Roofer in Charleston, SC

It’s often said that what’s old eventually becomes new again; you just have to wait long enough. This certainly applies to fashion, and I hope it also applies to planning and development.

Let’s take the “mixed-use building” concept, meaning combining and integrating multiple uses within a single structure. For many, mixed-use buildings are a novel and rather peculiar idea these days. Historically, however, not only have mixed-use projects been the norm in all civilizations, but people have been building that way going back at least 6,000 years.

For example, archaeological discoveries from Mesopotamia and depictions in the “Epic of Gilgamesh” reveal how Sumerians built meticulously planned cities, which included mixed-use structures containing residences, shops, workshops and livestock all under one roof. Incidentally, the Sumerian city of Uruk had about 50,000 inhabitants at its height in 2900 B.C. – matching the population of Summerville. At the time, Uruk was the largest city in the world. (Surprisingly, archaeologists found no records of traffic complaints from city residents.)

Fast forward to ancient Rome, and we find mixed-use buildings in the form of covered markets with apartments or administrative offices on the floors above. Similarly, the streets of medieval-era English villages were lined with shops and taverns at ground level and with owners’ living quarters or rental flats upstairs. Closer to home, most pre-war American towns were built with the ubiquitous mixed-use “Main Street” buildings; we needn’t look further than Summerville’s Hutchinson Square.

Even if the buildings themselves weren’t truly mixed-use, buildings with different uses were routinely built immediately adjacent to each other on the same block: the post office, church, merchant shops, offices, theater, school and private homes around the corner. This type of development, where one can easily walk between most day-to-day destinations and from home, was standard in the U.S. until about 70 years ago. Then, a complete reversal came about.

The 1940s and 1950s saw a concerted effort to suburbanize America and enact new zoning regulations that – in the name of “health and safety” – discouraged or even disallowed combining uses and focused on physically separating them by distance and “buffer” zones. (This is understandable for noxious industrial uses, but what’s wrong with having a convenience store at the end of a residential street?) The result was an extinguishing of mixed-use development and the onset of sprawl – a pattern of single-use, horizontally oriented developments scattered across the landscape and approachable only by automobile.

In response to this failed planning experiment, concerned architects and planners formed a movement called New Urbanism in the early 1990s. They urged a return to traditional mixed-use developments and walkable, pedestrian-oriented communities. Some of New Urbanism’s design principles and guidelines are in today’s updated zoning ordinances, including Summerville’s Unified Development Ordinance. As a result, we are finally starting to see the pendulum slow down and reverse its swing back toward human-scale development in some towns and cities.

Yet, there are problems with some mixed-use projects being built today. Being unfamiliar with how mixed-use is supposed to work, and despite their good intentions, many developers – as well as planners and architects – are simply repackaging the single-use planning template and labeling it “mixed-use.”

Without naming projects, we can recall plenty of recent developments being touted and marketed as “mixed-use,” yet many don’t function as such. For instance, if a developer divides 60 acres into three areas, placing a retail strip center on 20 acres, some office buildings on another 20 acres, and multifamily housing on the remaining 20 acres, that would not meet the true meaning or purpose of mixed use. The buildings, surrounded by oceans of parking, would be too far apart and have no synergy. A strip center isn’t all that interesting to walk along, and office buildings without active ground-level use turn into ghost towns on weekends and after 5 p.m. Even with some tenuous walkways connecting the three areas, none of the uses would be integrated, and there would be little reason for the residents of the multifamily area to walk anywhere. In reality, the developer will have built three “single-use” projects of 20 acres each.

Solutions that work better are those that stack offices or apartments above ground floor retail or other active uses, which attract pedestrians and bring life to streets. This more efficient arrangement frees up space for additional buildings needed to form walkable, well-defined streets and blocks – the fundamental elements required for human-scale neighborhoods. By integrating uses, parking can now be shared and reduced because peak demand times for offices and retail are opposite and complementary. Ideally, parking should be placed along streetside curbs and tucked behind or to the side of buildings, avoiding large expanses of open lots.

All these things are achievable through good design, but there are several hurdles to overcome:

First, many outdated zoning ordinances still require segregation of uses and excessive amounts of dedicated parking, which often results in more surface parking area than building footprint. It’s hard to make a community out of parking lots.

Second, developers tend to specialize in only one building typology, such as single-family homes, multifamily housing, shopping centers, or commercial. Unfortunately, some lenders have similar limitations, although this is changing with many recent project precedents available to use for financial modeling.

Third, developers are naturally risk-averse – after all, they are wagering a lot of money on the success of a project. So, they tend to look to what other developers have done before them. They don’t realize that, except for a few, the developers are all standing in a circle, replicating each other’s projects. Only a few savvy ones see the opportunities mixed-use projects offer.

Regarding financial return, there is no question mixed-use projects and mixed-use neighborhoods create greater value – just compare the rents and prices of properties in downtown Charleston with those of North Charleston. It’s because most people prefer to live within walking distance of community resources, stores, entertainment and work opportunities and are willing to pay a premium for it.

For this new year, let’s hope what’s old will be new again because well-designed mixed-use projects and neighborhoods are essential ingredients for the health and vitality of our towns. Developers who want to differentiate themselves, leave a positive legacy and make better returns on their investments may want to look into this “new” old concept of mixed-use. Just don’t be fooled by poor imitations.

Eric Epstein is a Summerville resident and the principal of Epstein Architecture, a design practice focusing on projects that bring people together. He has also taught architecture and urban design and is an occasional visiting critic at architecture schools. He may be reached at eric@epsteinarchitecture.com.

The owners of Oak Road Brewery at 108 E. 3rd North St. in Summerville announced the business is closing Dec. 31 after more than eight years.

Founded in 2014 and serving the Summerville community since 2015, Oak Road Brewery’s mission has been to support the local community by providing more than just craft beer. From creating a space where all are welcome to partner with more than 30 community organizations, Oak Road Brewery is a staple of the Summerville Community.

Owners Ben Bankey, Brian Cox and Erin Cox said in a Facebook post the closure is unavoidable, explaining they are proud of what they’ve been able to build together as a community.

“We know the brewery is more than just a place to drink craft beer. It’s a place where families and friends gather to listen to live music, enjoy great food, take part in community events and create memories that last a lifetime,” according to the statement. “These are just a few reasons why this decision was one that we did not take lightly, and unfortunately, due to multiple reasons, it’s now become unavoidable. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for your support and for allowing Oak Road Brewery into your lives. We consider each one of you a member of the Oak Road Brewery family.”

The post was also an invite to a “Thanks for the Memories” party on Dec. 31.

“We know that as our friends and neighbors, this isn’t goodbye,” according to the Facebook post. “We are looking for new ways to make more memories with you in the future.”

Oak Road Brewery has received many accolades, including a U.S. Open Beer Championship Gold Medal, multiple medals from U.S. Beer Wars and South Carolina Brewers Guild and Summerville and Greater Dorchester Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year Award.

Four new restaurants offering a variety of flavors are on the way across the Charleston area.

On the peninsula, Thai offering The Mango Tree plans to open at 396 Huger St. beside vape shop KH Smoke. Renovations began after the first of the year. An opening date has not been announced.

In Moncks Corner, a new Italian restaurant called Capy’s plans to open at 323 E. Main St. where Chill-N-Grill Cafe once operated. The new dining venue beside Unity Park could open over the next few weeks, according to social media posts.

Also on the way are two new bagel shops.

Ruby’s New York Style Bagels plans to launch a fourth Lowcountry location by the spring at 3485 Park Avenue Blvd. in the Carolina Park development in northern Mount Pleasant. The opening is planned for late February or early March.

The eatery has other locations in Montague Corners Shopping Center on Dorchester Road in North Charleston, in Northcutt Plaza on Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant and in Crossroads Centre on Ashley River Road in West Ashley.

A fifth location is in the works for the developing Marketplace at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek where Publix supermarket will be built.

Also in the bagel business, Spread Bagelry is expected to open its second Lowcountry restaurant soon.

The new shop will be on the ground floor of apartment building Hoffler Place at King and Spring streets in downtown Charleston.

Retail

The company brought its first Lowcountry restaurant to 1400 Shucker Circle in the Oyster Park development off Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant last summer.

A spokeswoman said the new venue is ready to open but is awaiting final permits from the city.

On the way

A new retail shop is coming to a mixed-use development on Charleston’s lower peninsula.

Atlanta-rooted Hutton & Home, offering curated collections of original art, fine home furnishings and interior design services, plans to open in a 3,660-square-foot shop in the spring on the ground floor of The Jasper at 310 Broad St., according to its developer The Beach Co.

The business will join a variety of other shops and restaurants in the 12-story development that includes 25,000 square feet of first-floor retail space, 75,000 square feet of office space, 219 apartments and an enclosed parking garage.

Changing hands

A longtime Charleston-area embroidery business is now under new ownership and a new name.

Oakbrook Custom Embroidery Inc. at 960 Bacons Bridge Road in Palmetto Plaza in Summerville is now Infinite Creations.

Business

Vicki and Bill Gannon decided to retire and were going to close the 37-year-old Flowertown shop on Dec. 31, but Ericka Horne, the owner of Infinite Creations in the Publix-anchored Market at Cane Bay in Berkeley County, decided to buy the business.

The transaction occurred Jan. 2. Horne’s second shop will include gifts, etching, embroidery and other items.

“We are working with her to assure a smooth transition,” Vicki Gannon said.

No longer tentative

A Pawleys Island-based cafe and market opens Jan. 11 in Mount Pleasant.

Get Carried Away confirmed its soft opening will take place at 9 a.m. at 644 Coleman Blvd. in Moultrie Plaza Shopping Center after owner Brian Henry said last week the launch date was tentative, pending a final inspection.

The business offers a variety of menu items for in-house dining or to go from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Henry is considering opening on Sundays during the summer.

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Thursday's contest between the Charleston (SC) Cougars (11-4, 2-0 CAA) and the Elon Phoenix (8-7, 1-1 CAA) at TD Arena should be a one-sided matchup, as our computer prediction projects a final score of 82-70 and heavily favors Charleston (SC) to take home the win. Game time is at 7:00 PM ET on January 11.

Bookmakers have not yet set a line for this matchup.

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Charleston (SC) vs. Elon Game Info & Odds

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Charleston (SC) vs. Elon Score Prediction

Spread & Total Prediction for Charleston (SC) vs. Elon

Charleston (SC) is 5-8-0 against the spread this season compared to Elon's 5-7-0 ATS record. The Cougars have an 8-5-0 record hitting the over, while games involving the Phoenix have a record of 8-4-0 when it comes to hitting the over. Over the last 10 contests, Charleston (SC) is 5-5 against the spread and 8-2 overall while Elon has gone 4-6 against the spread and 4-6 overall.

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Other CAA Predictions

Charleston (SC) Performance Insights

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Thursday's contest between the Charleston (SC) Cougars (11-4, 2-0 CAA) and the Elon Phoenix (8-7, 1-1 CAA) at TD Arena has a good chance to be a lopsided matchup, as our computer prediction projects a final score of 82-70 and heavily favors Charleston (SC) to secure the victory. Game time is at 7:00 PM ET on January 11.

Bookmakers have not yet set a line for this matchup.

Watch live college basketball games from all over the country, plus ESPN originals and more NCAA hoops content on ESPN+!

Sportsbook Promo Codes

Elon vs. Charleston (SC) Game Info & Odds

Place your bets on any college basketball matchup at BetMGM, and sign up with our link for a first-time deposit bonus!

Elon vs. Charleston (SC) Score Prediction

Spread & Total Prediction for Elon vs. Charleston (SC)

Charleston (SC)'s record against the spread so far this season is 5-8-0, and Elon's is 5-7-0. A total of eight out of the Cougars' games this season have gone over the point total, and eight of the Phoenix's games have gone over. Over the past 10 games, Charleston (SC) is 5-5 against the spread and 8-2 overall while Elon has gone 4-6 against the spread and 4-6 overall.

Bet on this or any college basketball matchup at BetMGM

Other CAA Predictions

Elon Performance Insights

Rep your team with officially licensed college basketball gear! Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, and much more.

Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.

From The Bachelor Mansion to a sprawling Southern dream home!

After getting engaged on Thursday’s Golden Bachelor finale, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist tell PEOPLE they plan to start their lives together in Charleston, South Carolina.

“One of the things that I think fate played a hand in is the possibility of where we might wind up living,” Gerry says. “For the last couple of years, when my family gets together, I've talked about moving to South Carolina, and it's an idea I've toyed with. And then in conversation with Theresa, a private moment, she's saying, ‘Well, yeah, my son lives near Charleston in South Carolina.’”

Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner Told Fiancée in the Fantasy Suite He Planned to Propose: ‘I Was Very Confident’ (Exclusive)

Gerry currently lives in Indiana and Theresa hails from New Jersey, but that conversation made it easy for the couple to decide where they should reside.

“And all of a sudden it's like, there's a big problem that is gone,” Gerry says. “The issue of compromising on where to live and how to reconcile families and all of that is, it's no longer an issue.”

The reality stars hope their families will visit often. “We want to have a house that's so inviting that everyone would want to come,” Theresa, 70, says. “Maybe a pool so they all want to come and have fun.”

Lucky for Gerry and Theresa, their kids have already bonded.

“Our daughters, they're like sisters now,” the father of two says.

Theresa agrees. “My daughter says, ‘Thank you for giving me two more sisters,’” the financial services professional says. “She has a sister-in-law already but now, two more sisters.”

After his hometown date with Theresa’s family, Gerry saw her family as his own.

“I looked at Jen and it was like, ‘This could be my own daughter,’” Gerry says of his fiancée’s daughter. “ I literally was having those thoughts because she was so kind and she was so sensitive to the situation, to her mom and to me. The whole dynamic just worked.”

Theresa and Gerry plan to bring their families together to celebrate Hanukkah this month. “We'll have a holiday dinner together with everyone,” Gerry says.

As they’ve continued getting to know each other over phone calls and text messages these last few months, Gerry and Theresa learned they share similar views on one very important — albeit unromantic — facet of combining their lives.

“Financially, we're the same,” Gerry says. “The way we handle money is the same.”

Theresa clarifies that that means the pair consider themselves “somewhat frugal.”

While Gerry and Theresa look forward to moving in together, they don’t have an exact plan for when that will happen.

Golden Bachelor’s Fiancée Says She Started 'Slinking Away' When Gerry Turner Misspoke During Proposal (Exclusive)

“We've had conversations and we've narrowed it down to a time window, but that's always in flux,” the retired restaurateur says. “We have two homes to sell. We have other events that we're going to have to deal with and so forth.”

One major event: their live, televised wedding that will air on ABC in January.

“​​When you're in your 20s and you put something off for a year, it's a very small percentage of your life,” Gerry says. “In your 70s, the clock ticks faster. And I'm 100% certain I found the right girl for me. So it's like, why not?”

Gerry can’t wait for his future to unfold, but Theresa keeps him grounded.

“Fortunately, Theresa is the more patient, I think, of the two of us,” he says. “Me, I'm like, ‘Come on, let's go, it's time to go have fun. Life's a wasting. Let's go.’”

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The Golden Wedding will air Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.