From serious sports injuries causing tissue damage to bone issues and stiffness that comes with age, living with pain is, well, a pain. But it's more than that - it's a stressful, often upsetting way to get through your day, month, and year. Have you ever tried to get out of bed with sore, stiff knees? Most folks would rather just get back in bed. Think you might try exercising with plantar fasciitis? Don't plan on running far or doing cardio for very long. Torn rotator cuff? Without proper treatment, your life might not ever be the same.
Living with pain and the inevitable issues that come with age can seriously affect your wellbeing and happiness. Sure, you could wake up every morning and rely on addicting medications to help you move. Or, you could risk further injury and damage with invasive surgeries that require long periods of recovery and downtime. But those can't be the only two options for treatment, can they?
Fortunately, a new, natural, non-invasive treatment for pain is revolutionizing the medical industry and transforming people's lives. It's giving athletes, average folks, and people of a certain age a reason to be hopeful. It's called Softwave therapy, and unlike many fly-by-night medications and sketchy treatments, it's backed by science and provided by Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine.
If you're barely making it through the day suffering from chronic pain, this FDA-approved drug-free treatment may be for you. Softwave therapy has already been used by thousands of people around the country living with issues like shoulder pain, knee pain, and plantar fasciitis. You could be next.
Though its popularity has only grown in recent years, Softwave therapy - also known as shockwave therapy - has been around for years. In fact, the first systematic study into the benefits of shockwave therapy took place way back in 1950. So, what is Softwave therapy?
Softwave therapy is a method of treatment that works incredibly well for mobility rehab, pain relief, and full-body recovery, usually from chronic pain or injuries. Softwave therapy uses a device emitting low-energy soundwaves that target a patient's injured area. These low-intensity waves boost blood flow and kickstart your body's natural healing processes, relieving long-term pain and helping your body to heal a wide range of injuries and conditions.
The main targets in the body include bones, tendons, and other soft tissues, which are encouraged to regenerate and repair via the shockwaves. Often, shockwave therapy is used in conjunction with other non-invasive treatments like chiropractic care, which we offer at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine. The results are often incredible, leaving patients wondering why they never tried Softwave therapy before.
Softwave therapy works especially well for:
Better Blood Flow
Collagen Stimulation
Reducing Inflammation
Kickstarting cell growth and healing factors
Breaking down build-ups of calcium
With FDA clearance, little-to-no side effects, and quick application time, Softwave therapy is a welcome alternative for people suffering from pain. Who wants to spend weeks or months recovering from a surgery that might not even work? Likewise, who would want to become dependent on over-the-counter or, even worse, prescription pain meds? Living a life of addiction is a road nobody wants to go down.
Softwave therapy represents a revolution in non-invasive pain treatment; best of all, it's highly effective. Independent studies prove that shockwave therapy helps with pain. 65-91% of patients using shockwave therapy experienced real-deal improvements in damaged muscle and bone tissue, solving their mobility problems and drastically reducing pain. It almost sounds too good to be true, but as many patients at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine will tell you - it isn't.
Book AppointmentSome of the most common conditions that Softwave therapy treats include:
When you get up in the morning and go to the bathroom to brush your teeth, do you notice a stabbing, sharp pain near your heel? Does the pain go away once you have a chance to walk around? If so, you could have plantar fasciitis. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, this painful condition is quite common. About two million people suffer from plantar fasciitis every year, and almost 10% of all people will experience the condition at least once in their life.
This common foot issue happens when the plantar fascia - a fan-shaped tissue near your heel - gets inflamed. The plantar fascia is a thick strip of connective tissue that links your toes to your heel bone, helping to preserve the arch of your foot. When this band is strained, it causes intensely sharp pain, usually in the morning when you wake up and plant your feet on the floor.
Most folks ignore plantar fasciitis because the pain eventually goes away throughout the day. However, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to weakness and chronic pain, which may affect daily walking.
Some causes of plantar fasciitis include:
The short answer to this question is not really. Patients with plantar fasciitis will ice the affected area with little-to-no relief since they spend so much time on their feet. It's hard to rest an achy heel if you've got a job that requires you to be on your feet. Anti-inflammatory meds like Advil don't work all that well, either. They may provide temporary pain relief, but in terms of a long-term solution, taking these drugs will cause major side effects.
Book AppointmentWhen more conservative treatment options like ice and over-the-counter meds don't work, most doctors turn to ultra-expensive orthotics, steroid injections, or invasive surgery. For the average person, those options fail on all fronts, as they carry risks for side effects and may even cause the issue to worsen.
Instead of going under the knife or changing their daily routines, many people suffering from plantar fasciitis are turning to Softwave therapy for relief.
During a shockwave therapy session, our expert providers use a special probe to deliver pressure waves to inflamed tissue. These waves trigger natural healing processes causing new blood vessels to form. In turn, oxygen is supplied to the affected area, reducing inflammation and causing healthy cells to regenerate. Shockwave therapy also produces collagen, which is crucial for connective tissue health.
With just a few visits, many patients find long-term relief from plantar fasciitis without relying on strange drugs or harmful surgeries.
Living with knee pain is just miserable. From knee tendonitis to osteoarthritis, knee pain can prevent you from enjoying activities and affect your day-to-day life. Your knee is a joint comprised of cartilage, bone, ligaments, and fluids. Tendons and muscles within the knee help the joint move. When one of these crucial knee structures is hurt or compromised, it results in knee pain and long-lasting knee problems. This, in turn, leads to difficulty walking at best and debilitating knee issues at worse.
If you're an active person or somebody who plays sports often, you're probably all too familiar with knee pain - especially common conditions like patellar tendinopathy. Also called "jumpers knee," this issue happens at the patellar tendon, which is found on the front of the knee just under the knee cap. When living with this condition, most patients experience pain around the kneecap or lower down on the leg around the tibia.
In addition to injuries and issues like jumper's knee, everyday wear and tear will cause knee pain over time. With time, this knee pain can develop into arthritis. If your knees are swollen, painful, or stiff, you may have arthritis in your knees. Regardless of the kind of knee pain you're experiencing, treatment options have been limited to agonizing surgeries and addicting pain medications. But that all changes with shockwave therapy for knee pain in James Island, SC.
Though no two knee pain problems are exactly the same, shockwave therapy has been shown to be highly effective for knee pain. In fact, many patients at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine find relief after just one session. Many times, sessions can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. So if you want to find relief for knee pain on your lunch break, that's definitely possible.
As is the case with plantar fasciitis, Softwave therapy works by sending sound wave and low-energy impulses to the affected area of your knee. These pulses stimulate your body's healing factors, which can help regenerate and repair damaged tendons and tissues. Softwave therapy for knee pain is especially promising for people who have tried other treatments - like surgery and pain meds - with disappointing results.
Benefits include:
Several studies and reviews prove that Softwave therapy can be very beneficial for people suffering from knee pain problems like jumper's knee. A study involving 66 patients with knee pain found that they enjoyed a significant improvement in their reported pain levels with Softwave therapy. In fact, knee pain was reduced by nearly 50% after a single month. When combined with other regenerative and physical therapy treatments at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, your days of living with knee pain are numbered.
Book AppointmentHere's a fact for you to consider: Every joint that you have in your body plays a part in your day-to-day life. But when we think of joint issues, we typically jump to knee issues. However, your knees aren't the only joints in your body to go through wear and tear. Your shoulders experience just as much, if not more, wear and tear than your knees. We put a strain on our shoulders just about every time we use or move our arms. Our shoulders play a pivotal part in living a normal life. When they begin to deteriorate over time due to age or overuse, it creates a litany of painful problems.
There are many causes of shoulder pain, like deterioration, inflammation, and trauma. Of the many painful shoulder conditions affecting Americans yearly, rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis are very common. Also called calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff pain is caused by built-up calcium deposits on the shoulder's tendons, which connect your rotator cuff to nearby muscles and bones. This painful condition is usually linked to sports, like basketball and volleyball, or in professions requiring repetitive movements, like in the plumbing industry.
Some common symptoms of shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinitis include:
Though strengthening exercises and some medications provide temporary relief for shoulder pain, they're not meant as long-term solutions. Luckily, Softwave therapy for rotator cuff pain in James Island, SC, can help.
Shockwave therapy has been shown to work wonders for shoulder pain. Low-intensity shockwaves break up calcium deposits and jumpstart your body's healing processes, stimulating blood flow and healthy cell growth. Shockwave treatment is especially effective for long-term shoulder pain since it releases stem cells, sends growth factors to the affected area, and boosts capillary production. Shockwave therapy has also been shown to break down scar tissue and eliminate trigger points, all of which decrease shoulder pain. This relief is most often long-lasting, unlike other treatments like medications and injections.
Many studies support the efficacy of Softwave therapy for shoulder conditions like rotator cuff pain and calcific tendonitis of the shoulder. In a study of 84 patients living with long-term rotator cuff tendonitis, participants in the treatment group saw a significant decrease in the intensity of their shoulder pain. Another study related to shockwave therapy for calcific tendonitis found that 86.6% of patients experienced fewer calcifications.
If you're having to live with rotator cuff pain or another type of shoulder issue, choosing Softwave therapy may be your best course of action.
Book AppointmentWhether you're sick of living with intense heel pain from plantar fasciitis, the mobility issues associated with knee pain, or the day-to-day struggles of rotator cuff degeneration, you'll find hope at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine. Unlike some medical clinics, our team of doctors and specialists focus on an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to healing. Instead of relying on addictive medications and invasive surgeries, we prefer to address the underlying causes that our patients face.
We combine several all-natural pain relief therapies so that your shoulder pain, knee pain, joint pain, and foot pain go away for good. We resolve pain by using healing treatments that restore function and improve mobility for the long term. Our state-of-the-art regenerative medicine treatments, used hand-in-hand with proven chiropractic techniques, will stimulate your body's healing power from within. If your pain is related to muscles, nerves, and bones, our doctors can help you overcome discomfort, injury, or medical conditions affecting these systems.
If you've been unable to resolve your pain or have become dependent on painkillers to cope, Softwave therapy may be the natural solution you need. It all starts with a quick call to our office, so we can begin to understand your needs. When you come for your first visit, our doctors will find the personalized treatment you need so that you can manage your pain in a non-invasive and drug-free environment manner.
Book AppointmentCHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County leaders are taking another step towards a major road project, and they want community members to be a part of it.The Main Road Segment A project is designed to improve areas of US-17 and Main Road. The goal is to improve congestion buildup and provide safer and more efficient travel for drivers in the area.Project leaders are currently analyzing the marsh area South of 17 and East of Main Road and pile testing to make sure that everything is ready for construction in the next few mont...
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County leaders are taking another step towards a major road project, and they want community members to be a part of it.
The Main Road Segment A project is designed to improve areas of US-17 and Main Road. The goal is to improve congestion buildup and provide safer and more efficient travel for drivers in the area.
Project leaders are currently analyzing the marsh area South of 17 and East of Main Road and pile testing to make sure that everything is ready for construction in the next few months.
Project leaders are currently working to obtain permitting and right of way acquisition. The right of way acquisition process is a huge part of this and could continue into the summer. They have submitted 60% of their design plans to the regulatory agencies necessary and are continuing to work with the railroads and local utility companies to get the actual construction started. Utility relocation will be one of the first steps of the construction process.
Herbert Nimz is the Engineering Division Manager for Charleston County Public Works. He says that they hope to get all permits and begin construction by this May. This is a four-year project that they expect to complete before 2029.
Charleston County awarded a $354,000,000 construction contract for this project in September, so they are now taking the final steps before work begins.
The main goals of this segment of the project are to improve congestion at the intersection of US-17 and Main Road. Nimz says that they also hope to increase the number of cars that can travel along Main Road and improve safety so drivers can easily and efficiently access commercial and residential properties.
In addition to the major road work, there are also some cyclist and pedestrian elements included, as well as planned stormwater drainage improvements.
Nimz says that this project was necessary, as this is a constantly congested area.
“Anyone that’s driven on 17 turning onto Johns Island obviously has been stuck in that congestion. It does not matter what time of day,” he says. “It’s a very popular project as far as public input, but this is one of two ways on and off of Johns Island. It’s especially important during emergency evacuations. And it’s also necessary for people trying to get from Johns Island into Charleston. So we’re really excited.”
Nimz believes the completion of this project will provide a great benefit to all community members in the area. He says it will affect both motorized and non-motorized road users in a very positive way.
“I think people will not only be driving in a less congested area, but there is a multi-use path component. So, it’s a multimodal project,” he says. “It’s connecting Bees Ferry to the West Ashley Greenway. I think that brings a lot of benefit to the community just to get out and about, but primarily it’s a reduction in traffic congestion.”
Charleston County leaders will host quarterly public meetings on this project to be as transparent as possible with the community. The first quarterly public meeting is set to take place Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s High School, located at 1518 Main Road on Johns Island.
At this meeting, they will provide the latest updates on the project. Nimz says they want to share all of the behind scenes work that they have been doing, as well as provide community members the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the project. Nimz says he understands that it may not look like they have done much yet, and they have received a lot of questions from community members about the project, but he wants to reassure everyone that they have done a lot of work that cannot be seen. He hopes at this meeting he can inform the public on all the behind the scenes work that has been done and provide some reassurance that this project is a priority.
Click here for more information about the Main Road Segment A project.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Construction is underway for a $5.8 million project on Johns Island.The Barberry Woods Restoration Project aims to reduce flooding in Barberry Woods and The Cottages.Flooding often blocks the single entryway in the Barberry Woods cutting off emergency services.“That road into the community can be closed for almost a week. We need to have an access point into the neighborhood. We need the residents to be able to get out, we need emergency services to be able to get in,” City of Char...
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - Construction is underway for a $5.8 million project on Johns Island.
The Barberry Woods Restoration Project aims to reduce flooding in Barberry Woods and The Cottages.
Flooding often blocks the single entryway in the Barberry Woods cutting off emergency services.
“That road into the community can be closed for almost a week. We need to have an access point into the neighborhood. We need the residents to be able to get out, we need emergency services to be able to get in,” City of Charleston Director of Stormwater Management Matthew Fountain said.
The project is expected to reduce flooding to less than eight hours during a 100-year storm event.
The City of Charleston estimates that 3,437 residents and 1,687 housing units will benefit from these stormwater improvements.
In a statement, Mayor William Cogswell said “Johns Island has long needed flooding relief in this area, and we’re grateful for SCOR’s partnership in making this project a reality. Once completed, it will significantly improve the quality of life for residents.”
$4.9M is funded by SCOR’s ARPA Stormwater Infrastructure Program. Director of Stormwater Management Matthew Fountain says part of the reason they got that funding was because it’s a green infrastructure project.
“Rather than taking the project, clearing all the trees and basically just building a big pond or something with large pipes and having a road on top of it that we can use for access or a pump station building, this goes back basically as a forest of wetlands,” Fountain said.
They’ll clear the property to dig out a lot of the land to build a low lying wetland area with a meandering stream through it.
The project will also include wetland storage cells, maintenance berms, a walkway and a bridge.
“Between trees and shrubs we’re planting more than 13 thousand individual planting over and then again we’ll preserve that in perpetuity so it will continue to expand out like you would see in any healthy ecological system over the years,” Fountain said.
Fountain said while they are in the tree clearing phase now, when it’s done, he thinks it will be a huge amenity for the community because of the walkway and greenspace it will provide.
Construction is estimated to take 10 months.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
JOHNS ISLAND — The most popular person with the animals at Legare Farms is the one with the food.On a cold and blustery March morning, Linda Legare-Berry is the day's star as she walks to a shed near the enclosure where the cows, donkeys, goats and pigs are. With part of the enclosure open, allowing the animals to wander, two Sicilian donkeys, Aurora and Coco, follow her into the shed as she gathers the stock feed pellets.Legare-Berry shoos the donkeys...
JOHNS ISLAND — The most popular person with the animals at Legare Farms is the one with the food.
On a cold and blustery March morning, Linda Legare-Berry is the day's star as she walks to a shed near the enclosure where the cows, donkeys, goats and pigs are. With part of the enclosure open, allowing the animals to wander, two Sicilian donkeys, Aurora and Coco, follow her into the shed as she gathers the stock feed pellets.
Legare-Berry shoos the donkeys away so she can close the door behind her. But Aurora and Coco wait and then follow her while she feeds the animals by hand, and almost fighting with the cows after the last of the pellets gets dumped on the ground.
Some animals have a particular taste for other morsels beyond stock feed, Legare-Berry notes.
"Coco loves marshmallows," she said as she fed the donkey.
Legare-Berry is the ninth generation of her family to work on Legare Farms, which is celebrating 300 years of operations this year. The 300-acre property is one of the oldest farms in South Carolina.
The farm, located down a long dirt drive off River Road south of the county airport, celebrated its historical milestone with a Heritage Day on March 8. The event included hayrides, antique tractors and a corn cannon. They also did demonstrations of activities that once took place on the farm, like indigo dyeing and candle makingree. There also were reenactments of the American Revolution and Civil War, both of which Legare family members fought in.
One of three siblings that runs the farm today, Legare-Berry has spent the last seven years working on a book that details its history, starting with Solomon Legare, a silver and goldsmith who immigrated from France in the late 17th century.
Legare-Berry said she worries if the history isn't written down, it will be lost to time. She hopes it will help her children and grandchildren learn the farm's past and continue running it for another 300 years.
Solomon Legare bought property on Johns Island in 1725, which marked the beginning of Legare Farms. The first couple generations of Legares grew rice and indigo, Legare-Berry said. The fourth generation started growing Sea Island cotton, completing the big-three of cash crops grown on Southern plantations.
Legare-Berry said the farm did use slave labor.
"I don’t think there would be any farms anywhere in the Lowcountry that didn’t," she said. But other than one will from Thomas Legare in 1842, Legare-Berry said she hasn't been able to find other wills that mention any enslaved people by name.
She's found more information about enslaved people from records of the Johns Island Presbyterian Church, where both the Legare family as well as the enslaved laborers attended.
After the Revolutionary War, the farm stopped growing indigo. It stopped harvesting Sea Island cotton after World War I. In the 1920s, the family started growing cabbage and potatoes, Legare-Berry said. Over time they switched to grain, watermelons and cantaloupes, and started raising animals like cows and sheep.
Now, the Legares plant a variety of vegetables, like collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and squash.
Legare-Berry said the farm has continued to work for three centuries, in part, because of its versatility.
"So many of the other farmers that we've known had one niche that they were in, and when it failed for whatever reason, they couldn’t keep going," Legare-Berry said. "Our family has apparently always been very adaptable and willing to change with the times."
Wayne O’Bryant, historian at the Center for African American History, Art and Culture in Aiken, said it's impressive for Legare Farms to remain within the family for 300 years. There are several historic properties that are no longer owned by the families they're named after, like the William Aiken House on King Street, he said.
"It's not like it's the only case, but there's not a lot of cases of people holding on to (property) from the 1700s to the present," O’Bryant said. "It's relatively rare."
Many plantations are now designated historic sites and ownership has changed to a historic society or a municipality so it could be run as a tourist destination, O’Bryant said. What makes Legare Farms interesting is that it remains an operational farm and that's how the Legares make money, he said.
Legare-Berry said it can be a difficult responsibility to keep the farm going through tough times. But she's grateful the family has a beautiful piece of property on the Stono River and has the opportunity to bring kids out to the farm to teach them more about agriculture.
"When I was a teenager, I couldn't wait to get away," Legare-Berry said. "You couldn’t drag me away now."
Looking back, she said she realizes she had an idyllic childhood being raised on the farm. While she didn't enjoy having to work growing up, she now appreciates the work ethic she developed.
Second time's the charm!When Lauren Fogelgren landed an unexpected job opportunity in Charleston, South Carolina, she and her husband jumped at the chance to move from Atlanta to the coast. "We've always been drawn to Charleston and wanted to be near the water but also felt like it would be a great place for our then 2-year-old ch...
Second time's the charm!
When Lauren Fogelgren landed an unexpected job opportunity in Charleston, South Carolina, she and her husband jumped at the chance to move from Atlanta to the coast. "We've always been drawn to Charleston and wanted to be near the water but also felt like it would be a great place for our then 2-year-old child to grow up," says Fogelgren. After seeing this classic Colonial-style house in a quiet pocket of James Island, just a street over from rows of live oaks, the couple knew it was the one. "It felt like a family home," says Fogelgren. "I immediately loved how it had formal rooms but all of the spaces still felt connected. It was warm and welcoming." They also knew it needed a lot of TLC, especially when it came to updating the tight kitchen and baths.
Choosing a designer to tackle the renovation was easy. Before the move, they had been working with Laura Jenkins to reimagine their Atlanta bungalow. Halting progress there, the pair brought the Georgia designer along for the Lowcountry turnaround. "This is the third home we’ve lived in that was built in 1930, so I guess we have a thing for old houses," says Fogelgren.
The trio began inside, tweaking the floor plan and reconfiguring the furniture layout to make the most of the three-bedroom home’s 2,322 square feet. Outside, they leaned into the facade’s traditional style, framing the entry with wisteria and splashing the front door with Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster (No. 231). "Walking through downtown Charleston, there is so much inspiration and color," explains Fogelgren. "Since it’s a very black-and-white house, we wanted to brighten it and add some cheer." Here’s how the young couple, with Jenkins as their guide, infused the historic home with a comfortable, English-influenced blend of old and new.
"The simple, muted palette of the home allows all the added layers to shine," says Jenkins of the entry, where the warmth of the original hardwood floors is balanced with a coat of Farrow &Ball’s French Gray (No. 18) on the trim and Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (OC-117) on the walls. Up the staircase, an ever-changing gallery wall introduces color and character. "These are mostly Charleston artists," says Fogelgren. “I’ve found a lot of vintage artwork and local pieces over the past few years.”
The existing dark and closed off kitchen was far from inviting, so they doubled its size by combining the original space with the adjacent mudroom. "We have always had old houses that were very compartmentalized, so it made the biggest difference to open up the kitchen," says Fogelgren. To balance the newness, they found inspiration in English farmhouses. "We designed it with materials that will age with the home so it feels like it could have been here all along," says Jenkins.
A closet turned butler’s pantry, painted Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue (No. 289), brings a little drama to the otherwise light color scheme.
PHOTO:
Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli
PHOTO:
Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli
Because the couple loves to host, an area for carefree mingling with plenty of seating was essential. "We spend a lot of time out here, and with the indoor-outdoor flow, we always feel connected," says Fogelgren of the back patio, which is linked to the kitchen via bifold windows. While the covered porch and pool were existing, the bar setup is new. "It was previously just a plain wall of white siding asking for an upgrade," she remembers, so they added an awning to break it up and soften the look. "I’ve always loved Italian-esque stripes, and I feel like the classic black and white really brought it together."
PHOTO:
Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli
PHOTO:
Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli
The family of four wanted a comfortable, fuss-free area to gather. A sofa with room to sprawl out was their first purchase. "It’s become the space where we spend the most time," says the homeowner, whose grand-mother’s end table and antique coffee table tie it all together.
For a laid-back dining area that is equal parts fresh and timeless, Jenkins chose high-quality, casual pieces like a Knoll Saarinen table, a Serena & Lily light fixture, and a simplified take on wishbone chairs.
Although square footage was limited, the couple was set on a king-size bed (Serena & Lily’s Webster), so they made other space-saving choices, forgoing side tables that were large enough to fit lamps in favor of smaller ones and swing-arm sconces. Art and textiles layer personality into the white room. "It’s very relaxing and gives us everything we need," says Fogelgren.
In the primary bath, the trio borrowed ideas from their Atlanta renovation, using finish selections and millwork designs by Hancock Surface Studio to turn a pint-size bath and walk-in closet into a spacious one with floor-to-ceiling cane wardrobes. To emphasize its abundant natural light, Jenkins filled the spot with tones and textures that nod to nature: Heath Ceramics Ogawa Green tile, white oak cabinets, and a linen Roman shade in Jennifer Shorto’s Oranges & Leaves. "For a contemporary take on traditional, we added a fluted-front bead detail to the cabinets, which are paired with a chunky Calacatta gold marble vanity," she says.
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The Charleston County Council approved a contract for some road and drainage improvements on James Island and now leaders are working to find the best way to tackle the project and keep the community informed.The Central Park Road Improvements Project is a $2,718,669 project that will impact the portion of Central Park Road between Riverland Drive and Fleming Road, a heavily traveled are...
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The Charleston County Council approved a contract for some road and drainage improvements on James Island and now leaders are working to find the best way to tackle the project and keep the community informed.
The Central Park Road Improvements Project is a $2,718,669 project that will impact the portion of Central Park Road between Riverland Drive and Fleming Road, a heavily traveled area that is consistently flooded by tide water.
This has been in the works since 2019. Just last week, the county awarded a contract to Truluck Construction.
The City of Charleston worked with Charleston County to conduct drainage studies on this area.
They found that the flooding was significant and, not only inconvenient to those who frequent the area, but also dangerous.
This only getting worse as the area is experiencing an immense amount of growth with new developments popping up all along Central Park Road.
They found that this area in particular is a low-lying area and its proximity to the water and the drainage patterns cause severe flooding.
Where the flooding typically takes place is along a curved portion of the road that is already dangerous when dry and driving through just six inches of flood water can cause a loss of control and possible stalling, according to the National Weather Service. Not only that, but tide water can severely damage and corrode a vehicle.
Charleston County Councilwoman for District 9, Jenny Costa Honeycutt, shared how they plan to resolve this issue of flooding.
“This is one of those areas in Charleston County where on a sunny day… you would actually have to close this road on a king tide because water is topping the road. So, we’ve been working for several years on a solution and have finally reached a contract to raise the road so that the grade is higher than the area of water around it,” she said.
In addition to raising the road two feet, they will install three new upsized drainage pipes that will measure 48 inches in diameter. These new pipes will be outfitted with two tide gates and one tidal check valve to block incoming tides that exceed normal high tide elevations.
These measures will prevent roadway flooding and provide greater flow capacity by increasing stormwater storage upstream and allowing continual saltwater exchange through the crossing.
This road is a major thoroughfare for many drivers, even connecting Johns Island residents to the James Island Connector. Traffic is only increasing as the area grows.
This project will take about a year to complete, so Honeycutt says that they are currently working on a plan to do so with minimal inconvenience to the users of the road. She says they are actively working to notify the surrounding neighborhoods so that everyone understands how their travel patterns will be impacted.
While the road will not be closed for the entirety of the project, it will be closed for portions of it and sometimes those will happen at the same time closures take place for the Woodland Shores Sidewalk project which might be an alternate route for some drivers.
Honeycutt says they will ensure that everyone is prepared and understands the potential impacts to their driving routes. Overall, she believes the project will be for the greater good of the drivers in the area once it is completed.
“This project is going to benefit the community in multiple ways. For one, you won’t see as much of that sunny day closure of this road. It will improve the road itself. This road is somewhat dangerous on this curve, and it will just make it easier for the many folks who are traveling up and down this road daily to get to and from their destination,” she said.
As County leaders finalize their timeline for the project, they are also planning public meetings for the community to come out, ask questions and be fully informed of the closures and timeline, which will take place before construction begins. Those dates have not yet been determined.
Construction is set to begin in the next two to three months.
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