Author Archives: Charlie Smith

West Ashley Farmer’s Market

One public facility that the residents of West Ashley have been asking for is a farmer’s market. Somewhere in the DuPont area, where all of these properties come together, is the logical place for a new farmer’s market to happen. Combining the farmer’s market with neighborhood meeting space and a small performance/exhibit space would keep […]

DuPont Crossing Pedestrian Safety

An improved crosswalk and landscaped median at Wappoo Road similar to the one just completed in Avondale, would make this dangerous intersection safe for the school children who cross there as well as for the people who might want to connect from the Bike Path to the Greenway.

Firefighter’s Memorial

The Firefighter’s Memorial in its present condition is an embarrassment. The families of the firefighters and the public deserve better and we should not be afraid to explore how to make that property something worthy of the lives it memorializes. Allowing this property to become a publicly sponsored West Ashley eyesore is unacceptable. It appears […]

West Ashley Parks and Public Facilities

New public facilities have been built West of the Ashley in recent years, but predominantly in conjunction with new construction on the periphery of the city. This is fine for attracting people to the new neighborhoods in the farthest reaches of the suburbs, but it does nothing for the older West Ashley neighborhoods which have […]

West Ashley Transportaton Issues

Public transportation may seem limited to buses for now, but might we consider using small rubber tire trolleys, somewhat like elongated golf carts, on the old ACL and SAL rights of way that could shuttle residents from South Windermere all the way to the Clemson Extension with the historic crossing at DuPont, where passengers could […]

West Ashley Neighborhood Revitalization and Affordable Housing

Less affluent neighborhoods with “good bones” like Ardmore have the ability to provide significant affordable housing in an area that desperately needs it. The problem is that people are scared to invest in areas where the only City Department with any visibility in the neighborhood is the Police Department.

West Ashley Community Image

Code enforcement must be intensified. The best way to protect our tax base and keep our tax rates low is to have a strong code enforcement program in both the City and the County. A proactive property maintenance program is essential for private properties as well as public rights of way. There are sidewalks in […]

West Ashley Zoning Issues

The two jurisdictions that control land use in the West Ashley area, the City of Charleston and Charleston County, have never been able to finalize and adopt common community standards for the appropriate level of intensity of commercial uses along the West Ashley commercial corridors. The City and the County must adopt mutually agreed upon […]

West Ashley Identity is key

One of the first things that we must do for our community is to document and make available to our residents the wonderful history of this place that we call home. For the most part, residents of West Ashley are completely ignorant of its history. The fundamental problem with that fact is that people do […]