What Should Go Here: Church Creek Plaza
Coming out of the Great Recession empty storefronts are pretty common, but we want to know what Patch.com users want to see fill those empty business properties
At one time Church Creek Plaza boasted a grocery store anchor tennant and a handful of other businesses. Now the only tennants are a Pizza Hut and Feng Lin Chinese restaurant.
Now we want to know what our users would like to see open in the largely vacant spaces.
Tell us in the comments.
Walter Carr
5:22 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012
The center is an eye sore, I have sent letters to then owner over the years offering to purchase the property, the last back in 2010 and he never responded. The only thing the center is good for at the present time, other than the two restaurants, is a place for vandels to engage in vandelism.
Jonathan Allen
10:31 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Walter, you make a great point about the vandalism. Folks may not be able to tell from the photo but several windows in it have been busted out and the walls have been tagged in numerous spots with graffiti.
Agnes Louise
9:50 am on Sunday, February 5, 2012
I live down the street from the Church Creek plaza. Who are the owners? I would love to write to them myself. I'd love to see a grocery store here again, although I know its pretty close to BiLo down the street.
Joe Hawke
9:44 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
The center, as it stands, is a black mark on the area. But, what should be put there can be answered by what does the area need?? Food store, more strip mall stores, gas station, junky bar/restaurant, fast food, no, no, and no, we have enough of those. Some people would like to see a Michael's in there, but it is too far off the beaten track for any large chain store. My opinion...the owner is holding on to the property until real estate prices and the economy recover. Then it will be sold to a developer for a townhouse complex.
Todd
12:37 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
It really needs to be torn down. It has no place as a commercial strip center in this location. It would really be better suited for townhomes. What I don't understand is why doesn't Charleston County force the owner to clean up the graffiti and replace the broken windows? I complained to the city and they said they couldn't do anything because it is not in the city limits. I complained to the county and was told that they had no ordinances with respect to graffiti. I think this would be a great question for Patch to pose to the chairman of Charleston County Council. The owner of this property should be fined and liens placed on the property if he doesn't fix it.
Todd
11:42 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Would love it if some effort could be made to force the owner to at least secure the property by replacing the broken windows and keeping graffiti cleaned regularly. I don't understand how our code enforcement officers in Charleston County just allow these buildings not to be maintained. Has Patch tried to contact the owner of this shopping center to see if they have future plans for the property? Until permanent tenants can be secured, it could temporarily be used as a flea market, bingo hall, or the like. It's best use would be to have it demolished and repurposed as a townhouse complex. The shopping center has never been more than 20% occupied since it was built over 25 years ago. The owner should be forced to secure all broken windows and regularly maintain the property.
SeanSpangler
11:22 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
Before all the graffiti was there it was a nice store to shop in every Sunday after church my aunt used to stop and shop for grocerys and we love that piggly wiggly it was a nice store I waS so sad that it closed
charles wencel
4:11 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
Broken windows are a real safety hazard to the community.
SeanSpangler
11:09 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
I agree I used to love to shop at that piggly wiggly
Todd
12:09 am on Sunday, April 15, 2012
I complained to the City and County a few years back about the graffiti. The City said it wasn't in the city limits so they had no jurisdiction and the County stated that they didn't have any ordinances that dealt with graffiti. So as such can the owner of this property just let it fall into disrepair and continue to use it as a tax write-off? The former space next to the old Piggly Wiggly has graffiti painted on the brick, most of the windows of the Piggly Wiggly are broken out. Come on Charleston County Council! Do something about this eyesore and force the owner to at least secure it and clean up the graffiti!
SeanSpangler
11:09 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
They should turn it into biglots
Tracey Bailey
7:03 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Who is the owner and how do I contact? I would love to do a community block party for the young people in Churchcreek, Pierpont and surrounding areas
Jonathan Allen
7:38 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
Hi Tracey, thanks for dropping by. The last time I checked the Charleston County GIS system on the county website (http://ccgisweb.charlestoncounty.org/website/Charleston/default.htm - it's a pretty cool little piece of software that lets you view information about all kinds of things including who owns specific pieces of property. If you've never used a GIS system before be sure to click on the "For Web Assistance - please read" link to get an idea how it works.) the person that manages or owns the property (it's a bit hard to tell from the information available if he is the owner or property manager) Morton Scholnick is listed with a Michigan address. The only way to contact him from the information linked to the tax map parcel ID looks to be to send him an old fashioned letter.
Todd
4:57 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Mr. Schnolnick should be ashamed for his lack of respect for this community by neglecting this property. Just awful.
West Ashley Worker Bee
7:12 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
I agree that Mr. Schnolnick should so something. I think we all should start pressuring him and county.
Todd
11:02 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I cannot believe that a city the size of Charleston (even though this "technically" isn't in the Charleston city limits) turns a blind eye to this sort of thing. The front of this shopping center is defaced with graffiti, broken windows are covered with plywood. Do we have no elected officials in this area who care anything about West Ashley? This is supposedly a historic gateway to the plantations/gardens. Instead, from Wallenberg Blvd. to Bees Ferry Rd. on Highway 61 is a disgraceful eyesore of run down buildings and unkempt properties. One would think that since State Senator Bobby Harrell lives just off Hwy. 61 and Dogwood Road and since Congressman Tim Scott has an office at Hwy. 61 and Savage Road that they may get a little more involved in the West Ashley area and this corridor. It is truly a disgrace. Not to mention the Charleston County Council representative for this area - whoever that may be. Enough is enough! As citizens we shouldn't have to launch a campaign to get someone to keep up their property. If my house looked like this shopping center, I can assure you that I would be harassed daily by the City of Charleston AND Charleston County, taken to livability court and fined. Something is terribly, terribly wrong with those who represent West Ashley in our city, county & state government!