Future of James Island Library Branch on Camp Road

The Town was contacted by Charleston County staff regarding the future of the James Island Library Branch on Camp Road after 2017.  The proposal from Charleston County was for them to lease the existing James Island Library branch to the Town of James Island for $1 per year while keeping it part of  the County Library system.   I understand that part of the proposal was for approximately $1.7 million of the funds from the bond issue approved in last November's referendum to be used to repair and upgrade the building.
 

Unfortunately, the condition was that the Town cover the annual operating costs for the branch which currently is more than $500,000.  This is more than we can possibly afford.    It would use up nearly 1/3 of the Town's operating revenues.  

 

I discussed the matter with various members of Council.    There is not a majority who will support more than a minimal annual contribution.   Personally, this would be no more than $5,000, which is merely a token contribution.     For one reason or another, I think the majority sentiment is against providing even that level of support.    Some members of Council noted that West Ashley and Mount Pleasant will have three branches and the City of Charleston and the Town of Mount Pleasant are not being asked to fund the operating costs of any of their branches.
 

On a related issue, I have heard rumors of a proposal to downsize the new James Island branch located in the Grimball community.  (This was not part of the communication from the County.)  Personally, I do not support any change in the plans for what will be the main library branch on James Island.    While I strongly advocated the Library Board's recommendation that the new branch be located at a more central site, my understanding is that they would oppose any reduction in its size at the site selected by County Council.    I never thought that the Grimball Road site was bad, but rather controversial among residents of the immediate neighborhood and not quite as good as a more central location.   If that is where the new library branch will be, I fully anticipate that it will serve all James Islanders for many years in many ways. 

Like most residents of the Town, I would welcome there being two library branches on James Island.    I believe that the Library Board would welcome that as well.   However, as explained above, I do not believe the Town can afford a substantial contribution to the operating costs of keeping the existing branch open after 2017 when the new Grimball Road branch is slated to open.

JIPSD Budget Hearing

The James Island Public Service District is holding a public hearing on its 2015-16 budget on Monday, June 22 at 6:30 PM at their 1739 Signal Point Road Facility.

http://jipsd.org/MeetingAgendas/06.22.2015_publichearingagenda.pdf

The proposed budget includes a 2 mill (4%) property tax increase.
It is based upon switching from 2 day a week to one day a week garbage pick-up in January.
The second and final reading on the budget is scheduled for their meeting that will immediately follow at 7:00 PM.

http://jipsd.org/MeetingAgendas/06.22.2015_regularagenda.pdf

Library Location: Baxter Patrick Wins

I spoke at the County Council meeting tonight.  I asked that they defer consideration on the James Island Library location.  

I also spoke in favor of following the Library Board's recommendation.   I supported the JIPSD's Dills Bluff property as the first choice, but that if the JIPSD Commissioners refused to agree to a reasonable price, then BILO was a great back up.

The result?

The vote to defer failed 5-4.

Chairman Summey, Councilwoman Johnson, Councilman Darby, Councilman Rawl, and Councilman Pryor voted against deferring.

Councilman Qualey, Councilman Sass, Councilman Schweers, and Councilwoman Condon voted to defer.

Then the vote for Baxter Patrick was 6 to 3 in favor. 

Chairman Summey, Councilwoman Johnson, Councilman Darby Councilman Rawl, Councilman Pryor, and Councilwoman Condon voted in favor.

Councilman Qualey, Councilman Sass, and Councilman Schweers voted against.

There was some discussion of reducing the size of Baxter Patrick and renovating the existing James Island branch.   Councilwoman Condon voiced support of that option and Chairman Summey instructed staff to look into it.  

There was some mention that I had said that the Town could pay to help keep the branch open (that was news to me.)

Support Library Board Recommednation for new Library on JI

The Charleston County Library Board recommended as the first choice that the new James Island Library be located on the JIPSD property on Dills Bluff.   The back-up site is the purchase of a portion of the BI-LO shopping center.  

Please support the Library Board's recommendation.

The JIPSD property has two key advantages.   It is almost in the exact center of James Island and very close to the existing branch.     The developers of the Preserve at Dills Bluff across the street are building a sidewalk at the Town's request from the site up to the corner of Dills Bluff and Camp.    The Town and Charleston County are working on sidewalk projects that will provide connectivity both down Camp and Dills Bluff.

The key problem with the Dills Bluff site is finding a majority of JIPSD Commissioners who will agree to sell at a fair price.   The property is 6.2 acres, and the Town is very interested in purchasing the 2.2 acres not needed for the Library.   That is where we would locate the new Town Hall.  This reduces the net cost of the land to the Library.  The appraised value is $555,000, or nearly $90,000 per acre.   The cost to the County would be approximately $360,000, with the Town paying $195,000.   The Bright property across the street went for $1.2 million, which is approximately $110,000 per acre.   If the County paid that price, it would pay $440,000 and the Town would pay $242,000.   While I believe that the JIPSD's current offer price of $1 million, or over $160,000 per acre, is unconscionably high, the cost to the County would be $645,000 and to the Town $355,000.    This is within the JI Library's budget for land acquisition and so the site remains feasible.

The JIPSD Commissioners started at the truly absurd price of $5 million.   They did come down to $1 million, which is the correct order of magnitude.   But they need to come down closer to the price suggested by their own appraiser.   It is important to remember that the taxpayers of the Town of James Island purchased this land in the nineties.   A judge gave the property to the JIPSD at no cost.   And it has sat vacant for 20 years.  

If the JIPSD Commissioners will not see reason, then the Library Board has recommended an excellent backup.   The BI-LO site  involves the purchase of 20,000 square feet of floor space in an existing building and then renovating.   The total cost is $9.3 million.   This is well below the estimated $10,800,000 of constructing a 20,000 square foot library.

Perhaps the money saved could be used on additional improvements to the new JI library or else  improve other libraries in the County.   Borrowing less money and so charging the taxpayers a lower bond millage also sounds good to me.

Having the new Library near Folly Road could enhance the Rethink Folly road project.   BI-LO is very near the center of the Town's commercial core at the corner of Folly and Camp.   Redeveloping and revitalizing our Folly Road "downtown" is something we should be doing.   The Camp and Folly intersection improvement will extend sidewalks to BI-LO from Camp and Folly.  

Unfortunately, deals have been cut and promises made.   Baxter-Patrick on Grimball Road was supported 5 to 2 with two abstentions by the Charleston County Council's finance committee.

But I don't think County Council was told the whole story before.

They were told that Baxter Patrick was free and BI-LO would cost $5  million.    Of course, Baxter Patrick is a vacant lot and the School District wants $200,000 in "accommodations."    The $5 million figure for BI-LO was for all the vacant space there, when the Library only needs 20,000 square feet.   The BI-LO site would require renovation, but the total cost of $9.3 million is way less than $10.8 million for new construction elsewhere.

As for the Dills Bluff site, if the JIPSD Commissioners were to sell at the current appraisal, it would only cost the Library $160,000 more than Baxter Patrick.   Still, it will be more expensive unless the JIPSD is willing to come down to $310,000, leaving the Library share at $200,000.  (And if the JIPSD Commissioners had any sense, they would offer to "donate" the land in exchange for "accommodations.")   But if money is the issue, then BI-LO is the clear choice.   It is $1.7 million less than Baxter Patrick!

However, the only way any of the five who voted for Baxter Patrick will change their mind is if there is a huge turnout of James Islanders to County Council's meeting on June 16.

Please try to make time to go to the meeting and ask County Council to follow the Library Board's recommendation.  The Dill's Bluff property is the first choice, but if they cannot work out a fair price, then BI-LO is an excellent backup.

JIPSD Public Hearing on One Day a Week Garbage Pick-Up

The James Island Public Service District is holding a public hearing on the proposed change from two day a week to one day a week garbage pick-up on Tuesday, June 9 at 6 PM.   It will be held at St. James Church at 1872 Camp Road.   Here is a copy of the agenda.

There will be another public hearing on June 16 at the Department of Natural Resources at Fort Johnson.

Misinformation About The Library Site Costs

I just read County Councilwoman Anna Johnson's website regarding the location for the new library. Here is what she said:

There is a small vocal group demanding a much more expensive location at a Bi-Lo Location, that was not chosen as the top site by the Library Board OR the Finance Committee. Public comments have been overwhelmingly favorable for the Baxter Patrick school site and it will cost significantly less then the other presented options.

The total estimated cost of the BI-LO location is much less than Baxter Patrick. BI-LO is $9.3 million and Baxter-Patrick more than $11 million.

The total cost of the BI-LO site is 14% less. It saves the taxpayer $1,720,000.

Now, the property at Baxter-Patrick is "free," though the County is supposed to provide something to the Charleston County School Board in exchange that is estimated at $200,000. 

(Is it really tennis courts for James Island elementary school?   Will they be open to the public?)

But all that is there now is a vacant lot.  Building a 20,000 square foot library is very expensive.  It would be $10,820,000.

So that adds up to $11,020,000.

The purchase price of 20,000 square feet of an existing building next to BI-LO is $2,650,000.    The needed renovations would be extensive, costing $6,650,000.   It all adds up to  $9,300,000.

The Dills Bluff site, assuming the JIPSD wants to sell, would end up costing about $400,000 for the land.   And so the total cost would be $11,220,000.   It is near the exact center of James Island and very close to the existing branch. 

Of course, it costs about $200,000 more than Baxter Patrick and $1,900,000 more than BI-LO.

What is the major benefit of Baxter-Patrick?   It is in Anna Johnson's district.   It is more centrally located to the voters on James Island in her district.  Most of the voters in her district live off of James Island.  They are spread over all the other Sea Islands--Johns, Edisto, etc.    Most of the James Island voters in her district live near Grimball Road, Sol Legare Island, etc.   Of course, the Down the Island community is in her district, and it is right next door to the Dills Bluff site, but it is on the far northeast edge of her district on James Island.

So, if you completely ignore the over 70% of James Islanders who are not in Anna Johnson's district, then Baxter Patrick makes perfect sense.

Most James Islanders are represented by Councilman Joe Qualey.   The other sites are in his district.  

If you start off by deciding which member of Council will "get" the new library, and then allow that member to choose where it goes, then everything falls into place.

Right now, the Grimball Road community is in unincorporated Charleston County, however, it was in the Town of James Island in the past.   The Town is committed to providing an opportunity for the citizens to rejoin the Town.    We want them back.

Personally, I think a library at Baxter Patrick could be a fine addition to the community.  However, I know it is controversial.   Some of the support in the Grimball Road community was manufactured by claiming that the alternative was a bus parking lot.  (I am often very open to the argument for some new development that it could be worse.)   Still, some of the Town's closest allies in the Grimball community are adamantly against the library there.    No one from the community has contacted me to say they are for it.  

Charleston County Greenbelt paid St. James Presbyterian Church about $900,000 for some property on Grimball Road.   The Town contributed $200,000 from its allocation of Greenbelt funds.   The money was provided to the St. James Foundation which paid it over to the church.   The property now belongs to the St. James Foundation and is supposed to be the site of a Gullah-Geechee center. When representatives from the St. James Foundation came to Town Hall to collect the other $500,000 that the former director of the St. James Foundation told them that the Town had promised, I was shocked.  I never promised anything of the sort.  The Town could not possibly contribute anything like that.   ($500, yes, $5,000 maybe, $50,000 no, $500,000 are you kidding?)     I have always assumed that the reason Reverend Heyward is so strongly in favor of the Baxter Patrick site for the library is that he hopes it will provide synergy with the proposed Gullah-Geechee center.    Maybe he hopes that this location for the library will help with the multi-million dollar fundraising necessary to follow through on what the St. James Foundation promised in exchange for the nearly $1 million of Greenbelt funds paid over St. James Presbyterian Church.    I want it to succeed.   The Town did "invest" $200,000 of its greenbelt allocation towards the project!

If the goal is to save money, then BI-LO is the way to go.    If we want to keep the library near its current site at the very center of the Island, then Dills Bluff is good, but more expensive.   And if the goal is to give the library to County Councilwoman Anna Johnson, then we should just be glad she isn't proposing to move it to Hollywood or Adams Run!

Cost of Alternative Library Sites

The Charleston County Library Board presented cost estimates for four locations of the new James Island Library to Charleston County Council.   Charleston County Council is slated to make a final decision on June 16th.
 

Here is a copy.

The lowest cost alternative is in the BI-LO shopping center near Folly Rd.   While the cost of all the vacant space there is $5,250,000, the library board wants to purchase 20,000 square feet for a total cost of $2,650,000.    The needed renovations are estimated to cost $6,650,000 for a total cost of $9.3 million.

It is on the Folly Road Corridor in the Town's "Commercial Core."   It is in an area annexed by the City of Charleston.   While the sidewalk access is currently poor, by the time it is built that should greatly improve.

It was the Library Board's second choice.  

The Library Board's first choice is for the Dills Bluff Property.   This is near the corner of Camp and Dills Bluff, right behind the current location of Town Hall.  The cost of new construction for a 20,000 square foot building is estimated at $10,820,000 for any site.

The library board wants 4 acres.  The JIPSD Commissioners said that they didn't want to subdivide and that they wanted to sell it all.   The County is willing to buy all 6.2 acres for the appraised value of $550,000.   I think they plan on selling the part they don't need to someone else.  (The Town would be a willing buyer.)   So, this would end up costing them about $370,000 for land.  The total would be $11,190,000.  

It is almost exactly in the center of James Island and very close to the current site of the James Island branch.  While the sidewalk access is currently poor, by the time it is built, that should greatly improve.

However, there is a major question.  Is there a majority of JIPSD Commissioners willing to sell?    Saying they will sell for $5 million could easily be just another way of saying that they don't want to sell at all.

The Baxter Patrick location on Grimball Rd would be "free" except the Charleston County School Board will want some accommodations estimated to cost $200,000.  (I have heard it is tennis courts at James Island Elementary, but I am not sure.) Adding the $10,820,000 estimated cost of new construction, that results in $11,020,000.

It is located in a residental, semi-rural area of unincorporated Charleston County.   There is currently sidewalk access, though for most James Islanders it would be a very long walk.

This site was ranked fourth and last by the Library board, but Charleston County's finance committee voted 5-2 in favor of this option.   County Council is slated to make a final decision on June 16th.   

There is a fourth site on Fort Johnson Rd.   It is near Oceanview Drive.   The land is 7 acres for $525,000.   The owners want to sell it.    Perhaps the County could find a partner to pay for the 3 acres they do not want.   If they can find one, the total cost would be comparable to the Dills Bluff property.    It was ranked third by the Library board.

The Fort Johnson site is close to the location existing branch and near the Dills Bluff alternative.   There is sidewalk access now and by the time it is built, there will be connectivity with a large portion of the Island. 

What do you think?

 

Library Location on James Island--Final Decision June 16

The Charleston County Library Board made its recommendation regarding locations on James Island.   Their criteria were a central location both in terms of geography and population.   Their first choice was the Dills Bluff Property that is owned by the James Island Public Service District.  

Charleston County Council will make the final decision on the location on June 16.

What are the chances that the new library will be less  than a block from its current location?

The 6.2  acre property has been appraised at close to $600,000.    That is, approximately $100,000 per acre.

Fortunately, the majority of JIPSD Commissioners voted to sell.  

What is the problem?   The asking price was absurd.

Commissioner Brown-Crouch made a motion to sell the property for the new library.   Thank you!

But then, Commissioner Eugene Platt amended the motion to make the selling price $5 million!

The amendment passed.    The amended motion then passed.

Some members of County Council didn't appreciate price gouging.   The JIPSD's own appraisal was less than $600,000, and they are trying to gouge our public library system for more than 4 times the land's value.  

Now, I hear that some Commissioners have said that $5 million is a reasonable price.   They say that the property across the street sold for more than $10 million.  

In reality, the nearly 12 acre Bright property sold for $1.2 million.   That is, for about $100,000 per acre.     They are asking for 4 times the money for 1/2 the land.  

And what did the JIPSD pay for the land?   Nothing.   It was purchased by the Town of James Island.   When the first Town was closed down, most of the  property was given by a judge to the JIPSD.    A portion of the land was given to the Honeyhill civic association.  Commissioner Brown-Crouch was the leader of the organization and later gave that parcel to the JIPSD.   So now, all the property that was purchased by the Town is in the hands of the JIPSD.

How much tax has the JIPSD been paying over the years?   Nothing.  The JIPSD pays no property tax.

It is all profit for the JIPSD on the land the Town of James Island purchased.  

How much is enough?

It looks like greed and selfishness.   It is an embarrassment to the voters of James Island.

Now, the County could purchase the vacant storefront next to BI-LO near Folly Road.   That is the Charleston County Library Board's second choice.

But property so close to Folly Road is very expensive.   The appraised value of that land is about $5 million.

And so, a property not on the Library Board's list, the old site of Baxter Patrick Elementary School on Grimball Road is the likely site.   Charleston County Council's finance committee voted in favor of that location.  

The key problem with the location is that it is in the middle of a residential, almost rural, portion of James Island.   It is not close to either the geographic or population center of James Island.

There was a petition by the people in that neighborhood in favor of that location.  However, the petition said that putting the library there was the only alternative to parking school buses on the property.   That isn't true.

What can you do?

Ask the JIPSD Commissioners to stop trying to price gouge the library.  Sell the property they got from the Town for free at a fair and reasonable price.

Encourage Commissioners Brown-Crouch, McMillian and Wilder to continue to work for common sense and the good of the people of James Island.

Ask the four Commissioners who supported an unfair and unreasonable price--Hollingsworth, Platt, Kernodle and Waring, to come to their senses and do the right thing.  

Sell the property for a new library at a fair price.   Stop trying to gouge our library.  Stop trying to gouge the people of James Island.

Please contact them and ask them to change their mind:

Chairman Hollingsworth    (843) 795-4857      donaldh53@hotmail.com

Commissioner Platt     (843) 795-9442    poet1326@hotmail.com

Commissioner Waring  (843) 762-0505  waring1040@att.net

Commissioner Kay Kernodle    (843) 266-7611    kkernodle@kernodlelaw.com

Please thank the Commissioners who are willing to work with the library to help the people of James Island:

Commissioner Inez Brown-Crouch   (843) 795-9442     ibcrouch2006@yahoo.com

Commissioner Cubby Wilder  (843) 795-1701    wild7930@bellsouth.net

Commissioner Carter McMillan  (843) 795-9910   cartermac@aol.com