.

That conclusion puts him squarely into "The Bikini Zone." He makes it appear that Oak Terrace Preserve homeowners/builders receive some sort of check or rebate. Nothing could be farther from the truth, since as he points out those funds went to initial land purchase and to provide basic infrastructure: roads and utilities for the entire project of close to 400 units, not just the 60-plus homes now there. This infrastructure was built to minimize impact on the environment and by extension on the city's municipal costs.

This and similar successful regional efforts should be applauded within our greater community. It's time to quit treating the present and future of North Charleston as an interesting "debate." Unlike Vegas, what happens in North Charleston cannot just stay there; if as a city it is unsafe, unhealthy, unattractive, and undesirable, that bodes ill for our entire region.

When we step back and take a look at the larger picture -- our worsening traffic congestion, our wish to preserve outlying farmlands (supported by more concentrated development closer in, in places like North Charleston), our need to expand the port and attract new area businesses (both greatly assisted by North Charleston's focus on redevelopment and a carefully planned port expansion), and our tourism-enhanced regional economy -- do we really want North Charleston and the Neck to continue to be the less-appealing "gantlet" many visitors and VIPs must pass through by rail, road or air?

Another old saying is, "The truth will set you free," but only when the whole truth is presented -- in this case the truth that a North Charleston which is safe, healthy, attractive and desirable can benefit us all through the success of neighborhoods like Oak Terrace Preserve and the national recognition it has gained.

DAVID HILL, AIA
Director
Design and Construction
Avenue C North
North Charleston