Probate Lawyer in Summerville, SC

A second candidate has announced his intent to seek the seat representing District 3 on Summerville Town Council.

Matt Halter, a local business owner and engineer, said he decided to run for office because he believes his resume qualifies him to tackle many of Summerville’s current problems.

“I also believe your representative should be elected by you, not appointed by a select few elitists and those currently in power,” he said. “It’s time we had more than just figureheads in our local government – we need rock-solid leaders fighting for the best interests of our town and its taxpayers.”

Halter said that, over time, Summerville’s leadership “has bloated our government to the point of dysfunction” and has “recklessly allowed developers to overrun our town, bringing with them unmanageable traffic and a maze of red tape.”

“This is not leadership; it is a failure to serve the public interest,” he said. “While I support change and growth, the growth Summerville’s leaders approve needs to be in the best interest of our town. Some development can actually add to the value of our town, while apartment home communities, for example, add major traffic concerns, overrun our schools and produce housing that is not affordable, driving up the cost of rent and home ownership.”

A resume provided to the Journal Scene by Halter shows experience in government, the private sector and as a small business owner.

“I’m not an elitist in a line of politicians – I’m a regular citizen,” he said. “It’s time to bring strength and common sense back to our council. It’s time your family’s needs outweigh the wants of a privileged few. This is not about politics as usual; it’s about restoring a government that works for its people and bridges that gap between government and its citizens so that the government is ‘of the people, by the people and for the people. We need a government that listens, acts and delivers. I’m rock-solid and here to ensure Summerville thrives for all its residents.”

Halter has been married to his wife, Donna, for 32 years. She is an elementary school teacher in Dorchester School District 2 and manages the books for their business, Benchmark LDS.

Their son, Matt Jr., is a civil engineer, and their daughter, Lauren, is a registered nurse. Matt and Donna have two grandchildren.

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Matt is a graduate of Stratford High School and The Citadel. He became a registered professional engineer, land surveyor and licensed general contractor. His career began in Charleston, where, as an engineer and stormwater superintendent, he led projects and managed a team of more than 80 employees.

Matt went to work for the town of Summerville in 1996 as the town engineer and public works director. During this time, he wrote the town’s first development standards and founded the South Carolina Association of Stormwater Managers.

Matt ventured into the private sector in 2004, applying his engineering, land surveying and project management experience as the owner and president of Benchmark LDS.

“One of my more notable contributions was the design and construction of the Summerville Miracle League field on South Laurel Street,” he said. “This project wasn’t just about building a field; it was about creating a space where everyone in the community, regardless of their abilities, could come together and enjoy the spirit of the game.”

As one of the founding board members and president of the Summerville Miracle League, Matt, along with a team of citizens, raised more than $500,000 for the field, which was a joint venture between the town and private entities, which he said showcases his ability to “lead, collaborate and deliver.”

He has served on the Dorchester County Transportation Authority and was a multiple-term member of the town’s Commercial Design Review Board.

“In every role, I have demonstrated a consistent commitment to the betterment of Summerville,” he said. “My actions and achievements speak volumes about my dedication, making me not just a candidate for the town council but a true steward of the community’s well-being and future.”

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - A Summerville family says they moved out of their rented apartment at the recommendation of a doctor after months of seeing mold across the unit.

Breanna McCalla says her family moved to Summerville in the fall, but when they signed their lease at the Latitude at Wescott, they had no idea they would be moving again in less than six months.

“I think, a week after moving in that we noticed the first amount of mold up on the vents, which was the first thing that we noticed,” McCalla says.

She provided a screenshot of an email sent in October, alerting property managers about the mold, and asking that it be checked out and addressed. But McCalla says not only did nothing seem to get fixed, it instead got worse.

“I also have also lost multiple sentimental things that I can’t get back. I had a bag full of all my kids’ baby blankets that was covered in mold. You know, like baby items and clothing and things that you can’t replace,” McCalla says.

Staff at the Latitude at Wescott did not comment on the situation despite three attempts to ask if they were aware of the issue and, if so, whether any effort was made to address it.

Mary Templeton, a fellow in an Equal Justice Housing Works Program, specializes in renter cases at Charleston Pro Bono. She says tenants do have rights under South Carolina law.

“A lot of people don’t know their rights because South Carolina landlord-tenant law is not necessarily intuitive,” Templeton says. “So a big thing that I think that all tenants should know in South Carolina is just to make sure to document any issues you’re having. The more evidence you have of a problem, the easier it is to get it resolved, even if it does require court action.”

Parts of the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act say landlords must “comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety” and “make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.”

“I was constantly stressed about it with the kids, mainly with the mold. I mean, the other things we cleaned, and you know, it’s fine, but the mold, I know how serious mold is,” McCalla says.

She provided emails with management through December and January documenting continued mold appearances on vents and windows. She says the last straw for their family was when her daughter developed a persistent cough and her other two children also seemed to struggle with breathing.

“We’re doing doctors and taking antibiotics. She wasn’t testing for anything and we were starting to put the pieces together,” McCalla says.

On Feb. 10 at a follow-up doctor appointment, the provider made a note on McCalla’s daughter’s visit notes. It states, “Seek care at COEM (Center for Occupation & Environmental Medicine) for mold exposure along with treatment for cough symptoms.”

“The first thing she said was immediately you need to get out the only way you’re going to start feeling better and you know healing from this is removing yourself from the mold,” McCalla says.

Templeton says Charleston Pro Bono gets at least weekly if not daily requests for help with tenant issues. She says there are specific timelines for when certain types of issues should be fixed, and a professional can walk someone through their rights if they have the documentation.

“The more evidence you have of a problem, the easier it is to get it resolved, even if it does require court action,” Templeton says. “You always have to put a repair request for those things in writing. Landlords don’t have a duty to fix things unless they’ve received a written notice about the repairs that need to be made.”

While they are not in the habit of taking on mold cases because of the cost, she says documenting everything does a lot if you want to build a case to break your lease. Templeton says a mold case can be hard to prove but not impossible if people have the proof.

“With mold cases, if someone is looking into some sort of damages where you know, they think they’ve been injured because of the mold, their children are sick things of that nature…It’s very hard for legal aid providers to take on those cases just because we don’t have the sort of capital needed to kind of front the bill for those sorts of lawsuits,” Templeton says. “Typically, in those sorts of lawsuits. It’s my understanding that expert witnesses are needed, you know, who have to be paid. You get the property tested by maybe environmental organizations, things like that to see what the risk level is.”

McCalla, when breaking her lease, checked a box claiming to break through “no fault” not wanting to pay because of the mold maintenance issues. She says they have been in touch with a potential lawyer and are planning to get the family tested for mold levels at COEM.

“I know that I did as much as I could have I also wish I would have done more like I wish I would have been like in their face telling them like this is not okay,” McCalla says.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

A second Messina heard his name called during this week's MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Carson Messina, a right-handed pitcher from Summerville High, was picked in the 12th round by the Toronto Blue Jays on July 16. His older brother, Cole, the South Carolina catcher, was taken in the third round by the Colorado Rockies.

The younger Messina was also committed to South Carolina, so this will probably be another recruiting hit for the Gamecocks. One of the top high school pitching prospects in the state, Messina can run his fastball up to 97 mpb, according to MLB.com, and usually sits 92-95 with running action. He missed part of his senior season with a hamstring injury but was able to return and help Summerville advance to the Class AAAAA championship series.

South Carolina signee PJ Morlando, also from Summerville High, was picked by the Miami Marlins in the first round.

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Clemson had one recruit drafted in the third round, third baseman Chase Harlan, but the MLB draft completed on July 16 without draftable pitchers like Dane Moehler and Talan Bell coming off the board.

Several in-state pitchers, however, were taken on the final day. Charleston Southern pitcher Evan Truitt and Coastal Carolina's Alexander Meckley were taken in the 12th round by the Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals, respectively.

CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney's "Tiger Calls" radio show is no more.

But Tiger Texts has become a thing.

Swinney did not take calls from fans during his first coaches show of the season on Aug. 26, which previewed Clemson's opener with Georgia. The show has been renamed the Tiger Hour with Dabo Swinney.

But the show's radio station, WCCP, did take a couple of questions for Swinney via its text line at 864-654-7627.

The end of fans calling in was long expected. Swinney mentioned a change might be coming after a heated exchange with "Tyler from Spartanburg" following the Tigers' 4-4 start to last season.

"That's why no coaches take calls," Swinney said, referring to Tyler's admonishment for a .500 record despite the coach's eight-figure salary.

"Because people hijack the phone call. They want to hear themselves talk," Swinney added. "That's why most coaches around the country don't take calls."

Swinney then alluded to the idea of accepting written, prescreened questions in the future.

"That's probably what we'll start doing next year. They go to the thing and they go 'Kathleen from Clemson,'" Swinney joked, using his wife's first name. "She wants to know: What's your favorite ice cream?"

Swinney's exchange with Tyler from Spartanburg received national attention, especially after Clemson went on to win five straight games to end the season. But Swinney's call-in show mostly consisted of questions from doting fans.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - A large project aimed at improving the downtown business district’s look and feel is in the works for the Flowertown.

The goal of the Main Street Resiliency Program is to make heart of Summerville more accessible for pedestrians and overall more enjoyable for residents and visitors.

Officials say five blocks of downtown from the railroad tracks north to Highway 78, utilities like cable and phone lines are going to go underground and landscaping aesthetics will be improved.

Mayor Russ Touchberry says he’s excited about the $12 million project and is grateful to the state and county’s transportation sales tax for funding it.

“I like to call it ‘reclaiming our brand of excellence along North Main Street,’” Touchberry said. “This is a five block area that we can make look and feel like a linear park that you’re coming into when you enter our historic shopping district.”

Owner and Chef of Laura Summerville Nico Romo says he’s pleased the town is taking this step.

“Just continuing to add that small town vibe downtown and be able to walk around from place to place and restaurants, so I think that’ll be a lot of fun and people will appreciate it in the next couple years,” Romo said.

Touchberry says the town will make sure businesses along Main Street are coordinated with closely so that business is not negatively impacted.

“I hope it energizes our downtown for some reinvestment and kind of expands our business footprint and creates more foot traffic for our existing businesses,” Touchberry said.

Director of Bike/Walk Summerville Chris McClure says this is going to be a huge opportunity to turn the highly traveled street into something more productive.

“This could be a place where people can walk and bike safely and not have people driving at 40 miles an hour, just rushing past them. I think this street has a lot of potential being the downtown center that everybody knows and sees every day.”

It’s unknown at this time how long engineers will be working on the permitting and design process, but Touchberry estimates in about a year to a year-and-a-half, folks will see some of the work begin.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

NEW YORK, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Affiliates of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., ("Cantor Fitzgerald"), a leading global financial services firm and real assets investment company, and Silverstein Properties ("Silverstein"), a leading global full-service real estate development, investment, and management firm, announced that they have entered into a joint venture with Turnbull Development, LLC, a Charleston-based development firm. The venture intends to develop a mixed-use project encompassing 365 garden-style multifamily units across three buildings, and a 40,000-square-foot medical office building in a qualified opportunity zone in Summerville, SC.

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The venture simultaneously closed on $54 million in construction financing from SouthState Bank, to develop the project. Located at the corner of Berlin Myers Parkway and Highway 78 and strategically positioned within walking distance of Summerville's historic downtown area, the investment is part of a 57-acre mixed-use, master-planned development known as Sawmill. This highly anticipated project will have immediate and long-lasting impacts on Summerville and provide a connected, community-oriented environment where people can live, convene, and enjoy. The development will help the local Summerville government better respond to the growing demand for walkable, flourishing communities with convenient transit linkages, proximity to jobs, and access to nearby public services and destinations.

"Sawmill will be a vibrant, region-transforming community," said Milton Thomas, President of Turnbull Development. "We have spent the last four years developing the master plan, moving through entitlements, and working with the town of Summerville to ensure this will ultimately be one of the region's premier mixed-use developments."

"SouthState is committed to helping our communities thrive, and the Sawmill development will certainly contribute to Summerville's continued growth," said Thomas Anderson, SouthState Bank Coastal Division President. "As a leading regional bank in the Southeast, we are delighted to provide the capital needed to bring this important project to fruition."

Sawmill will be anchored by a two-story, Roper St. Francis medical office and will include a neighborhood grocery store and retail outparcels that will serve as convenience and service amenities for residents and employees. The multifamily component will have direct access to Sawmill Branch Canal and Greenway Trail and offers on-site outdoor amenities such as a pickleball court, a dog park, and a pool and clubhouse. Construction of the multifamily portion is expected to commence in July 2024.

"Summerville is a desirable residential destination near Charleston that benefits from the region's job and population growth," said Alex Cosio, Vice President, Silverstein Properties. "With preconstruction completed and financing in place, this development is positioned to further invigorate an already bustling community."

"The proximity to Historic Downtown Summerville places the project in an enviable location with essential amenities nearby. Residents have easy access to retail, culture, recreation, and dining," said Chris Milner, CIO, Real Assets at Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management. "Our partnership with Turnbull Development on this project and the location promise to have a positive impact on the community."

Cantor and Silverstein launched an opportunity zone business in early 2019 to invest in, develop, redevelop, and manage a diversified portfolio of institutional quality commercial real estate assets with an emphasis on multifamily properties located in qualified opportunity zones in the United States. Their opportunity zone development portfolio includes eleven projects in various stages of development exceeding $2.2 billion in total estimated project costs, an average of $203 million per project.

About Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. Cantor Fitzgerald, with over 12,500 employees, is a leading global financial services group at the forefront of financial and technological innovation and has been a proven and resilient leader since 1945. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is a preeminent investment bank serving more than 5,000 institutional clients around the world, recognized for its strengths in fixed income and equity capital markets, investment banking, SPAC underwriting and PIPE placements, prime brokerage, commercial real estate, and infrastructure, and for its global distribution platform. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is one of the 24 primary dealers authorized to transact business with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Cantor Fitzgerald is a leading SPAC sponsor, having completed multiple initial public offerings and announced multiple business combinations through its CF Acquisition platform. For more information, visit: www.cantor.com.

About Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management's investment platform consists of $13 billion of assets under management across mutual funds, interval funds, exchange-traded funds, separately managed accounts, unified managed accounts, non-traded REITs, opportunity zone funds, 1031 and 721 exchange vehicles, and other private investment vehicles managed on behalf of high net worth and institutional investors. The experience and knowledge of its senior leadership and portfolio management teams combined with the financial services prowess of industry leader, Cantor Fitzgerald, enable the delivery of a platform of solutions across a comprehensive range of capabilities. For more information, visit: www.cantorassetmanagement.com.

About Silverstein Properties Silverstein Properties is a privately held, full-service real estate development, investment, and management firm based in New York founded by Larry Silverstein. Silverstein Properties has developed, owned, and managed more than 40 million square feet of commercial, residential, retail, and hotel space. Recent projects include 7 World Trade Center, the first LEED-certified office tower in New York City (2006), 4 World Trade Center (2013), the Four Seasons Downtown (2016), One West End (2017) and 3 World Trade Center (2018). The company has been recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work in New York City" by Crain's New York Business. For more information, visit: www.silversteinproperties.com.

About Turnbull Development Turnbull Development, LLC is a full-service commercial real estate development company with a long and varied history of developing multifaceted projects in the Charleston, SC region. With decades of experience in real estate development and construction, Turnbull has established itself as a trusted partner in transforming ideas into realities that drive economic growth and elevate communities. The company's diverse portfolio showcases its expertise in creating innovative spaces that blend functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability across product types including industrial, office, retail, and mixed-use developments. In conjunction with Turnbull, marketing of the project will be handled by Lee & Associates Charleston, a local commercial real estate brokerage firm based in Downtown Charleston, SC.

About SouthState Bank SouthState Corporation (NYSE: SSB) is a financial services company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida. SouthState Bank, N.A., the company's nationally chartered bank subsidiary, provides consumer, commercial, mortgage and wealth management solutions to more than one million customers throughout Florida, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. The bank also serves clients coast to coast through its correspondent banking division. Additional information is available at SouthStateBank.com.

SOURCE Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.