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Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in West Ashley or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
Service Areas
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in West Ashley
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in West Ashley is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in West Ashley, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in West Ashley. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Latest News in West Ashley, SC
15 Vital Weekday Breakfast Spots To Know in Charleston
Erin Perkinshttps://carolinas.eater.com/maps/best-charleston-breakfast-restaurants
What could be more luxurious than going to a leisurely breakfast during the week? Perhaps you took the day off, need to conduct a morning meeting, or simply want a great plate of eggs. Here are the essential weekday breakfast establishments to know in the Lowcountry. Read MoreEater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. ...
What could be more luxurious than going to a leisurely breakfast during the week? Perhaps you took the day off, need to conduct a morning meeting, or simply want a great plate of eggs. Here are the essential weekday breakfast establishments to know in the Lowcountry.
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.
The Junction Kitchen & Provisions quickly is the go-to for Park Circle inhabitants to find a full breakfast near the neighborhood. The morning menu is served all day, including the doughnut sandwich layered with coffee-rubbed bacon, over easy egg, and served with a coffee dip.
Mercantile is one of the most spacious breakfast options to open on the peninsula, so bring the laptop and get some work done too — plenty of seats. The stylish spot opens early for those looking for coffee, yogurt bowls, breakfast sandwiches, or house-smoked salmon on a bagel. Bonus: free wifi and a large parking lot.
Bright spot the Daily carries creative coffee drinks, like the black sesame latte, and some of the quickest breakfast items around. Stop by this hip cafe for an avocado toast or breakfast pita before heading to the office.
Vicious Biscuit serves other items than biscuits, but the fluffy carbs are the big draw here. Prepare to feel the need for a nap after indulging in a fried chicken biscuit the size of your head. There’s dozens of biscuit combos to try.
James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence brought Big Bad Breakfast to Charleston a few years ago, and it has been serving solid examples of Southern and diner cuisine at a brisk pace. This restaurant might just have the best flapjacks in town.
Daps Breakfast & Imbibe offer breakfast/brunch every day of the week and all day long. The vibe is chill and the food is filling. The Fruity Pebble pancakes and breakfast burrito with chorizo gravy are solid choices.
Tuck into cozy cafe Little Line for a big Southern breakfast with cheddar grits at the counter or order a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel to go. The chic Westside spot has proven consistent in its delivery of breakfast staples since it first opened. And if you’re running short on time, you can order ahead online.
West Ashley eatery Early Bird Diner is the greasy spoon of contemporary Southern dreams. The waitstaff leans quirky and tattooed, the food is filling and comforting, and the hours allow you to visit for brunch or late night. Try the chicken and waffles with honey mustard drizzle at least once, and then move on to the traditional sides and other comforting menu items.
Marina Variety Store is Charleston's diner by the sea. With views of the Ashley River, there's no better place to tuck into a bottomless cup of coffee and a bowl of shrimp and grits when the weather is clear.
Thoughtful pastries are the big draw at Harken Cafe, like the Apple Tahini muffins or brown sugar cake with pumpkin butter. But, if you have a free morning, grab a seat in the Parisian-inspired cafe and order a slice of quiche full of local produce or a fluffy egg sandwich on a ricotta biscuit.
Queen Street Grocery is nestled in the French Quarter, so customers can watch the carriage tours go by as they cut into a crepe or omelette. For those on the go, choose a hot-pressed breakfast sandwich on a croissant or bagel.
As the name states, Millers All Day does indeed serve breakfast all day. Look for big fluffy biscuits, pancakes, grits, and plenty of bacon in a hip, yet comfortable, dining room.
Fast & French serves a no-frills breakfast of croissants, toasts, ham plates, and cream cheese on rye with raisins. There might not be any eggs, but it's hard to resist the European charm of the cafe and the full carafes of French press coffee.
Super cute spot Baguette Magic offers carbs on carbs on carbs. Patrons rave about the recovery baguette — a hangover-curing combination of scrambled eggs, bacon, prosciutto, white cheddar, tomato jam, and arugula. For those in search of something sweet, check out the homemade Pop-Tarts or the chocolate croissant.
Lost Dog Cafe on Folly Beach is a chill place with an extensive breakfast list. From bagels to Benedicts to breakfast burritos, Lost Dog can accommodate a wide range of tastes.
The Junction Kitchen & Provisions quickly is the go-to for Park Circle inhabitants to find a full breakfast near the neighborhood. The morning menu is served all day, including the doughnut sandwich layered with coffee-rubbed bacon, over easy egg, and served with a coffee dip.
Mercantile is one of the most spacious breakfast options to open on the peninsula, so bring the laptop and get some work done too — plenty of seats. The stylish spot opens early for those looking for coffee, yogurt bowls, breakfast sandwiches, or house-smoked salmon on a bagel. Bonus: free wifi and a large parking lot.
Bright spot the Daily carries creative coffee drinks, like the black sesame latte, and some of the quickest breakfast items around. Stop by this hip cafe for an avocado toast or breakfast pita before heading to the office.
Vicious Biscuit serves other items than biscuits, but the fluffy carbs are the big draw here. Prepare to feel the need for a nap after indulging in a fried chicken biscuit the size of your head. There’s dozens of biscuit combos to try.
James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence brought Big Bad Breakfast to Charleston a few years ago, and it has been serving solid examples of Southern and diner cuisine at a brisk pace. This restaurant might just have the best flapjacks in town.
Daps Breakfast & Imbibe offer breakfast/brunch every day of the week and all day long. The vibe is chill and the food is filling. The Fruity Pebble pancakes and breakfast burrito with chorizo gravy are solid choices.
Tuck into cozy cafe Little Line for a big Southern breakfast with cheddar grits at the counter or order a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel to go. The chic Westside spot has proven consistent in its delivery of breakfast staples since it first opened. And if you’re running short on time, you can order ahead online.
West Ashley eatery Early Bird Diner is the greasy spoon of contemporary Southern dreams. The waitstaff leans quirky and tattooed, the food is filling and comforting, and the hours allow you to visit for brunch or late night. Try the chicken and waffles with honey mustard drizzle at least once, and then move on to the traditional sides and other comforting menu items.
Marina Variety Store is Charleston's diner by the sea. With views of the Ashley River, there's no better place to tuck into a bottomless cup of coffee and a bowl of shrimp and grits when the weather is clear.
Thoughtful pastries are the big draw at Harken Cafe, like the Apple Tahini muffins or brown sugar cake with pumpkin butter. But, if you have a free morning, grab a seat in the Parisian-inspired cafe and order a slice of quiche full of local produce or a fluffy egg sandwich on a ricotta biscuit.
Queen Street Grocery is nestled in the French Quarter, so customers can watch the carriage tours go by as they cut into a crepe or omelette. For those on the go, choose a hot-pressed breakfast sandwich on a croissant or bagel.
As the name states, Millers All Day does indeed serve breakfast all day. Look for big fluffy biscuits, pancakes, grits, and plenty of bacon in a hip, yet comfortable, dining room.
Fast & French serves a no-frills breakfast of croissants, toasts, ham plates, and cream cheese on rye with raisins. There might not be any eggs, but it's hard to resist the European charm of the cafe and the full carafes of French press coffee.
Super cute spot Baguette Magic offers carbs on carbs on carbs. Patrons rave about the recovery baguette — a hangover-curing combination of scrambled eggs, bacon, prosciutto, white cheddar, tomato jam, and arugula. For those in search of something sweet, check out the homemade Pop-Tarts or the chocolate croissant.
Lost Dog Cafe on Folly Beach is a chill place with an extensive breakfast list. From bagels to Benedicts to breakfast burritos, Lost Dog can accommodate a wide range of tastes.
Long Savanna in West Ashley moving forward after 20 years — without the 'h'
Teri Errico Griffishttps://www.postandcourier.com/business/charleston-development-long-savannah-ymca-school-west-ashley/article_1d6205d4-eac6-11ee-8911-7f13aef7912a.html
A 3,000-acre development nearly two decades in the making is moving forward in West Ashley.Long Savanna (with the “h” now dropped), a long-planned mix of homes and businesses off Bees Ferry Road, will include 10 neighborhoods developed on 1,200 acres, according to updated plans.The remaining land will be placed into conservation .The specific subdivisions are still awaiting approval by the city, but to date Mungo Homes and PulteGroup have signed on as builder...
A 3,000-acre development nearly two decades in the making is moving forward in West Ashley.
Long Savanna (with the “h” now dropped), a long-planned mix of homes and businesses off Bees Ferry Road, will include 10 neighborhoods developed on 1,200 acres, according to updated plans.
The remaining land will be placed into conservation .
The specific subdivisions are still awaiting approval by the city, but to date Mungo Homes and PulteGroup have signed on as builders.
Of the neighborhoods, nine will will be residential with the 10th intended as a master-planned urban center with an option for Charleston County to add an elementary school and a fire station.
Talks are also in the works to develop a YMCA, said Taylor Bush, president of the Long Savannah Co.
As part of the development agreement negotiations, Bush said, some of the land also will be used for two public parks.
The main entry point will be the future Long Savanna Parkway, an extension of the Glenn McConnell Parkway currently being engineered. The road will connect the neighborhood to the West Ashley Circle.
“The property was a timber tract when we purchased it, so there are miles and miles of logging roads on the property,” Bush said. “We plan to convert a significant amount of these roads into a trail network which may also connect to adjacent neighborhoods.”
Mungo has filed plans to build more than 800 homes in Long Savanna on two tracts totaling 212 acres. Three years ago, the company paid $11.75 million for about 56 acres within the development, county land records show.
Pulte has options to buy lots through a so-called land bank arrangement with an investment firm that paid nearly $35 million for a 147-acre tract at Long Savanna last year.
Planning ahead
An upcoming community on Maybank Highway will gain another neighborhood restaurant.
SUMTER — A German business planning to open its first U.S. site for producing magnets used in electric vehicles has received an additional $111.8 million from the U.S. government.
The company, e-VAC Magnetics, which announced in December that it would invest half a billion dollars and create 300 jobs in Sumter, was given the funding through a federal tax credit program that aims to expand clean energy manufacturing, according to a statement.
The plant will produce rare earth permanent magnets used in EVs.
The Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit was established in 2009 and expanded over a year ago as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The federal government will hand out $4 billion in the first round of tax credits.
It's at least the second larger lump sum of public funds provided to e-Vac. The initial announcement of the plant came a few months after the Department of Defense announced plans in September to invest in domestic manufacturing of the magnets. Those plans included a $94.1 million award to the company.
The Sumter plant is set to come online next year amid a significant push by state to become a leader in the EV manufacturing industry, with large economic development boons like Scout Motors, a Volkswagen subsidiary set to create 4,000 jobs at a factory in the Midlands, and AESC, a battery manufacturer making two major investments totaling more than $3 billion in Florence.
Planting the seeds of an edible food forest in West Ashley, SC's 1st free-of-charge grove
David Ferrara dferrara@postandcourier.comhttps://www.postandcourier.com/features/home_and_garden/west-ashley-food-forest-charleston-ardmore/article_feae0564-dfdc-11ee-a23d-67d50638e6c3.html
A new kind of forest is soon taking root in West Ashley, and it's one you could eat right up — literally.Pluck an apple, cut some herbs or pick some berries at South Carolina's first food forest, a new free-of-charge grove being built in the Ardmore community.With an expected seven stories of canopies and an estimated $25,000 annually in produce by its fifth year, Charleston Parks Conservancy directo...
A new kind of forest is soon taking root in West Ashley, and it's one you could eat right up — literally.
Pluck an apple, cut some herbs or pick some berries at South Carolina's first food forest, a new free-of-charge grove being built in the Ardmore community.
With an expected seven stories of canopies and an estimated $25,000 annually in produce by its fifth year, Charleston Parks Conservancy director Darlene Heater acknowledged it's a remarkable undertaking for the local nonprofit.
"It's creating access in food deserts but creating it in a way that is low-maintenance and little barrier for people to be able to participate in it," Heater said.
The food forest on Mulberry Street near Grech Street, and off the West Ashley Bikeway, is being funded by a $50,000 grant from the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
While the conservancy is handling the horticulture, the City of Charleston's parks department is working to excavate the land, add pathways and install a new playground at the park. It is one of several conservancy projects this year, in addition to working with the city to manage 24 parks on the peninsula, on James Island and in West Ashley.
Parks Department director Jason Kronsberg compared the collaboration between the city, the conservancy and the community to a three-legged stool. The conservancy liaises with the neighborhoods, like Ardmore for the food forest, and then fundraises with them before going to the city to bring a project to life.
The food forest is intended to help the Ardmore neighborhood, recently identified in the Charleston parks master plan as a community of high need, along with the surrounding community.
Besides providing free access to produce, the forest can help people better understand where their food comes from, Kronsberg said. It's also an opportunity for folks to lend a hand with some maintenance.
"The parks are owned by everybody," Kronsberg said.
The project will not be without its challenges, though. As the weather in Charleston gets more severe, Heater said that the conservancy will need to tend to the forest carefully and make sure plants or produce don't wash away.
Teaching the community how to use — and not overuse — the one-of-a-kind forest will take time, too.
The conservancy plans to lean on its volunteer base to maintain the forest, such as harvesting, packing and sending excess produce to local nonprofits. There will be no constraints on harvesting to start, as to not adversely impact food accessibility, Heater said. Part of it will be trial and error, and much of the plan is flexible based on the demand the conservancy sees for certain produce.
"What we may learn is that this community really loves sweet potatoes but doesn't care as much about turnips," Heater said. "So let's look at how we can expand growing our sweet potato patch so that we can continue to serve the people adequately who most need it."
This spring will mark the first planting of the fruit trees, brambles and herbs. Heater said that best practices dictate not harvesting during the first year, so by the second year the conservancy expects to have herbs, mushrooms, brambles and possibly bananas to harvest.
By the fifth year, with an estimated 70 trees bearing fruit, Heater said she expects 10,000 pounds of produce.
The food forest comes two years after the adoption of a new Charleston parks master plan and months after the overwhelming approval of a bond referendum question last November.
"Citizens spoke loudly and clearly that they supported the referendum and improved park spaces," Kronsberg said. "Coming out of COVID, when parks became critical infrastructure, it was natural that there was that much support for a referendum."
As the Ardmore food forest begins to yield, relieving supply-chain issues might just become an additional perk. And in a world reshaped after the pandemic, the food forest is one project that shows how to branch out from the traditional park.
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Developer hosts meeting to address Essex Farm community concerns
Destiny Kennedyhttps://www.live5news.com/2024/03/01/developer-hosts-meeting-address-essex-farm-community-concerns/
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Residents who live near one West Ashley development learned more about the future of their community during a meeting hosted by developers.Cameron Property Company, the company overseeing the development of 26 acres near the Essex Farms community, invited residents to share their concerns and provide input at a meeting Thursday night.The 26-acre lot runs from Essex Farms Drive, down Skye Drive and extends to Dorothy Drive.Developers were accompanied by Charleston city officials representing the ...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Residents who live near one West Ashley development learned more about the future of their community during a meeting hosted by developers.
Cameron Property Company, the company overseeing the development of 26 acres near the Essex Farms community, invited residents to share their concerns and provide input at a meeting Thursday night.
The 26-acre lot runs from Essex Farms Drive, down Skye Drive and extends to Dorothy Drive.
Developers were accompanied by Charleston city officials representing the council, planning department, and traffic department to discuss what potential businesses residents could expect to see.
During the meeting, community members said they were relieved to learn that the developer withdrew its request to change the zoning language to include drive-thru windows at restaurants.
The developer is in talks with a grocery store and gas station, but plans have not been finalized.
Some residents said they are less than pleased about the big changes coming to the Essex Farms community.
Residents also expressed concerns about traffic congestion and the potential for a gas station to be built on the property.
“Tonight’s the first time we’ve heard gas station. That was a shock for all of us. When we purchased our properties, we were told specifically that a gas station wasn’t allowed to be there,” resident Kellie Kinard said.
Development Manager Collins Moe said he wants community input but that the company has the right to build to the zoning order, which does allow a grocery store and gas station.
“We’re going through the appropriate city of Charleston permit steps which require traffic studies. Things that outline what we’re proposing to make sure they meet all the standards with the county, the state, and the city, more importantly, based on where this property lies. At the end of the day, we’re still very far out,” Moe said.
Kinard said she is disappointed and was left with even more concerns and questions.
“I think my husband and I are going to have a serious conversation about whether or not we’re going to list our home. Which is really unfortunate because we love our neighborhood. We have great neighbors, but we do not want this type of development that they’re talking about potentially literally within several feet of our driveway,” Kinard said.
City officials stated that this development was approved many years ago and the zoning goes back to 1997.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Charleston businesses cleaning up after winds, flooding cause damage
Carlie Bakerhttps://www.live5news.com/2024/03/10/lowcountry-businesses-cleaning-up-after-winds-flooding-cause-damage/
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - From West Ashley to Sullivan’s Island, businesses spent the day recuperating after heavy rains and strong winds caused them to temporarily lock their doors.Many of the exterior windows at Hay Tire Pros, off Savannah Highway, shattered, and a large part of their ceiling collapsed on the inside.Vice President Bill Sekula said that they have always expected severe storms to come through with being in Charleston, but that they have never had this much damage before.“I guess it was like a...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - From West Ashley to Sullivan’s Island, businesses spent the day recuperating after heavy rains and strong winds caused them to temporarily lock their doors.
Many of the exterior windows at Hay Tire Pros, off Savannah Highway, shattered, and a large part of their ceiling collapsed on the inside.
Vice President Bill Sekula said that they have always expected severe storms to come through with being in Charleston, but that they have never had this much damage before.
“I guess it was like a microburst or something to that effect, but apparently it was raining harder than usual and then the windows started to buckle and snapped over. These windows on the side just kind of came apart and came out of the building,” Sekula said.
Sekula said glass from the windows was even in the back part of their building which is almost 30 yards away. They had to close the business for the day and return all of their customers’ vehicles. He said the incident happened during hours of operation as employees notified him at around 8 a.m.
The next-door business, Etto Leisure Cars, a golf cart dealer, also saw significant damage. Will Harton, chief executive officer, said that part of their awning was ripped off and hit their power box causing them to lose power.
“I said ‘Oh my goodness.’ You know, you live in Charleston long enough, you know a storm is going to happen. Usually, it’s a hurricane. It’s not a microburst like this, but we will be fine and we will move on from here,” Harton said.
He added that he’s glad that all of his employees are safe and that the building and golf carts can be fixed.
First Alert Chief Meteorologist Bill Walsh said the damage could have been from a potential microburst or straight-line wind, but the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that.
The Co-Op Frosé and Eatery on Sullivan’s Island had around two feet of water inside their restaurant. Their staff members spent the day using buckets to help get rid of the water. They said they have had flooding in the past, but never anything over a foot, so this is the worst they’ve seen.
“This morning, we lifted everything off the floor because we were expecting rain and heavy floods, but we didn’t know it was going to get this bad. So, as we were lifting things off the floor, it started coming in through the back door. Next thing you know there is water all over the place and we started getting buckets and mops and throwing water out. We’ve been throwing water out for the past three and a half hours,” employee Havannah Malan said.
She said that they have had to get their floors redone three times, and she expects the business will have to get them redone a fourth time after Saturday’s flood.
The businesses said they hope to repair the damages quickly, so they can return to normal operation as soon as possible.
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