The more than 20,000 square foot facility will be located at 1884 Seabrook Island Road, near Bohicket Marina. The Sea Islands community is expected to undergo significant population growth over the next few years, especially those residents 65 and older. The Sea Islands are also geographically isolated, situated more than 20 miles from the nearest hospital. The area also accommodates a large seasonal population of tourists, many of whom have trouble navigating local health care services.

“It can take up to 45 minutes to get to the nearest hospital from the Sea Islands. That’s too long for an emergency situation such as a stroke, where every minute counts. As the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, we are committed to delivering the best possible care, closest to home,” said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, MUSC president. “This new medical pavilion will provide rapid access to outstanding care for the entire Sea Islands community.”

As part of the MUSC Health system’s overarching strategy, the MUSC Health Charleston Division has worked to provide better community access and local care in the greater Tri-County region, as well as coastal communities to the north and south of Charleston. This enables better capacity at the flagship facilities, which offer specialized and complex care downtown while enhancing overall accessibility and continuity of care for patients and families, especially in underserved communities. Since 2019, four new multispecialty ambulatory care platforms have opened in West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

In addition to 24/7 emergency care, the facility will offer two trauma rooms, a rooftop helicopter pad, and a medical office building that will provide primary and specialty care, including imaging and lab services, cardiology and physical therapy. A telemedicine network will connect the entire facility to some of the nation’s top providers at MUSC Health in downtown Charleston. The Town of Kiawah Island donated $1 million to create a healing, restful green space and garden adjacent to the new facility.

“Accessibility to the wonderful health system and hospitals we have here has been a concern, so it was exciting to hear about this project,” said Town of Kiawah Mayor John Labriola. “My hat’s off to the MUSC Board of Trustees and the institution’s leadership, because getting a certificate of need is not easy… personally, I look forward to the ribbon cutting and seeing our garden that will be named for the Town of Kiawah.”

The project was made possible in part by Kiawah Partners, which was acquired by South Street Partners in 2013, who donated 6 acres of land to the Medical University Hospital Authority (MUSC Health), valued at $4.85 million.

"This project was initiated to meet the huge need for medical services on Kiawah Island, Seabrook, and Johns Island. With no convenient emergency healthcare options currently available, we have been working for seven-plus years to figure out a way to bring accessible healthcare to the Sea Islands,” said Chris Randolph, South Street Partners. “Thanks to MUSC, we will soon have a world-class medical facility that provides so much more than what we had originally envisioned. We couldn’t be more pleased to have been able to donate the land for this project and feel very grateful to partner with such an excellent health care system.”

Of the estimated $30 million needed to fund the project, MUSC is committed to raising $17 million in private support. To date, it has received more than $9.5 million in confirmed gifts, with many coming from local residents.

“Private support is critical to the long-term success of the MUSC Health Sea Islands Medical Pavilion because of the many financial challenges that come with operating a medical facility in this community,” said Kate Azizi, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “One challenge is the low population density of the Sea Islands. While this is an aging population that needs timely access to medical care – there aren’t enough people living in these communities full time to sustain our operations. Philanthropic support helps fill those gaps, allowing us to deliver the best care possible where and when it’s needed.”

Donors Chris and DeeDee Gibson are giving $2 million to the project. In recognition of their generosity, the physical therapy space will be named in their honor. “My family has been coming to Kiawah for close to 40 years,” Chris Gibson said. “When my wife DeeDee and I built a home here, she had one request: that there was a hospital nearby in case of an emergency. All these years later, we are excited to contribute to the new MUSC Health Sea Islands Medical Pavilion and to help make these vital medical services available to our neighbors on Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns islands.”

“The construction of a full-fledged medical facility with emergency services is a dream come true for all Johns, Kiawah and Seabrook Islands,” said local resident Pam Harrington, who donated $2 million and will name the emergency department after the Harrington family. “As our population continues to grow and more folks are retiring to our area, the demand for medical services grows with it! Being a Kiawah/Cassique resident for many years, the addition of a medical pavilion fills a real need that has existed over several decades. Prior to my 40-plus years in real estate on the islands I was a practicing ICU nurse. This medical center is near and dear to my heart! As a thank you and show of appreciation to all who have been so supportive of my success, here, on the Sea Islands, it seems befitting to take this opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.”

Construction is expected to conclude in late 2023.

Quote bank:

Seabrook Mayor John Gregg – “It is indeed my pleasure to welcome MUSC to Seabrook Island, as our local community will be well served by the capabilities of this facility and the practitioners who will staff it. We look forward to having better availability of care, ranging from emergency room treatment, to advanced diagnostics for the ailments, bumps, pains, scrapes, stings, and strains that come with having an active and diverse population.”

MUSC Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Charles Schulze – “On behalf of the board, I want to acknowledge, commend, and deeply, deeply thank you for your dedication hard work and the public private collaboration that is taking place to get us to where we are today. As an air force veteran of the Vietnam war, I know the importance and necessity of teamwork. When you have a complex mission ahead of you in those situations, your unity as a team is your biggest strength… And it didn't matter where you live, where you were from or what your background was in our military. You learned that persistence, perseverance, collaboration, and expertise are critical to the success of a mission. And it's been no different in this case. When the board began to discuss the feasibility of this project, we knew it wasn't going to happen without teamwork and vision. Not only from everybody at MUSC, but also from the community here in the sea islands.”

MUSC Health System CEO and Executive Vice President of Health Affairs Dr. Pat Cawley – “What makes this project challenging is that it doesn’t fit into normal health constructs. We spent a lot of time with the community, trying to gauge what was needed and it was clear that there was tremendous community support for this project and it was the engagement with the concept of neighbors caring for neighbors and the work of the community to reach out to state officials and regulators that helped make this project a reality. MUSC Health is proud to be a part of this community and its health care provider of choice, and we are humbled by the level of support we are receiving to bring this shared vision to reality.”

###

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,000 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 850 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $327.6 million in research funds in fiscal year 2021, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit web.musc.edu

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 14 hospitals with approximately 2,500 beds and five additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites, with connectivity to patients’ homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2022, for the eighth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets totaling $5.1 billion. The nearly 25,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver and support groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

A longtime supermarket that serves shoppers of Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns islands could be relocated and enlarged under proposed plans.

The existing 38,000-square-foot Harris Teeter Village Market grocery store could expand to nearly 54,000 square feet in a newly built store as part of a proposed retail development on a nearly 22-acre parcel behind the existing Freshfields Village Shopping Center.

Property owner Riverstone Properties LLC of Richmond, Va., wants to rezone the undeveloped site on Kiawah Island Parkway from low-density residential use to a commercial planned development. The Charleston County Planning Commission recently deadlocked 4-4 on changing the land use and the effort failed.

County spokeswoman Kelsey Barlow said the commission only makes recommendations. The proposed change will now be considered by County Council’s Planning and Public Works Committee on March 16.

Representatives of Riverstone Properties, which is affiliated with the owner of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and Harris Teeter did not respond to requests for comment on the plans.

Planning commission member Logan Davis said developers indicated at an earlier meeting one reason the supermarket chain wants to relocate to a larger store is so the grocer will have better entry and exit space for deliveries.

Some planning board members wanted a new traffic study while others were concerned about a lack of clarity for the proposed connection to Freshfields Village. The shopping center is owned by Columbia-based Edens, which paid nearly $125 million for the property in June.

One board member expressed concerns that the connection to Freshfields appeared to be near the entrance to a convenience store off Hedgerow Lane and he was worried about the connection across a planted median on Freshfields Drive. He preferred a different connection point.

The development would allow drive-thrus for a pharmacy but not fast food under the current proposal.

The property proposed to be developed most recently was used as a parking area for people attending the PGA Championship Tournament at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island in 2021.

Site plans also show 10,000 square feet of retail space set aside for future expansion of Harris Teeter and 10,000 additional square feet of other retail space on the opposite side of the planned grocery store.

Another 46,400 square feet of retail space would be clustered in seven smaller buildings while a gas station also is part of the site plan.

Chris Corrada of Riverstone Properties told commission members the fuel site would be set 100 feet off of Kiawah Island Parkway and would be buffered by trees and other foliage.

An additional entryway into the site is planned off the parkway. No homes are being proposed for the property.

Note: This story has been updated with a new date for the proposal to be considered by County Council’s Planning and Public Works Committee.

The United States has plenty of ocean-side states to visit for a beach vacation, but South Carolina easily has some of the best tourist spots on the east coast! From resort options to RV camp sides and everything in between, there's not a shortage of vacation spots for this summer. Trying to evade crowded beaches or looking for the perfect place to paddle-board? There's a South Carolina beach town for everyone! Whether searching for something with a hip city-like shopping district or if parasailing and paragliding are more the vibe for this vacation, one of these ten beach towns can provide the ideal oasis for families, lovers, and adventurers of all sorts.

Bluffton

Located halfway between Hilton Head and Savannah, Bluffton is a great destination for beach lovers looking to relax and soak in the sun this summer. Start the morning here at The Corner Perk Cafe before taking in all the joy the coast has to offer. After tanning on the beach, kayaking, shopping, or exploring the art gallery, get dinner at Southern Barrel Brewing Co. or The Roasting Room. For dessert, check out Joe's Ice Cream & Beverage Company.

Related: 10 Best Things To Do In Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Isle Of Palms

Isle of Palms is one of South Carolina's best towns, with its beach always featuring volleyball, live music, and picnics. This island has incredible ocean-facing golf courses to offer those who visit, as well as two shopping centers to meet everybody's souvenir-needs. In between shopping, tanning, and water-sporting, get a meal at the Caribbean-themed Coconut Joe's Beach Grill. Be sure to explore some of the nightlife this town has to offer!

Seabrook Island

Seabrook Island is known for its uncrowded beaches and deep blue water. Some of its more unique attractions include the full-service Equestrian Center and 36-hole golf course. Who doesn't want to horseback ride on the beach? Other fun activities include booking a tour through Captain Jack's Kiawah Sailing and Dolphin Watching or giving paddleboarding a try with Water Dog Paddle Co. Plus; there are plenty of options for places to eat while guests enjoy their stay.

Related: Palm Springs Beyond The Golf Course: 10 Adventurous Things To Do In The Desert Oasis

Surfside Beach

Beach at sunset

Surfside Beach has a lot of fun amenities that make it the perfect vacation destination for families. From mini-golf to a fishing pier, this town has something fun for every child (and child at heart!) not to mention the shops this beach town has to offer visitors! While there are lots of local options for antiquing or thrifting, the open-air Hudson's Flea Market is easily the most unique. After a day of exploration and relaxation, get dinner at Surfside Jenny's or Bubba's Fish Shack.

6 Pawley's Island

Pawleys Island, SC, USA

Pawley's Island is the perfect beach destination for a more laid-back traveler. One of the coast's oldest beach towns, Pawley's Island has everything a classic Carolina town has to offer: boutiques, beaches, and water sports. It is known for its quiet calmness and massive sand dunes, and is ideal for those looking to evade large crowds. Specific attractions include the Brookgreen Gardens, which hosts the best post-dinner activity on the island each summer: an extravagant light show!

5 Hilton Head

Ranked as the #1Island in the Continental United States by Travel & Leisure Magazine's World Best Awards, Hilton Head is a great family beach town with plenty of guided and unguided outdoor activities to explore. Why not give zip-lining a try? Or try some low-country cuisine? Or pedal around the island? While summer may be the obvious choice, visiting in the fall allows for fewer crowds while still having all the best accommodations available.

Related: These Italian Restaurants Prove Hilton Head Is More Than Just (Great) Seafood

4 Beaufort

Ruins of the Sheldon Church in northern Beaufort County, South Carolina

Located on Port Royal Island, Beaufort is best associated with its downtown historic district. Lined with mossy oak trees and just moments away from the water, downtown Beaufort offers historical landmarks like the National Cemetery, the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve, and the Saint Helena Parish Chapel of Ease Ruins. In between sightseeing and beach-laying, guests can get luxury treatment at one of the nearby spas! This is the perfect destination for travelers looking for more cultural experiences and educational opportunities than some of the other beach towns have to offer.

3 Kiawah Island

Sunset near Kiawah Island, South Carolina, on the marsh.

An island just 25 miles southwest of Charleston, Kiawah Island is associated with its many adventurous activities. Take photos of the water at Beachwalker Park, go fishing at Mingo Point, or explore the Rockville Historic District before getting dinner at Jasmine Porch or The Ryder Cup Bar. No matter what itinerary a guest is following, no one should miss the wild-life at Marsh Island Park, which is only accessible via boat!

2 Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet

Known as the seafood capital of South Carolina, Murrells Inlet is a great beach town for foodies and fishermen alike. While there, consider taking the local Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk or Banana Boat Ride before chowing down at Drunken Jack's or Russell's Seafood Grill and Raw Bar. Want to take some of the ocean food back home? Make a souvenir stop at Harrelson's Seafood Market before heading out of town.

1 Myrtle Beach

Pier 14 Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Whether searching for a luxurious resort or an affordable hotel, Myrtle Beach is the oceanfront town to unwind in. Throughout the summer, Myrtle Beach has a concert series, light show, and amateur golf tournament. All this on top of other staple amenities like boutiques, boardwalks, and beach views for visitors to soak up the sun near! And don't forget to dine and drink like royalty to make the most of the trip!

SEABROOK ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Seabrook Island neighbors are petitioning their leaders to cap the number of short-term rentals, stating there is overcrowding due to what they called over-tourism, but the mayor said the town has no plans to do so.

Seabrook Island homeowner Ted Flerlage says over 700 of his neighbors want to cap the number of short-term rentals on the island.

“What we’re trying to do is cap, not end the process of short-term rentals, cap at roughly the present numbers, evaluate what happens after that,” Flerlage said, “and then, determine whether or not we should lower the number of short-term rentals.”

As of June 19, there are 484 of these properties on the island, which residents said has led to overcrowding on the island’s streets and amenities.

Mayor John Gregg said for this year, data gathered over the past few months suggest otherwise.

“We’re not going to be looking at imposing limitations on the number of short-term rental units,” Gregg said.

Coastal Getaways owner Nancy Buck said more people are starting to call the island home, and good rentals are full for around 40% of the year.

She says all of her clients are property owners who rent to help offset the costs of the amenities, taxes and insurance.

“We’ve also gone from 35% permanent residents to 60% residents in the last two years,” Buck said. “Twenty-five percent of the properties have turned over since 2019.”

Buck also adds the majority of the amenities are mostly used by members and not rental guests.

However, the homeowners want the town’s government to hear them out.

“I’d like him to reconsider,” Flerlage said. “I’d like him to look at the reality and listen to the people who are property owners here, the residents on the island. You know, 700 people is a big number.”

“Let’s wait and see how this year goes,” Buck said. “They instituted the short-term rental ordinance couple of years ago, or actually, last year, so let’s give it a full year to see how it goes.”

Both Buck and the homeowners said they want to work out their differences over the next several months to come up with a solution that works for everyone.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Matthew Doyle of Summerville and partner Garrett Risner of Holly Springs, N.C., earned one of two available qualifying spots at the Country Club of Lexington on Oct. 3 for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

The Four-Ball Championship will be played May 20-24 at Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique and River Course.

John Eades of Charlotte and Matt Schall of Matthews, N.C., were the qualifying medalists with a 62. Doyle and Risner posted a 9-under-par 63. Stuart Moore of Gainesville, Ga., and David Denham of Athens, Ga., were the first alternates, and Jordan Sease of Columbia and Kyle Bearden of Barnwell are second alternates following a one-hole playoff after the teams tied with 64s.

Cuthbert Classic

The 2022 Cuthbert Classic Golf Tournament will be held Oct. 16 at Summerville Country Club.

The tournament is a two-person captain’s choice and celebrates the golfing legacies of the late Grange S. Cuthbert Jr. and his son Tommy Cuthbert, the former director of golf at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Proceeds will benefit the Tommy Cuthbert Memorial Scholarship Fund sponsored by the historic Dorchester Free School Board.

For Cuthbert Cup registration details, call 843-873-2210.

Seabrook Island Veteran’s Day

The Seabrook Island Club and the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club will hold the 11th annual Seabrook Island Veteran’s Day Charitable Golf Outing on Nov. 7.

The outing is to honor veterans who have served the country, and to raise money to support the Ralph Johnson Veteran’s Hospital and the Friends of Fisher House. The event will be a captain’s choice scramble format. Wounded Warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan will be participating as guests. Non-member Lowcountry residents are invited to participate.

The entry fee for Seabrook Island Club members is $95 plus applicable golf fees. For non-club members, the fee is $175; $75 of the entry fee will be set aside as a charitable contribution to the Ralph Johnson Veteran’s Hospital and Fisher House. Call the Seabrook Island Golf Shop at 843-768-2529, or email golf@seabrookisland.com.

Donations also can be made by sending a check to Alan Armstrong, 2427 Golf Oak Park, Seabrook Island SC 29455. Checks should be made payable to the Friends of Fisher House or the Ralph H. Johnson Veteran’s Hospital. For further information, email alan9631@comcast.net.

CALGA Classic

The Charleston Area Ladies Golf Association played the opening round of its CALGA Classic on Sept. 19 at Crowfield Golf Club, with Wescott taking the lead. The final round is scheduled Oct. 19 at Rivertowne.

Standings after the first round are: Wescott, 284; Dunes West, 292; Shadowmoss, 294; Crowfield, 299; Rivertowne, 300; Seabrook, 306; Charleston Municipal, 306; Coosaw Creek, 309.

Aces

Gerry Purvis, Sept. 20, Black Robin-Wescott Golf Club, No. 4, 115 yards, 9-iron. Witnesses: George Howard, John Lineau.

Robert Sparrow, Sept. 22, Links Course-Wild Dunes Resort, No. 11, 130 yards. Witness: Robert Schneider, David Keane, Rodney Johnson.

John Weeks, Sept. 23, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, No. 4, 155 yards, 6-iron. Witnesses: Bob Mullen, Bubber Ulmer.

Matt Heine, Sept. 26, Charleston National Golf Club, No. 2, 130 yards, pitching wedge. Witness: Hunter Epperson.

A hole-in-one should be reported by the golf course. Please email aces to braswellsports@hotmail.com and to sportsdesk@postandcourier.com.