Town leaders narrowly approve contract with chamber of commerce Tuesday night

BY ZACH MURDOCK

zmurdock@islandpacket.com

A divided Hilton Head Island Town Council narrowly approved a contract with its chamber of commerce at a marathon meeting Tuesday night.

The new, five-year contract between the town and the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce includes new parameters to give town leaders closer oversight of the more than $1.5 million in tax funding the chamber receives each year as the town's designated marketing organization.

The approval comes at the dismay of Mayor David Bennett, Councilman Lee Edwards and Councilman Marc Grant, however, who asked the council to revisit the contract's details after dozens of suggestions from residents and local business leaders during two hours of public comments.

"This is certainly still a step forward," Bennett said after the meeting. "Does it go far enough? Probably not, but I'm not here to put my personal desires above that of the majority of council.

"We spoke our minds. We said what we believed," he continued. "Now we must move forward."

Ultimately, support for the highly respected members of the chamber's board of directors -- nearly 20 of whom spoke in support of the contract Tuesday -- pushed Councilman John McCann to support the document as written. He went on to cast the swing vote on the agreement.

"The most important thing to me up until 10 p.m. last night, when I finally closed shop on this, was the quality of the people at the chamber," McCann said. "These are established business people that have the credentials that they're putting on the line for this. These people have credentials that would not let anything go wrong in their shop. For that reason, I will vote in favor of this contract."

The comments echoed those of nearly all the council members, especially Bill Harkins, Tom Lennox and Kim Likins, who enthusiastically supported the document as presented.

"I see people who are community leaders with impeccable credentials -- that are true representatives for what's best for the island," Harkins said ahead of the vote. "I can sleep quite well knowing they are overseeing this contract."

LINGERING CONCERNS

There are still concerns about the contract for Bennett, Edwards and Grant after hearing the public's comments Tuesday.

More than a dozen local residents and leaders raised concerns about the contract's length, performance measurements and details.

Chamber opponent Skip Hoagland and Beaufort County Councilwoman Cynthia Bensch admonished the contract's lack of a specific clause about the chamber's responsibility under the state's public records laws.

Business leaders David Ames and Carlton Dallas both suggested a competitive bidding process should be used to award the chamber its formal designation as the town's marketer. Bennett agreed.

"As a consumer, I price shop, I learn what people are trying to charge me," Bennett said. "I don't view this as any different, and I can't find myself to support a contract that doesn't spell out a fee that is being paid for the service."

Bennett and Grant also worried the contract does not address specifically a marketing vision for the island. Bennett suggested hiring a marketing expert to help the town craft specific guidelines for marketing that the chamber could incorporate into its annual plan.

Ultimately, though, support for the chamber was too strong to delay the contract for further discussions.

"Moving forward it will be my highest priority to make sure the town adequately puts in place the proper marketing plan and we'll go from there," Bennett said.

GOING FORWARD

Tuesday's vote ends months of scrutiny over the town's negotiations with the chamber.

"It's not so much a relief to have this done but a vote of confidence that the town knows we're headed in the right direction," said chamber board chairman Jay Wiendl, general manager of the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. "Now we can get back to business."

Wiendl, other board members and chamber president Bill Miles exchanged lots of hugs and handshakes after the vote.

"We're exciting about moving forward and putting these conversations behind us," Miles said. "The scrutiny, the discussions about metrics, it's good to have that formalized. Now let's get on with things."

That scrutiny was brought on largely by Hoagland, the chamber's most outspoken critic. He has led an aggressive, often vitriolic, behind-the-scenes campaign against the chamber and is locked in a lawsuit with the chamber over whether it is subject to public records laws.

"The fight continues," Hoagland said. "Quite frankly, I'm proud, even though we lost. The scrutiny we've brought is a good thing. I feel good about what I've done."

Contract Highlights

The proposed, five-year pact between the town and the chamber of commerce includes requirements that:

- The chamber maintain its current accreditation levels with the Destination Marketing Association International and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

- The chamber meet a dozen industry metrics that must be tracked and reviewed on a regular basis. If not met, the contract would establish a process for correcting underperformance and provide for regular inspection of certain financial records.

- The Town Council and chamber receive an annual third-party legal opinion that the chamber is in compliance with state accommodations tax and nonprofit regulations.

- The town leaders participate in the process of selecting future chamber auditing firms.

S.C. real estate group releases October housing market data

South Carolina Realtors has released its October real estate market reports.

The reports reveal the number of homes, condos and villas sold across the state compared with last year has declined by more than 5 percent, while the number of average days on market is also down by 12 percent compared with last year. New listings also decreased by almost 7 percent to 7,693, as did pending sales, which decreased 10 percent to 4,798.

BEAUFORT COUNTY REAL ESTATE PROFILE

Inventory shrank 6 percent to 37,453 units, but prices moved higher as the median sales price was up almost 8 percent to $174,460. Inventory was down throughout October by 17 percent to six months.

In Beaufort, the number of residential homes, condos and villas sold dropped 18.8 percent to 138.

In the Hilton Head Island area, the number dropped 4.2 percent to 316.

The median price increased in both areas, with Beaufort going up 6.2 percent to $175,000 and Hilton Head increasing 1.2 percent to $284,968.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/community/beaufort-news/article45239178.html#storylink=cpy

Harbour Town Sunset, August 2015

Daufuskie Island from South Beach, June 30, 2015

Mayor's Monthly Letter: July 2015

As seen in Celebrate Hilton Head Magazine 

Our hearts still ache over the recent tragedy in our sister city of Charleston, South Carolina.
So, in the midst of these troubled times, what should communities do to build and strengthen relationships? Several weeks ago, I was honored to be in attendance with my good friend, Alex Brown at a meeting where Grace Community Church of Hilton Head decided to partner with Central Oak Grove Baptist Church of Hilton Head, to begin building better bridges between the residents of our community.

Since then, and perhaps sensing an urgency to come together, many from our community have joined the effort, and the inaugural event will be held on July 4th,  Independence Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.at Honey Horn titled "One Island - One Community."

This inaugural picnic and fellowship event could not be more timely in the aftermath of the Charleston tragedy. It will be emceed by Lavon Stevens with plenty of music, food and children's activities. It will be a wonderful opportunity to promote fellowship. I encourage all residents to attend to honor those who lost their lives in Charleston and support local efforts to increase understanding, build relationships and encourage unity.

Bicycling Accolades
Over the years Hilton Head Island has been given accolades for excellence by a wide range of publications and organizations... "Top 10 family vacation destinations", best golf resorts, best tennis resorts, best public beaches are just some of the long list of "best lists" that immediately come to mind. Cumulatively these awards have helped attract a broad variety of vacationers from around the world as well as retirees and new residents who are looking to enjoy a community that offers such a marvelous lifestyle.

Now we have a new distinction that those here at Town Hall feel very proud about - having Hilton Head Island selected a few weeks ago as a "Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community" by The League of American Bicyclists. It is a recognition our entire community should feel very good about -- whether you are bicycle a rider or not. This is because bicycling is recognized internationally as a significant factor for improving a community's environmental sustainability. Bicycling not only lowers the carbon footprint and improves air quality but also been shown to benefit public health and reduce childhood obesity.

Achieving Gold Status has put Hilton Head Island among the elite "Top 25" bicycling communities in America. It is the only such designated community in South Carolina and the Southeast. The recognition underscores more than just our island's 60 miles of pathways, but also our Town's commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. We have enjoyed a wonderful public/private/organizational partnership between the Town, The Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and several local cycling groups.

Hilton Head Island Recognized As One of the "Best Bicycling Communities" in the United States

Hilton Head Island has been recognized as one of the top 25 bicycle-friendly communities in the United States and one of 21 to achieve “Gold-Level” status for its commitment to being a bicycle friendly community. The Bicycle Friendly Community award was announced today by the League of American Bicyclists.

The Town of Hilton Head Island is the only Gold-Level community in the Southeast and only one of two on the East Coast, according to the League's list of award recipients.

The Gold-Level distinction recognizes Hilton Head Island’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through its investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. Only a handful of communities across the United States have earned such a distinction - placing Hilton Head Island in a select group of places dedicated to a more active, sustainable future.

Earning the award was a collaborative effort between the Town of Hilton Head Island, The Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Their effort had considerable volunteer support from the local cycling community groups and clubs who served as "bike ambassadors". The Town of Hilton Head Island has held "Silver-Level" status since 2011. The Gold-Level status will be valid from 2015-2019.

"This outstanding honor is a great example of how different elements of our community in both the public and private sectors can work together to make our Town a better place to live and visit," said Mayor David Bennett. "Our Town government together with volunteer organizations, private companies and our Chamber of Commerce were diligent in achieving this prestigious objective."

"This national Bicycle Friendly Community program is working to help shape the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving their bicycle-friendliness. The League is impressed with our all-volunteer ambassador program, our innovative Chamber Bike & Dine Week and the Town’s commitment to building over 60 miles of leisure paths" noted local cycling advocate Frank Babel.

“We have seen an incredible collaboration between the Town, the Chamber, private businesses and citizen advocates to set this high standard” said Babel. “This is something our entire community can take a great deal of pride in.”

Mayor Bennett noted that the achievements which earned the honor also accrue as a major plus for the thousands of vacationers who come to the island every month of the year.

“Visitors looking for a memorable vacation experience and the ability to bike with family and friends on our leisure paths is something many tell us they enjoy doing” said Bill Miles, President & CEO of the Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. “Hilton Head's extensive miles of leisure paths are a positive differentiator when it comes to attracting vacationers, and it’s also a wonderful quality of life amenity for our residents.”

“We applaud this new round of communities for investing in a more sustainable future for the country and a healthier future for their residents and beyond” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “The growing number of leaders taking up bicycling as a way of solving many complex community problems is encouraging. We look forward to continuing to work with these communities as we move closer to our mission of creating a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.”

Furyk claims RBC Heritage for second time in playoff

BY STEPHEN FASTENAU

sfastenau@islandpacket.com

Mike "Fluff" Cowan busied himself removing the flag at the 17th hole for Jim Furyk, one of the final acts in a long day. "It's been a long time coming," Furyk's longtime caddie said. Furyk knew exactly how long since his most recent victory. Four and a half years, he said in the media tent while wearing the tartan jacket, getting ahead of a question he has heard many times. Furyk ended a frustrating drought with an 8-under-par 63 Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links and won the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing with a birdie on the second playoff hole to beat Aiken native Kevin Kisner. The final round was the lowest by a champion here, and Furyk birdied both playoff holes.He didn't back into victory. He took it.

After the 12-foot putt on the par-3 17th dropped, he dropped his putter and pumped his arms. A little released frustration, he said. "I've had too many close calls and been in position too many times for me to believe that it wouldn't happen," said Furyk, who earned $1.062 million and finished 72 holes tied with Kisner at 18-under 266. Weather altered the final round, with groups of three going off starting at 7:30 a.m. The playoff ended well ahead of afternoon thunderstorms. Furyk won for the first time since the 2010 Tour Championship. He won three times that year, including the RBC Heritage, and was player of the year. But he had not been able to break through again until Sunday, when he became the 10th player to win multiple Heritage titles.

During the tough stretch, he responded to questions with some perspective, that he still has it pretty good on the back end of a career that has netted him more than $60 million on the course. He admitted Sunday there was more frustration than he showed the past four years. "I always did feel like I was going to win a tournament again," Furyk said. "And I believed that in my heart. But I was starting to feel like the game is beating me up, and the losing hurts a lot more than winning feels good."

Playing with Masters champion Jordan Spieth, Furyk rode the energy of the group and a hot putter. His 48-foot birdie putt on No. 8 was part of four consecutive birdies that gave him the lead after he started four behind Troy Merritt. "His putting this week made my putting last week look like something that wasn't very good," Spieth said of Furyk. "Confident strokes right in the middle." Winners have come back to win the past three tournaments -- Graeme McDowell winning in a 2013 playoff, Matt Kuchar holing a bunker shot on the final hole last year and Furyk with a birdie Sunday on the 74th hole, the par-3 17th.

Furyk and Kisner matched birdies on No. 18, the first playoff hole, after Kisner birdied the hole to enter the playoff. While waiting for Kisner to finish, Furyk reluctantly signed an autograph and then swung an iron by the CBS television tower while looking out at the Calibogue Sound. He stuck both his approach shots close during the playoff, helped by an adjustment in his posture he made on the back nine. Kisner, from Aiken, was trying to become the first South Carolina native to win at Harbour Town. He made a 17-foot birdie on the first playoff hole, but his attempt from more than 20 feet on No. 17 slid past. "I hit every shot just like I wanted to coming down the stretch, and that's all you could ever ask for," he said.

Furyk was worried the weather was going to delay his arrival at his foundation's annual charity event. With the tartan jacket on early Sunday afternoon, the round getting in without delay, he said he looked forward to arriving in style. "It would still be fun, but it would be a hell of a lot more fun to show up tonight with this jacket on," Furyk said.

Pictures of the Week

Pictures of the Week

Greetings from Hilton Head

Pictures of the Week

WTOC Matchbook

Pictures of the Week

Pictures of the Week

Vintage Savannah

Picture of the Week

Circle to Circle Traffic Committee

The Town of Hilton Head Island's Circle to Circle Committee will meet to discuss south-island traffic at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 1 in council chambers at Town Hall at 1 Town Center Court. The purpose of these weekly meetings is to discuss traffic related issues pertaining to Sea Pines Circle and Office Park Road. Interested parties are encouraged to attend.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/03/07/3630957/circle-to-circle-task-force-to.html#storylink=cpy

RBC Heritage

RBC Heritage April 13-19

For tickets and information visit www.RBCHeritage.com  

Party in the Pines

When: Saturday, April 4th from 4:30-7:30 PM Where: Fish Island.  Come join for some lowcountry fun featuring BBQ pork, grilled chicken and hot dogs with all the fixings. Dinner includes beer, wine and dessert. Live music, fishing rods and rides on H2O's alligator and wildlife tour boat will be provided. Adults are $40 and children 12 and under are $15. To purchase tickets visit the CSA office or go to www.SeaPinesForestPreserve.org. Call David Henderson for details (843) 671-1343.

Hilton Head via Satellite

Book of the Week

The Water is Wide, 1972

A Teacher Puts Faith in the Overlooked Students

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/27/arts/television/27wate.html

Photo of the Week

Vintage Photo of the Willliam Hilton Inn Dining Room

Photos of the Week

Vintage Shot of the Bridge 

Photo of the Week: Beaufort Civil War Map

Town of Beaufort Civil War Map

Recent Sea Pines Awards and Recognition: Wow!

Vintage View of the Beach at Sea Pines 

Inn at Harbour Town selected to join Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Hotel Collection

Inn at Harbour Town ranked #1 Hotel on Hilton Head Island by TripAdvisor

Inn at Harbour Town ranked #6 in Conde Nast Travelers "Best Resorts in the South: Reader's Choice Awards 2014"

The Sea Pines Resort received The Knot's Best of Weddings Award for 2015

The Sea Pines Resort featured on the cover of December US Airways Magazine

The Golf Learning Center honored as a "Top 10 Golf Schol in the U.S." in LINKS Magazine's annuallist

Tim Cooke named one of Golf Digest's  "Best Young Teachers in America" on their "Top 40 instructors under 40" for the 2014-2015 year (for the third straight year)

Tim Cooke honored with the Carolinas Section PGA "Teacher of the Year" award

Harbour Town Yacht Basin ranked in the "Top 25 Marinas in North America" by Power & Motoryacht Magazine

Harbour Town Yacht Basin selected as the runner-up of Marinalife's 2014 Best Marina contest for Best Transient Marina

The Sea Pines Resort awarded a "Gold Medal" in GOLF Magazine's 2014-2015 edition of "Premier Resorts"

Harbour Town Golf Links ranked #9 in the U.S. in GOLF Magazine's 2014 edition of "Top 100 Courses You Can Play"

Heron Pointe by Pete Dye ranked #11 in South Carolina in GOLF Magazine's 2014 edition of "Top 100 Courses You Can Play"

Live Oak ranked among top restaurants on Hilton Head Island by Trip Advisor

Coast received an Open Table Diner's Choce Award in December 2014

The Sea Pines Resort received a SmartMeetings 2014 Platinum Choice Award

The Sea Pines Resort received an annual ConventonSouth New/Renovated Award

Picture of the Week: Gator soaks up sun on Heron Pointe

More birds, species tallied in Hilton Head Audubon's Christmas Bird Count

By Jeff Kidd via The Island Packet 

It's unusual to see a summer tanager in the Lowcountry during the winter, but this one was spotted during the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 15.

Susan Murphy — Submitted photo

The Hilton Head Island Audubon Society one of several area bird clubs to participate in Audubon's 2014 Christmas Bird Count, counted more birds and more bird species than the year before, the club reported recently.

This year's event was conducted Dec. 14 through Jan. 5 across the Americas, according to the Audubon website. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.  

The Hilton Head club conducted its count Dec. 15. Sightings included the federally protected piping plover and a summer tanager, which is not common to the area this time of year but has been spotted in each of the past three counts, according to Susan Murphy, a club bird count liaison. Murphy took the photo of the tanager you see with this story.

Club vice president Robert Rommel offered this report:

Hilton Head Audubon's Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 15 was held on a mild, clear day. The record 249 observers reached a tally of 28,405 birds comprised of 141 different species.

These numbers were higher than last year's count and slightly off the count's 10-year average of 37,228 birds and 150 species. Numbers typically fluctuate from year to year for a variety of reasons including statistical variation, weather, count day conditions, application of effort, and large flocks which are seen on some years but not all. For example, during the 2014 count, numbers were down for nearly all of 18 ducks species that are regularly seen.

Most ducks typically arrive on the island for wintering between December and January and it is possible that with mild conditions elsewhere in the country many ducks remained north longer than most years resulting in lower numbers during the Christmas count.

Observers saw several rare birds during the count including a bright red summer tanager -- a bird that normally spends the winter in South or Central America.

When the data from this citizen science effort is combined with the counts from other areas and examined across several years, it can be used to determine if species are decreasing or increasing over time or changing their geographical patterns.

For example, past count data has helped detect and quantify the decline of the northern bobwhite across much of America including the South Carolina Lowcountry, where it was once common. 

Although none of these quail were seen this year, five of the federally threatened piping plovers were observed on our shores during the 2014 count.

New 'Circle to Circle' committee to study Sea Pines to Coligny corridor

By Zach Murdock via The Island Packet 

Pope Avenue, Hilton Head 

The two traffic circles at the heart of Hilton Head Island and the busy stretch of Pope Avenue between them will get some extra attention this year as part of a new town study.

The study will review existing traffic challenges in that area, its current redevelopment needs and future development plans along the corridor, including the proposed University of South Carolina Beaufort hospitality campus on Office Park Road, according to town leaders and documents.

Next week, the town's Planning Commission will appoint a "Circle to Circle" committee of a dozen citizens and town officials to lead the study, identify a 20-year plan for the area and host public hearings on their findings later this year.

The idea for the study sprouted from an effort by more than a dozen south-island residents to form such a committee and after several meetings about Coligny area improvements last year, said Tom Sharp, a Sea Pines resident who helped form the original group and will serve on the town committee.

Those residents saw one big problem: The conversations about south-end traffic, Sea Pines Circle and Coligny area improvements were all happening separately, said Sharp, a former commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation.

"The whole crux is whatever happens in the Coligny district has to move through Sea Pines Circle from a traffic standpoint," he said. "Unless you decide what should happen in Coligny, you can't test the robustness of Sea Pines circle."

"It's just time to take everything together because we seem to have had a tendency in the past to take one piece while disregarding the influence the other might have," he added.

The committee will follow through on new Mayor David Bennett's campaign promise to craft a long-term development plan the Coligny area.

"That area is an area where the town is making a very large capital investment in the coming years," Bennett said. "It's an area that's a concern today with respect to traffic around the Sea Pines Circle."

Bennett hosted many of the meetings about Coligny improvements as leader of the Planning Commission last spring before master planning became a major tenet of his successful run for mayor in November.

"It seemed like a good area to start with," Bennett said last week. "The entire island needs a similar look, and my hope would be to continue" with similar efforts in each of the town's wards.

The committee does not yet have a meeting schedule, but its membership will include citizen leaders such as Sharp, two Planning Commission members and a Town Council liaison, according to town documents. Members also will work closely with town engineers and planners, Sharp added.

"Hopefully we can sharpen our focus, put it together and start talking to people about it," Sharp said. "It has potential to be a joyous time. There will be a lot of ruckus and what have you, but if we focus on facts and not emotion, I think we might get there."

Tom Davis, Daufuskie residents discuss island's future

By Zach Murdoch via The Island Packet 

More than 60 Daufuskie Island residents packed a community meeting last week with state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, to dissect issues facing the island.

The biggest concerns by residents and the Daufuskie Island Council included beach erosion, improvements to the ferry system on and off the island, and the availability of grants to complete those projects, according to residents' notes from the meeting.

The council also discussed with residents its plan to study whether the island should incorporate as a town with the help of researchers from Clemson University. Island leaders and Davis say incorporating could help the island act more independently to secure grants, but that it also is likely to come with some increased costs.

Davis, whose district includes the island, has said he will work with residents and the S.C. Municipal Association to help research incorporation and access issues.

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/02/04/3573933_tom-davis-daufuskie-residents.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

Picture of the Week: Mid Winter Sea Pines

Mid Winter Sea Pines

Mayor Bennett Monthly Article

Have you discovered, as I have, that Hilton Head Island is a great place for a treasure hunt? Wherever you explore, you will find something of remarkable value. These discoveries can't help but generate excitement. Our citizens are among these treasures.

Last December, Town Council identified the Master-Planning and Transportation Study of the Coligny Circle to Sea Pines Circle District as a priority. Incredibly, here on Hilton Head Island, we have three former state transportation directors each willing to volunteer their time and talents to our Town in order to achieve the excellent transportation and planning solutions we need to benefit our Island. Treasures!

Setting Priorities

Your Town Council is comprised of unique individuals representing a diversity of Islanders. We came together this past December along with members of staff at a workshop that extended beyond its' original schedule because of the magnitude of issues and opportunities faced by our community.

The Top Priorities developed by this hardworking group include the previously mentioned Circle-to-Circle district as well as:

Vision/Master Plan for the Island

Arts and Culture Collaborative Study

USCB Campus Development

The Mitchelville Project

Water/Sanitary Sewer Service Policies and Plans

Other High Priorities were identified

A complete inventory and analysis of Town-owned land

Initiating the Economic Development Corporation Plans and Initiatives

Forging a Workforce Housing Policy

Town and Community Organization financial/performance oversight and review

A comprehensive Town dredging policy

A schools and education strategy

You Can Participate

How is it that these priorities will become attainable action items? Your mayor, Town Council and staff are committed to these endeavors. But your participation is the treasure that I’d like to discover. Look for upcoming workshops, taskforces and public-private collaborations as your opportunity to be a treasure to your community. Communicate your thoughts and input to me at DavidB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov or speak to your Town Council representative.

This administration has already established two new Town Council Committees; the Finance and Administrative and Community Services committees and council members, John McCann and Kim Likins have been appointed to chair them. The first committee will be responsible for detailed financial oversight and establishing goals for and reviewing the performance of the Town Manager. The Community Services committee will work to develop the full potential of Hilton Head’s arts and cultural organizations. It will also identify affordable and work force housing opportunities.

Citizen of Month Search

We are always searching for the treasures in our community. Please bring to our attention Island residents for consideration for the 2015 Citizen of the Month Award. There are many precious jewels out there; please let us know who they are.

Historic Savannah Foundation celebrates 60 years of service

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WJCL) — An organization known for its building preservation is celebrating 60 years of service.

The Historic Savannah Foundation kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration on Monday morning.

The foundation was established in 1955 in an effort to save the historic Davenport House, built in 1820, from demolition.

Their mission is to preserve and protect Savannah’s heritage through advocacy and education.

“We’re going to go about our business; we’re going to keep taking care of this city,” said Daniel Carey, President and Chief Operating Officer of the foundation. “We’re going to keep saving buildings with our revolving fund, we’re going to keep advocating for good preservation and we’re going to keep educating our youth about the value of preservation.”

Since its inception in 1955, the Historic Savannah Foundation has saved over 360 buildings in Savannah.

Metropolitan Hotel sold, annex improvements underway on Hilton Head, new owners say

By Zack Murdoch via The Island Packet 

The Metropolitan Hotel and its dilapidated annex on Hilton Head Island were sold last week to California-based hotel developers who have plans to renovate and reopen both this year, according to the developers and town officials.

The plans include opening the main Metropolitan building as summer housing for exchange students and renovating the annex to open new a franchised hotel, new owners Harry and Sam Johal said Monday.

The Johals own more than 20 hotels around the country and have been eyeing the struggling Metropolitan property for more than two years, Harry Johal said. He would not say how much they agreed to paid for the property.

On Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Johals will appear before the Town of Hilton Head Island's Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals to present their plans to renovate the unsafe, abandoned annex. The meeting will be at Town Hall.

Town inspector Bob Klein declared the annex a safety risk to the public in August, citing the building's sagging roof, exposed wires and loose guardrails.

The building has sat vacant since 2008, and residents in the South Forest Beach area have long complained the annex is an eyesore and a haven for vagrants and drug dealers.

The town gave then-owner Remo Polselli several months to submit an improvement plan or the town could consider demolishing the building. By December, no plan had been submitted nor work completed.

Since the Johals took over the property last week, however, work has begun to repair the annex's roof, and the town is considering building permits to fix the guardrails, said Harry Johal and Jill Foster, town deputy director of community development.

"We're excited, and we've already started work on the back," Harry Johal said. "We've been meeting with the city people and dealing with Bob (Klein). We're determined, and I think the townspeople are behind us."

Lowcountry divided on Obama offshore drilling plan

Rerecca Lurye andErin Moody via The State 
With President Barack Obama's announcement Tuesday allowing oil drilling off the eastern seaboard from Virginia to Georgia, Lowcountry leaders and activists on opposite sides of the question are digging in their heels.

Land off South Carolina's coasts would be available for oil and gas leases for the first time under the five-year plan, which would begin in 2017.

The issue has been pushed to the forefront locally by Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling, who has spoken against the practice and is concerned it could damage the environment and tourism. Two weeks ago, he spoke at a rally with representatives from the Coastal Conservation League, 

Conservation Voters of SC and the nonprofit group Oceana, which released a report opposing drilling in favor of wind farms as a potential economic booster.

"The president will do what the president will do, but I'm the mayor of Beaufort and I think this could put the coast at risk and it isn't worth the risk," he said of Tuesday's proposal.

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce has not taken a stance on offshore drilling, though spokesperson Charlie Clark said Tuesday's announcement would likely spark discussion at an upcoming government affairs committee meeting.

"We will continue to monitor the issue at the federal, state and local level," Clark said.

While drilling would likely not begin for more than a decade, seismic testing -- in which air guns are used to create sound pulses to search for oil deposits -- could start as early as this year. The U.S. Bureau of Offshore Energy Management is expected to open a swath of the Atlantic Coast from Delaware to central Florida for such testing.

Nine companies have filed geophysical and geological permits with the BOEM to test Atlantic waters.

Photo of the Week

Charles Fraser

Become a character in Lee Child's next Jack Reacher novel

Jim Grant, the British thriller author of the Jack Reacher series, who writes under the pen name Lee Child, is offering the chance to name a character in his upcoming book to the winning bidder Feb. 7 at the Hilton Head Heart Ball.

Child's novels follow an ex-military police officer who roams the globe investigating suspicious situations. Tom Cruise portrayed the protagonist in the 2012 film "Jack Reacher" and is said to be reprising his role in an upcoming sequel.

In addition to naming a character in Child's next novel, the winning bidder will also win a flight to New York to have lunch with the author.

The ball features an extensive live auction to raise money to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular disease. This year's chairmen, Eileen and Robert Hutton, are longtime friends of Child.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Hilton Head Heart Ball
WHEN: 6 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Feb. 7
WHERE: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, 2 Grasslawn Ave., Hilton Head Island
COST: $200
DETAILS:http://hiltonheadscheartball.ahaevents.org/

Former Adventure Inn site to become $80M Hilton-brand timeshare

Via The Island Packet

 A Myrtle Beach developer plans to spend $80 million to turn the former Adventure Inn site into Hilton-brand timeshares.

Strand Capital Group will develop the 7-acre beachfront property on Hilton Head Island. It will be the Hilton brand's and Strand's first timeshare development on the island.

The South Forest Beach resort will feature two six-story buildings with a total of 125 two-bedroom units, according to plans submitted to the town last month. The companies behind the project and their construction schedule were announced this week.

Strand Capital bills itself as "the premier timeshare real estate development firm along the Carolina Coast." It has developed nearly 20 high-rise beachfront resorts in Myrtle Beach, according to its website.

Principal partner Patrick Lowe said the Hilton hotel chain's interest in the property is what brought his company to the island.

"They are expanding their brand presence in the Carolinas," he said. "I think they've always been interested in Hilton Head."

Hilton Grand Vacations, a division of Hilton Worldwide, will be responsible for sales, marketing and management of the resort, according to a news release.

A spokeswoman for the company said a name for the resort likely will be released this spring.

Hilton plans to begin selling timeshares in April, the release said.

Plans for the resort show an administration building, two pools, an outdoor bar and grill, fitness and business centers, a lawn with live oaks, and boardwalks that lead to the ocean.

Construction should start this spring and be completed in two phases.

The first phase includes the resort amenities and the building next to the Carolina Beach Club. It is expected to be finished by summer 2016, the release said.

The second phase includes the building next to Ocean Dunes Villas. No completion date was provided in the release.

The height of the buildings will rival the tallest oceanfront structures on Hilton Head.

Buildings at Sea Crest Villas, and Omni and Sonesta hotels also are 75 feet tall, or about six stories. That's the maximum height the town allows for beachfront properties, according to land-management ordinance official Teri Lewis.

The Adventure Inn, which was built in 1963 and demolished in 2008, was an island landmark and one of Hilton Head's three original hotels.

Follow reporter Dan Burley at twitter.com/IPBG_Dan.

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Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/01/14/3537698_former-adventure-inn-site-to-become.html?sp=/99/100/&rh=1#storylink=cpy

Map Room at the William Hilton Inn C 1965