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Hardeeville council approves master plan for future YMCA

Bluffton Today

Hardeeville City Council recently approved plans for even more recreational opportunities for those all around the area and Lowcountry.

At its May 18 meeting, council approved final reading of the Master Plan for the James Fisher Memorial Foundation YMCA, which will be Hardeeville's first "Y". Initial plans were for the project to break ground in 2022; officials said construction delays have moved the tentative opening date to early in 2025.

The new state-of-the-art facility, in its first phase, will be a 35,000-square-foot building near SC-170 at East Argent and will feature a child-care center, an aquatic complex, sports fields, a fitness center and an indoor, six-lane pool. The new facility will be located across from Oldfield, a gated community in Okatie.

There are 19.9 total acres for the facility, and its second phase, officials previously said, will include an additional 18,000 square feet for multi-purpose fields for outdoor sports. City officials said there would also be a large amount of open and active space, with trails and walkways throughout the project. The closest YMCA in reference to Hardeeville is located in Port Royal, more than 30 miles from the city.

"When we started this, we did a study and that helped determine the needs in the community and what the community wants," Michael Bostwick, CEO of Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry said during council's May 4 meeting.

Bostwick told council one of the big things that the community was asking for was a pool, followed by child care and fitness programs.

"This is why those are the initial things we are focusing on," he said.

Jack Fisher, CEO and founder of Preserve Communities, spearheaded the project, donating 20 acres at East Argent, a 7,350-acre master-planned community, according to a news release.

Fisher founded the James Fisher Memorial Foundation to honor his son's passion and further his company's commitment to community.

Bostwick informed council a $1.5 million USDA grant from U.S. Congressman James Clyburn's office would help the project get underway, as the funding had already been approved.

A May 18 news release from Clyburn stated the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program was awarding $12.7 million in Community Facilities Direct Loans to Jasper County projects.

"Part of the funding will be utilized to construct the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry, a new YMCA facility in Hardeeville," the release said.

The press release said "this funding builds upon the $1.5 million Community Project Funding (CPF) Congressman Clyburn secured for the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry through the Fiscal Year 2023 House Appropriations Package.''

The Hardeeville Recreation Center has been working in conjunction with the YMCA and already has some YMCA programs at the center, Hardeeville Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Jennifer Combs said during the May 4 council meeting. Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams also mentioned the city did not include plans for a pool in its rec center plans because leaders were aware of the future plans for the YMCA and that the two work together on other various programs.

"That’s the great thing about the location of this facility," Bostwick previously said. "We will be able to serve Bluffton, Hardeeville, Ridgeland, Okatie and the (entirety) of Jasper County from the James Fisher Memorial Foundation YMCA. We plan to assist people from all walks of life, all ages and backgrounds in the surrounding community through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all."

Ralph Fuller, Beaufort-Jasper YMCA’s Board chairman, said in a news release the board of directors is looking forward to construction and completion of its newest branch.

“We believe the programs and services to be provided by the YMCA will positively impact the health and well-being of the youth, adults and senior population in the Hardeeville community,” Fuller said.

Mayor Williams said during council's May 18 meeting he could not wait for the ribbon cutting for the new YMCA.

"It will be a great benefit to our community," he said. "We are real excited. It's a wonderful addition to the city of Hardeeville."

While the Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry has received a variety of grants to help fund the project, it is continuing to seek donations from community members, a YMCA news release said. Those who would like to contribute can contact Mike Bostwick, Beaufort-Jasper YMCA CEO, at m.bostwick@beaufort-jasperymca.org.

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. —

South Carolina state and local Jasper County leaders gathered in a news conference in Hardeeville Thursday to announce the expansion of a portion of I-95 and adding an exit with direct access to a new 4,000-acre development project.

"We're going to bring jobs. We're going to bring more opportunities," said Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams.

"This Exit 3 is an integral part of that expansion," said South Carolina District 42 Sen. Tom Davis.

Exit 3 is a part of the Riverport Master Development Project, which will bring a 4,260-acre commercial, industrial and residential area just south of Hardeeville. Watch the video below to see the concept design.

Within Riverport would be new homes, businesses and restaurants, according to Williams. Furthermore, 15 million square feet. of warehousing will be available for businesses to occupy.

“It’s going to become the corridor of opportunity, and I’m really excited about that. I mean, everybody in South Carolina is lining up behind this," Davis said. "The SCDOT secretary, the chairman of the state infrastructure bank, the governor of S.C, Henry McMaster, Jasper County, the city of Hardeeville.”

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According to project designers, not only will the new Exit 3 allow for easier access on and off of I-95, but it will provide a new hurricane evacuation route and will decrease congestion on residential roadways.

“It keeps some of the truck traffic off the residential roads because now they have a very easy access to the industrial complex and also the port, which it will be serving," Williams said.

A key point of Thursday's news conference was education and bolstering the Jasper County school system. With the new Riverport, new residents, more businesses and a higher tax base will help to not only expand on education within the county, but keep residents staying within Hardeeville, according to Jasper County Superintendent Dr. Rechel Anderson.

“To all of us that have pulled together to ensure that opportunity for young people to continue to exist, but it exists beyond now, it will be there for them in the future," Anderson said. "Exit 3 is one of those major examples of economic development and the partnership with education."

There is no current timeline for the project, as lawyers for the improvement say they are waiting for state and federal approval. They hope a decision will come by the end of the year.

Once approved, the South Carolina Department of Transportation can make their own plan, and give clarity on a timeline for completion.

"We want to hear from the public. We want to explain what's going to happen or will happen," Williams said.

Residents can comment on the proposed project through Aug. 10, 2024. You can do it either by email or on the project’s website.

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (WTOC) - The City of Hardeeville is holding a public information meeting on the future of the Riverport Development District.

The proposed Riverport development would bring exit 3 to I-95, as well as over 4,000 acres of commercial, light-industrial and residential buildings. Lowcountry leaders from the state and local level believe the development would lead to major economic growth, with high paying jobs and improved infrastructure.

It’s a classic Hardeeville story of growth.

“Easier access along I-95 by widening, it includes adding an exit, exit 3. And it includes industrial complex on 5,000 acres,” Harry Williams, MAyor of Hardeeville.

The way Mayor Williams and other officials describe it, all aspects of the project would work in unison. The new industrial development would create high-paying warehouse jobs, those workers would need to eat, so new restaurants would come with the commercial space. Then on the traffic side, there’s the plan to build exit 3, which would go from I-95 to Riverport. Officials say this exit would also have gas stations and restaurants, leading to more jobs.

It’s a major development plan, and officials believe it would change Jasper County’s reputation.

“There was a documentary calling this area the corridor of shame, well thanks to the leadership of Mayor Williams, and thanks to the developer here, and thanks to my friend here on the left who I’ll introduce in a moment, it’s going to become a corridor of opportunity,” said Tom Davis, S.C. State Sen.

That ‘corridor of opportunity’ is supposed to extend to the school system in Jasper County as well. With the commerce generated from the project, officials say a big part of that money will go to the school district.

“If we can certainly generate revenue by all of our individual visitors who are coming to our beautiful area, then for us, it allows us to extend those innovative ideas and opportunities for young people that have never existed before,” said Dr. Rechel Anderson, Superintendent, Jasper County School District.

Mayor Williams told me that if everything is approved, it should take around three years for exit 3 to be done, I-95 to be widened, as well as improvements to exit 5 and 8.

The public information meeting is happening now until 7, so if you have any questions about the project, you can come here and learn more.

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (WTOC) - Hardeeville leaders celebrated a project nearly 20 years in the making today, holding a ribbon cutting for the city’s commerce park.

In 2006, this project was an empty plot of land that the City of Hardeeville just acquired. Now, 18 years later, city leaders cut the ribbon on Hardeeville commerce park, touting 1.1 million square feet of buildings, and 300-600 high paying jobs.

The process of getting the Commerce Park ready for businesses to start construction took nearly two decades, with applying and re-applying for grants, working through the pandemic, countless city council meetings, upgrading infrastructure like water lines and more.

“One of the mantras I live by is all good things come to those who wait and by God, we waited a long time,” said Michael J. Czymbor, City Manager, Hardeeville.

Czymbor told me when he joined the city in 2015, he worked to make it a priority to get the park finished. He believes the park is a major benefit to the city.

“This is an astronomical boost to, A: our economy, tax base, and job creation ability,” said Czymbor.

Speaking of astronomical in 2017 WTOC reported that Hardeeville was projected to double in size. Back then, Mayor Harry Williams showed off ‘Starship Hardeeville’ representing the city’s adventure of growth, this morning, he announced the starship’s mission status.

“Today we celebrate Starship Hardeeville’s mission to explore new opportunities and to seek new innovations, and to boldly go where Hardeeville has never gone before,” said Harry Williams, Mayor of Hardeeville.

Now, the construction on the park begins building permits for the new commerce park have already been issued. It will feature light manufacturing, storing and logistics, and services to assist shipping at Savannah’s ports. The park sits right off exit 5 on I-95 and along a railway, making it a convenient shipping route.

Hardeeville’s City Manager told WTOC that the park is an astronomical boost to the city’s economy, taxpayers and ability to create jobs.

The project to build the commerce park began in 2006 with the land acquisition, but took nearly two decades to open for construction. The town’s city manager spoke about many of the challenges faced during his speech, and is happy finally seeing his work complete.

“Until I got here in 2015, it really wasn’t a priority. The council basically said we are going to develop the commerce park, we are going to revitalize the downtown and how do we do it, we build a commerce park that employees people and produces economy,” said Michael J. Czymbor, City Manager, Hardeeville.

Czymbor says that by fall or early next year, Commerce Park should have its first buildings up.

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.

The UConn men’s golf team has had the ideal season up to this point, winning numerous competitions, including the UConn Invitational at GreatHorse, Big East Match Play and the Surf Club Invitational. The Huskies have also added numerous top five finishes to their resume and are looking for revenge in this year’s Big East Championship.

For Connecticut to win its first in-conference championship in three years, the program will need a short recap of how last season ended. In the Huskies’ previous campaign, the program performed well throughout the regular season, although they couldn’t put the pieces together at the Riverton Pointe Golf and Country Club, finishing ninth in a field of 10. However, this shouldn’t deter Connecticut fans from believing the team can flip the script.

UConn fans should look out for Jimmy Paradise to lead the program. The senior Florida native was a key player all last season, and that hasn’t changed just because the calendar has. Paradise has consistently finished atop the leaderboard for Connecticut this year. He is also coming off an excellent performance, finishing in the top 10 of the competitive Rutherford Invitational, where the rest of the program failed to get going as they had hoped.

Another player who could give the rest of the field trouble is Tommy Dallahan, who has been nothing short of excellent as well. The Simsbury native also put together a top-10 performance in the program’s last appearance. How the two seniors get out of the gates will play a significant role in whether the program leaves the Palmetto State victorious.

The other athletes’ performances will also play a deciding role. Luckily, for UConn fans, no golfer has had a true “poor outing” in recent memory, and all of them tend to finish within a couple of strokes of each other. If the program wishes to succeed in this outing, it will need that same consistency when it treks to South Carolina.

This year’s tournament will take place on the same course as last year’s, meaning that the coaches will be able to plan for anything abnormal that the golfers need to look out for, not to mention individual strategies to attack each hole. As good as UConn was last season, they have taken it to a different level this season, and fans should expect a strong performance from Connecticut. The action will commence from April 27 to April 29.