NORTH CHARLESTON — The city of North Charleston is planning to make a $6 million purchase of about 400 acres of land around Ingleside Boulevard, property that will be used to develop what the city is calling an urban park.

But this recreational amenity that some say will enhance quality of life is raising concerns about livability.

City Council voted unanimously April 27 to move forward with buying the property, currently owned by Weber USA Corp. The tracts of land make up what is known as the Ingleside Weber Park System, located west of Interstate 26.

Most of the property consists of wetlands, though just over 100 acres are highlands, or areas that can be walked or built upon. The idea is to use the 400-acre space to create a passive park that will include boardwalks, walking paths and nature trails.

Instead of having to travel elsewhere to hike or enjoy the outdoors, people in North Charleston will be able to practice that kind of recreational activity essentially in their own backyard, Mayor Keith Summey said.

To pay for the land purchase, $3 million is being provided in Charleston County Greenbelt funds, $1 million in city tax-increment finance district funds, $1 million from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, and $1 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

City spokesman Ryan Johnson said North Charleston is doing the project because the plan is a good use of greenbelt funds, which are designed to help conserve outdoor space. It was also convenient that North Charleston was able to secure additional grant opportunities, Johnson added. There is no timetable yet for the park’s construction.

“Having a big park in an urban core is a very good amenity,” he said.

The idea of a park that could potentially bring more noise to the area alarmed Councilwoman Virginia Jamison, who has been fighting for a decade for a sound barrier to be built along I-26 to protect members of Deerpark, Northwood Estates and other adjacent communities from the blaring sounds of traffic commuting along the highway. Acquiring necessary funding from the city, county or state to build the wall has not been successful.

During a recent Finance Committee meeting, Jamison said her constituents are concerned about the increased levels of sounds emitting from the interstate and they are also worried that more noise will come from the new park. Traffic could also increase soon, as the county’s new Palmetto Commerce Interchange will soon be constructed nearby at Weber Boulevard.

Other development is also on the way to Ingleside Boulevard, which is already home to a few neighborhoods, several churches and a handful of businesses. Developers are planning on the southern end of the boulevard to build a town center that will include retail and restaurant space, a parking deck, hundreds of apartment units, and hundreds of hotel rooms.

Jamison called on City Council to take noise reduction seriously.

“If this body is not concerned about the livability and quality of life in our city, then I have a problem,” said Jamison, who did not attend the April 27 full council meeting.

Councilwoman Dorothy Williams echoed her concerns.

Summey implied that the park will center on passive nature, pointing to its focus on walking trails. The only physical building that will be constructed at the park is a facility to house restrooms and first aid.

Five world-class illusionists will stage incredible interactive illusions at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center May 2. This mind-bending theatrical production called Champions of Magic includes stunts such as an impossible escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, mind-blowing mentalist predictions and levitation high above the stage.

One of the five performers, Hollie England, said she performs artistic magic acts. In the show, England swallows needles and plays with fire while dressed as an Alice in Wonderland-inspired character.

Mentalist Alex Mcaulay will “dive into the audience’s minds,” England said. “We interact with and use the audience in very different kinds of ways. Alex, he reads people’s minds. The thoughts in your head, he can delve in there and get them out.

“And then, we have Fernando Velasco, an escapologist. He does some death-defying escapes, from diving into water tanks with handcuffs to getting out of a straitjacket,” she said.

A duo called “Young and Strange” will also perform, creating large-scale illusions in the vein of well-known magician David Copperfield.

“There’s definitely a lot of audience participation, so if you want to get picked for something, then there’s a lot of chances it might happen,” England said. “It’s for the whole family, and it’s got a large variety of things in the show, so everyone’s going to find something that they enjoy.”

The five illusionists in Champions of Magic have been compared to the characters of the 2013 film, Now You See Me, in which charismatic magician Atlas (played by Jesse Eisenberg) leads a team of talented illusionists.

The film, predictability, gets some things wrong about being a stage illusionist, England said, mostly that they perform acts which simply can’t be done in real life. It does, however, get some things totally right.

“They each have their own speciality of magic that they do, which is accurate to us as well,” England said. “I also love how they work together, which is something that Champions of Magic also does. We have multiple acts we do together as a group, and that’s really cool because you see how we interact with each other, and how we create magic together.”

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Charleston is and has always been a “happy hour city,” with establishments providing discounted libations and appetizers to get the party started in the late afternoon. But what makes a happy hour essential? These Charleston destinations provide the best deals on booze and bites, along with an environment fit for socializing with the group. Next time, when the afternoon hits, head to one of these 10 Charleston establishments.

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The Tattooed Moose serves some of the best bar food around, and corn dogs and duck fat fries are only $2.50 during happy hour. A 16-ounce can of PBR will only set you back $1.50 and shots of Jameson are $4. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where else can you find $1 oysters and $1 glasses of bubbly? Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant might be the only spot around. There’s always a special here, including $5 martinis on Thursdays. Be sure to have that Uber lined up.

Edmund’s Oast calls it “Sad Times Happy Hour.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, customers can order the following items for half off: frozen drinks, house draft beer, curly fries, fish sauce and vinegar chips, and Korean chicken “dunkaroos.”

Neighborhood spot Herd Provisions offers an expansive happy hour menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar or on the patio. Find a $7 Old Fashioned, $4 beers, and $6 bubbly. The burgers (beef and vegetable versions) or a piles of poutine are only $8.

Rutledge Avenue dive bar Moe’s Crosstown has a generous weekday happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The unpretentious service features PBR for $1.75 and appetizers like mac and cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers for $5.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can score a super cold mini martini (a tiny ‘tini) at Babas on Cannon for just $5. These gin cocktails may be small, but they pack a punch. The best deal in town is on Fridays when Babas hosts an apertivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free snacks like olives, boquerones, tapenades, dips, and plenty of bread and chips.

Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Italian restaurant Indaco offers $7 glasses of wine and pints of beer, as well as discounts on polpette, flatbread, and a margherita pizza. This is a great jumping off point for King Street adventures.

Head towards Shem Creek, because French seafood spot Nico features $5 glasses of wine and beer. Happy hour goers can also sip discounted champagne while munching on $1.75 oysters. Discounts apply Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Stop by Mexican spot Pink Cactus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, for tequila and taco hour for $6 margaritas and $3 queso. The patio is a perfect place to end the work day.

Catch Estadio’s happy hour quickly (it’s only from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), because you don’t want to miss the gin and tonics for only $5. Try the Sevillana version with orange gin, Aperol, and orangey Sweatman tonic. There’s also $5 sangria and a $5 snack bowl.

The happy hour specials at Co are plentiful and ideal for those looking to snack alongside an adult beverage. Sake carafes are half off and select beers and wine go for $4. For $5, customers can score crab rangoons, beef and kimchi dumplings, or a yellow curry dish.

The Tattooed Moose serves some of the best bar food around, and corn dogs and duck fat fries are only $2.50 during happy hour. A 16-ounce can of PBR will only set you back $1.50 and shots of Jameson are $4. Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where else can you find $1 oysters and $1 glasses of bubbly? Pier 41 in Mount Pleasant might be the only spot around. There’s always a special here, including $5 martinis on Thursdays. Be sure to have that Uber lined up.

Edmund’s Oast calls it “Sad Times Happy Hour.” From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, customers can order the following items for half off: frozen drinks, house draft beer, curly fries, fish sauce and vinegar chips, and Korean chicken “dunkaroos.”

Neighborhood spot Herd Provisions offers an expansive happy hour menu from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar or on the patio. Find a $7 Old Fashioned, $4 beers, and $6 bubbly. The burgers (beef and vegetable versions) or a piles of poutine are only $8.

Rutledge Avenue dive bar Moe’s Crosstown has a generous weekday happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The unpretentious service features PBR for $1.75 and appetizers like mac and cheese bites, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers for $5.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can score a super cold mini martini (a tiny ‘tini) at Babas on Cannon for just $5. These gin cocktails may be small, but they pack a punch. The best deal in town is on Fridays when Babas hosts an apertivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free snacks like olives, boquerones, tapenades, dips, and plenty of bread and chips.

Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Italian restaurant Indaco offers $7 glasses of wine and pints of beer, as well as discounts on polpette, flatbread, and a margherita pizza. This is a great jumping off point for King Street adventures.

Head towards Shem Creek, because French seafood spot Nico features $5 glasses of wine and beer. Happy hour goers can also sip discounted champagne while munching on $1.75 oysters. Discounts apply Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Stop by Mexican spot Pink Cactus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, for tequila and taco hour for $6 margaritas and $3 queso. The patio is a perfect place to end the work day.

Catch Estadio’s happy hour quickly (it’s only from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), because you don’t want to miss the gin and tonics for only $5. Try the Sevillana version with orange gin, Aperol, and orangey Sweatman tonic. There’s also $5 sangria and a $5 snack bowl.

The happy hour specials at Co are plentiful and ideal for those looking to snack alongside an adult beverage. Sake carafes are half off and select beers and wine go for $4. For $5, customers can score crab rangoons, beef and kimchi dumplings, or a yellow curry dish.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A governmental engineering company will invest $2.5 million to expand its Charleston County operations, it announced Thursday.

Defense Engineering Systems is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that provides high-value engineering and manufacturing services for the aerospace and defense industry, governor’s office spokesman Brandon Charochak said.

“DES is excited to expand our engineering and prototype manufacturing operations in Charleston County. Operations have grown year over year for a decade,” Defense Engineering Services Managing Principals Bob Cole and Greg Gordon said in a joint statement, “This growth can be attributed to the business-friendly environment and technically capable workforce of South Carolina and Charleston County.”

The new investment will create 45 new jobs.

“We are fully committed to supporting our existing businesses, and we are thrilled to see DES’ announcement that will bring more than 45 jobs to Charleston County,” Gov. Henry McMaster said. “We look forward to further strengthening our long-standing partnership with them in the years to come.”

The company works to solve problems on high-performance systems involving mechanical and electrical engineering, testing and evaluation, design and systems engineering, and survivability engineering. DES services the U.S. Department of Defense through vehicle systems integration, automotive design, survivability solutions, reverse engineering and obsolescence issues, while also serving the U.S. Army with medical training systems and innovative armor, Charochak said.

The company’s new 53,000-square-foot facility at 6920 Weber Blvd. in North Charleston will accommodate manufacturing space for large-scale projects and add manufacturing capabilities to its prototype and low-rate initial production shop.

The expansion will be complete in May and operations are already online. Individuals interested in joining the DES team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

A charter school in North Charleston will close its doors after this school year following a history of violations and instances of noncompliance.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A charter school in North Charleston will close its doors after this school year following a history of violations and instances of noncompliance, according to the Charter Institute at Erskine.

Gates School has been in operation since August of 2021, “founded to serve students with a primary diagnosis of dyslexia,” according to the school’s website.

The Charter Institute at Erskine’s Board of Directors, tasked with authorizing charter schools in South Carolina, voted Monday to revoke the charter of Gates School “due to systemic findings of noncompliance of state and federal special education law.”

The board had previously met Mar. 16, 2022 and voted to revoke Gates School’s charter for the same reason, but an appeal hearing from the school gave them a second chance at keeping their doors open and remedying “it’s ongoing noncompliance,” the Institute says.

Live 5 has previously reported on the school’s history of noncompliance, including when the Charter Institute at Erskine paused enrollment just months after the school’s opening due to staffing shortages, specifically special education teachers.

“The Board and our District are tasked with ensuring that every student’s rights are protected under the law and that our schools are complying with all legal and regulatory requirements imposed by our federal and state governments,” Dr. Steven Adamson, President of Erskine College and Chairman of the Charter Institute Board, said. “As we move forward, the Institute and the Board are committed to ensuring a smooth transition.”

As of April 24, 2023, about 95 students were enrolled at Gates School, according to the Charter Institute at Erskine. The Institute says it will notify parents of the closure and work with families to “provide a smooth transition for their students.”

Ashley Epperson, Director of Communications for the Charter Institute at Erskine, provided this statement regarding the school’s violations:

The Gates School’s history of noncompliance has been extensive. As a result of Gates School’s systemic noncompliance, their students with disabilities are owed more than 220,000 minutes of special education services that the school was required by law to provide. The Charter Institute, in an attempt to remedy this systemic special education noncompliance, provided ongoing support, trainings, and site visits to the school. In an effort to impress upon the administration of Gates School the seriousness of these matters, the Institute placed multiple sanctions on the school from 2021-2023, including the issuance of multiple notices of noncompliance, multiple corrective action plans, and multiple enrollment freezes.

Stephanie Sams, Founding Board Chair for Gates School issued the following statement after Monday’s announcement:

Gates School community is heartbroken and disappointed that the Charter Institute at Erskine Board disregarded the information from special education compliance experts that no statutory grounds for revocation exist. Gates School has always been dedicated to appropriate service and exceptional instruction and experiences for our dyslexic learners. Our focus will always remain on them and their best next steps. The Gates School Board and community will be taking under consideration those best next steps although I have been told that parents have already filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

The Charter Institute at Erskine says this is the first charter the board has revoked. Over the past decade, 14 charter schools have been closed in South Carolina.

The Charter Institute at Erskine is compiling a full list of Gates School’s violations and instances of noncompliance.

Officials with Gates School have yet to respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.