CHARLESTON — A downtown developer of luxury apartments and townhomes has withdrawn a permit application for a private dock on the Ashley River.
Hundreds of public comments poured in after The Beach Company’s request came to light late last week, including concerns about how it might impact the city’s billion-dollar sea wall project, as well as other planned projects.
On Aug. 11, Mayor William Cogswell said he and City Councilman Mike Seekings, who represents the lower peninsula, met with representatives from the company to discussed the proposed dock, which would have extended more than 200 feet into the Ashley River where Lockwood Drive meets Broad Street.
THE BEACH CO. APPLIES TO BUILD PRIVATE DOCK: Developer of the towering luxury apartment complex The Jasper has applied for a permit from the state Department of Environmental Services to build a private dock. The proposed pier extends more than 240 feet into the Ashley River where Lockwood Drive meets Broad Street in downtown Charleston. (Source: Charleston County)
“I appreciate their willingness to take community concerns to heart and withdraw the permit application,” Cogswell said in a statement. “This decision reflects our shared responsibility to protect Charleston’s historic waterfront and ensure public access for generations to come.”
The Beach Company owns The Jasper, a high-rise apartment complex off Broad Street overlooking the river. The developer is also nearing completion on The Charles, an enclave of three-story townhomes and flats, across from which the dock was proposed.
“Today, The Beach Company withdrew its permit,” said president and COO Dan Doyle in a statement emailed to The Post and Courier. “Instead, we look forward to collaborating with the City to improve resilience and infrastructure along the Ashley River.”
Construction of the dock required a permit from the S.C. Department of Environmental Services because it would have crossed coastal wetlands.
Part of the permitting process required a comment period, which ended Aug. 8.
Two days before the deadline, the Preservation Society of Charleston and Historic Charleston Foundation posted on social media urging residents to oppose the application. By of 3 p.m. Aug. 7, a spokesperson for DES said they had received 510 public comments.
The groups applauded the withdraw, with the Preservation Society declaring it a victory for “public access and coastal resilience.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
