Sea Fox Boat Company says proposed development is positive for North Charleston

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)–Sea Fox Boats has been appealing to North Charleston City Council and residents for nearly two months, asking for approval to redevelop the old Baker Hospital site.

On April 18, during the city council meeting, members voted to postpone taking any action. The company has pleaded its case with the community since the meeting.

“We just want to be able to open up our doors for a new location in North Charleston where we could have water access, and Sea Fox is also coming into North Charleston to build a state-of-the-art park with water access and a pier,” said Tory Fields, Sea Fox Representative.

The vacant property sits on 46 acres near Union Heights and Chicora Cherokee Neighborhoods. The proposed plan by the Sea Fox Boating Company would create a waterfront park and a boat manufacturing plant that will take up 11 acres. The company said it would bring much-needed employment and recreation space to the community.

“We’re coming to be neighbors with the benefits, so we hope that having Sea Fox will bring other jobs to the area. We also hope that opens up an opportunity for other businesses that want to come to that area: feeder businesses, food companies, food trucks, all these things take to make a plant size run. So, we are hopeful we can get it all together and make a real good home in North Charleston for citizens and the people here,” said Fields.

However, one man with property adjacent to the site said he’d like to see the property used to build more homes, and industrial space is North Charleston’s last need.

“I think it’s wrong to put an industrial use adjacent to an existing low-income housing project just on the ground, being human. It’s just the wrong thing for this site, and so I would like to see it denied,” said Charlie Masencup, a resident in Charleston.

The next meeting for the proposal will be held on May 23 at the North Charleston City Council chambers and will begin at 5:30 p.m.

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