West Ashley

Physical Therapy in West Ashley, SC

What Our Clients Say

What Our Clients Say

An Innovative Approach toPhysical Medicine

At Back 2 Health, we believe the very best results are achieved by giving patients personalized treatment and access to a comprehensive list of rehab services. Our doctors and physical therapists do more than treat pain - we treat patients. Our goal is to completely restore the quality of life you deserve. We accomplish that goal by using all our resources to treat your pain, from the bottoms of your feet to tips of your triceps and everything in between.

And with decades of combined experience, we understand that no two patients or their injuries are exactly the same. The causes of back pain, foot pain, arthritis pain, and other types of pain are broad and change from patient to patient. The treatment of those conditions, then, must also have a broad range of pain treatment tools.

That's why, when you trust Back 2 Health Physical Medicine, you can rest easy knowing your treatment plan is crafted for you and your body - not someone within your age and weight range.

Our team treats a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Back Pain
  • Ankle Pain
  • Foot Pain
  • Knee Pain
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Wrist Pain
  • Chronic Pain
  • Muscle Pain

By taking a focused approach to physical therapy, we can better understand your needs and the conditions causing your pain. Whether you're suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or sciatica, our doctors and therapists have the tools and training to provide relief. And we keep doing it until you're back on your feet and back to your life.

And that, in a nutshell, is what separates Back 2 Heath from the rest of the pack: nuanced medical and physical therapy in West Ashley, SC, that helps you rediscover what healthy, pain-free living is all about. During rehab, our therapists may use resources like massage therapy, chiropractic care, and even medical injections for a more well-rounded approach to your recovery.

Enjoy Long-Term Healthwith Chiropractic Care

Many of the patients we see who are injured report that conventional methods like pain meds and surgery don't really solve their pain problems - they just mask them. When you throw in the risks associated with surgery and pain meds, alternatives like chiropractic care make a lot of sense. If you're looking for a safe, non-invasive treatment, combining the benefits of physical therapy with chiropractic adjustments is a great option for pain relief and overall well-being.

At Back 2 Health, our chiropractic physicians diagnose and treat patients with health problems associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems.


Contact Us For Services

Free Consultation phone-number (843) 258-5401

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care

As the saying goes, a healthy spine equals a healthy person.

Just about every type of chiropractic care revolves around your spine. When your vertebrae are misaligned, the nerves surrounding them become compressed, resulting in pain. When a chiropractor restores your spine's natural alignment, it reduces your pain and other medical symptoms. To achieve pain relief, Back 2 Health chiropractors use focused pressure to restore healthy vertebrae motion and loosen frozen joints. This process allows the nerves along your spine to properly function and carry messages to and from your brain.

There are many benefits of using chiropractic care alongside physical therapy in West Ashley, SC, and other solutions like massage therapy. Some of the most common benefits of chiropractic care include:

Less Neck Pain

Less Neck Pain

Sitting in one spot for hours or frequently bending at work can cause horrendous neck pain. Whether from work or a car accident, our chiropractors ease that pain by realigning your spine, which reduces the tension on your neck.

Eases Back Pain

Eases Back Pain

The American College of Physicians says that doctors should recommend non-medical treatments for back pain prior to surgery. Chiropractic care helps tremendously in this regard, correcting subluxations through techniques like spinal decompression.

Helps Relieve Headaches

Helps Relieve Headaches

If you suffer from tension headaches that start in your upper spine or neck, chiropractic care may be the solution you need for relief.

Can Help Prevent Opioid Reliance

Can Help Prevent Opioid Reliance

Unfortunately, many people with back pain become addicted to pain meds like opiates. However, a study by the NIH found that adults who visited a chiropractor weren't as likely to receive an opioid prescription for pain when compared to those who only visited a medical doctor.

The Back 2 Health Chiropractic Care Process

Our team of chiropractic doctors excels at finding and analyzing improper vertebrae placement. Once those areas are discovered, they use advanced techniques to correct subluxations, returning your body to its proper alignment. This strategy is key in correcting vertebral subluxation complex, which can affect your long-term health and how your body functions.

Like other practitioners, our chiropractors follow common standards and procedures to diagnose and treat you with chiropractic care. On your first visit, we'll get your medical history, conduct physical, orthopedic, and neurological examinations, and may order lab tests for further info. We may also use X-rays and other essential tools to focus on your spine and its proper function.

If needed, our chiropractors may conduct a postural and spinal analysis to discover if vertebral dysfunction is affecting your nervous system or causing a skeletal imbalance, which lowers disease resistance and causes additional pain.


Contact Us For Services

Free Consultation phone-number (843) 258-5401

Enjoy Long-Term Healthwith Chiropractic Care

Massage has been used for thousands of years to promote relaxation and relieve pain. And while most people think of getting a massage as a treat, purposeful massage therapy demonstrates an incredible ability to heal and restore overall wellness. In fact, modern applications have been proven to be very effective when used to supplement physical therapy. A complete review by the Institute of Work and Health found that massage had measurable effects vs. placebo treatments. That's excellent news for patients who need physical therapy to help heal injuries.

The benefits of massage therapy for issues like back pain and shoulder pain are numerous and include the following:

  • Improved Circulation - Massage therapy helps blood move through congested areas, improving your body's ability to function.
  • Accelerated Injury Recovery - Rehabbing an injury can be a long, arduous process. Massage therapy accelerates your recovery, keeps you relaxed, and helps motivate you to continue physical therapy in West Ashley, SC.
  • Help with High Blood Pressure - Massages have been shown to lower your blood pressure in an all-natural way.
  • Better Posture - Weather due to an unresolved injury or aging, stiff and overworked muscles often result in bad posture. Massage can help relax your muscles and tendons, bringing your body back to its original alignment.
  • Improved Athletic Performance - Athletes who endure minor injuries on the court or field use massage to recover faster, allowing them to get back to training so they can improve.
  • Complementary Treatments - At Back 2 Health, we use massage to complement other services that our clinic offers, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, and medical injections for pain or inflammation.
 Back Pain West Ashley, SC

Our physical therapy clinic offers several types of massages, including:

 Massage Therapy West Ashley, SC

Deep Tissue Massage

 Chronic Pain Management West Ashley, SC

Myofascial Release

Physical Therapy West Ashley, SC

Neuromuscular Therapy

Medical Therapy West Ashley, SC

Sports Massage

What Conditions Are Treated with Massage Therapy?

If you're suffering from a long-term condition like neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, or arm pain, massage therapy could be a great option to consider. Though massage can't always solve issues like inflammation, it can help relieve painful symptoms and works very well when used as part of the multi-discipline approach at Back 2 Health Physical Medicine.

Massage can help treat many conditions, such as:

  • Compressed Nerves
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Migraines
  • Sciatica
  • Muscle Tension
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • General Physical Pain of the Neck, Back, Shoulders
 Back Pain West Ashley, SC

Inflammation & Joint Injections: Pain Relief When You Need It Most

If we're being honest, few people look forward to a medical procedure that involves needles. But the proper injection may reduce or even eliminate joint, nerve, muscle, or spinal pain plaguing you for years, all within a few hours. At Back 2 Health, we combine medical injections for immediate relief with other treatments like physical therapy in West Ashley, SC, that repair factors causing inflammation in your body, providing permanent results.

In many cases, inflammation is a good thing - it helps heal injuries and subsides when the healing process is finished. In many cases, however, inflammation doesn't go away. It actually becomes counterproductive, causing severe pain, swelling, restricted movement, and even structural damage that prevents normal bodily function.

 Massage Therapy West Ashley, SC

What Are Inflammation and Joint Injections?

Joint and inflammation injections from Back 2 Health help relieve pain and inflammation by reducing blood flow and limiting immune system cells at the affected joint. These injections typically contain a corticosteroid and an anesthetic. The corticosteroid helps with inflammation by limiting blood vessel dilation, while the anesthetic helps with immediate relief of pain.

Generally, joint and inflammation injections can serve two purposes: for pain relief and for diagnostic purposes. As a diagnostic tool, these injections can help our doctors identify the source of pain you're enduring. As a pain reliever, injections help reduce inflammation around the affected joint, providing localized pain relief with few, if any, side effects.


Contact Us For Services

Free Consultation phone-number (843) 258-5401
 Chronic Pain Management West Ashley, SC

What Are the Benefits of Inflammation and Joint Injections?

Patients who qualify for medical injections from Back 2 Health enjoy a number of short and long-term benefits, including:

  • Quick Relief - If you're suffering from intense pain, an inflammation injection may provide relief before you leave our physical medicine clinic in South Carolina.
  • Localized - Because these injections can be applied to a specific body part, like your knee, your irritation can be solved without affecting your whole body.
  • Long Lasting - One medical injection at our office can help with pain and inflammation for weeks, not hours.
  • More Movement - If you're suffering from severe inflammation, an injection from Back 2 Health can help restore your range of motion.
  • Dependability - Medical injections should still work even if you have grown accustomed to pain medicines and opiates.
  • Side Effects - Unlike invasive surgeries, you won't have to miss days or weeks away from work so that you can recover.

Patients at Back 2 Health Physical Medicine use joint and inflammation injections for a variety of conditions, such as:

  • Pinched Nerves
  • Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Hip Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Chronic Pain
  • Sciatica
  • Joint Pain Due to Injuries
  • Shoulder Inflammation
  • Much More

Trust the Back 2 Health Difference for Physical Therapy in West Ashley, SC

If you're looking for a truly personalized, complete approach to physical therapy and pain relief, contact Back 2 Health Physical Medicine today. As a team, we analyze every new patient's case and craft a customized medical treatment plan tailored to their needs. But unlike other "pain" clinics, we don't rely on one form of therapy.

Our doctors and specialists use massage therapy, chiropractic therapy, medical injections, and other treatments to give you long-term relief - not a short-term "band-aid" that only lasts for a few days. If surgery and opiates are off the table, contact our office to learn more about the Back 2 Health physical therapy difference.

Contact Us For Services

phone-number (843) 258-5401

Make an Appointment

Latest News in West Ashley, SC

Editorial: It’s decision time in West Ashley. City Council should show its hand.

When he first ran for mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg stood outside the vacant Piggly Wiggly supermarket between Sumar Street, Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road and vowed to revitalize West Ashley, the largest part of the city and one that had not received as much attention as the downtown peninsula. Since then, his administration worked on improving this part of the city, with a specific focus on the grocery store site, which the city purchased in 2017 in part to prevent a new gas station from being built at this important g...

When he first ran for mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg stood outside the vacant Piggly Wiggly supermarket between Sumar Street, Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road and vowed to revitalize West Ashley, the largest part of the city and one that had not received as much attention as the downtown peninsula. Since then, his administration worked on improving this part of the city, with a specific focus on the grocery store site, which the city purchased in 2017 in part to prevent a new gas station from being built at this important gateway.

City officials, consultants and residents have worked with a private developer on coming up with the ideal plan for the 2.5-acre parcel. Their vision, presented to City Council last year, not only would create an attractive entrance to Charleston’s largest suburb but also would establish the city’s first meaningful civic space west of the Ashley River, a city-owned complex capable of handling office workers and council meetings, along with private offices and restaurants and 10,000 square feet of outdoor event space. About three-fourths of the 240 parking spaces would be hidden in a new underground garage.

The city must now decide whether to commit to its projected $45 million share of the cost. It’s certainly an eye-catching number but also a credible one for a project that would create new park spaces, more than 12,000 square feet of city office and meeting space, underground parking and drainage mitigation. The city expects to be able to avoid raising taxes: The project would be paid for through revenues from an existing tax increment financing district and parking garage collections.

What’s unclear is whether City Council will agree go forward. It should.

The city’s commitment is not unlike the one it made to revitalizing King Street four decades ago, specifically by extending a loan of $14.5 million in federal funding to the private developers working to create Charleston Place. Factoring in inflation, that sum is virtually the same commitment as the $45 million price tag for Sumar Street. Both Charleston Place and the Sumar Street redevelopment were envisioned as ambitious steps not only to create something new on their properties but to generate excitement and optimism that would spur further redevelopment nearby.

Of course, the comparison is imperfect. The 1983 deal was a loan on very favorable terms that eventually was paid back, while Sumar Street involves property and city facilities that will remain in the city’s hands.

This project has been vetted publicly on many occasions and promises to give the city its first substantial civic presence west of the Ashley; the new public assembly space as envisioned would cover almost 5,000 square feet, almost three times the size of the existing council chambers and 50% larger than Mount Pleasant’s new council chambers.

The renderings provided by Liollio Architecture, while not necessarily final, show a handsome park area, pond and civic building at the site’s most visible edge — the triangular tip where Old Towne and Sam Rittenberg join up. Further in, the redevelopment plan shows a mixture of indoor and outdoor spaces that work well together, not unlike the popular Pacific Box & Crate mixed-use development on upper King Street. Its efforts to hide the parking as much as possible, incorporate stormwater work and use high-quality materials deserve praise.

A case can be made that the city’s hasn’t moved fast enough. Already, City Councilman and mayoral hopeful Peter Shahid has made such a criticism, even though he was almost as involved as the mayor in this project in his role as chairman of the West Ashley Revitalization Commission. There are complexities involved in soliciting and incorporating public feedback and working out important legal and financial details, but the delay undoubtedly has driven up the cost. Another mayoral candidate, William Cogswell, suggests starting over and also having the city take a much more aggressive role in dictating the redevelopment of the nearby private property at Ashley Landing, but that would compound the delay with an unknown impact on the city’s cost.

Further delay is not what West Ashley needs. Residents deserve to know how their elected representatives stand on this proposal. This is too important and has involved too much effort by too many people to have it die quietly without a public vote by City Council, so we urge Mayor Tecklenburg to seek just that.

Charleston has many residents nearing retirement age who were born at a time when the city limits didn’t even cross the Ashley River. That changed in the 1960s, and West Ashley today represents by far the largest part of municipal Charleston, whether measured by area or by population. The city’s civic presence here has grown much more slowly, partly because downtown had entered a difficult era in the 1970s, while much of the new investment was focused not there but in the suburbs.

Mayor Tecklenburg vowed to change that, and as he nears the end of his second term, the city has arrived at a crucial decision point. It’s time to follow through on its years-in-the-making plan for its Northbridge-Charles Towne gateway site.

Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.

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Birds from nearby landfill causing chaos in West Ashley neighborhood

WEST ASHLEY, S.C. (WCBD) – They’re in the sky, perched in trees, and on top of roofs.Birds of all types are flocking to the Grand Bees neighborhood in West Ashley. According to neighbors, they’re leaving behind a mess. Dead vultures found in West Ashley positive for avian flu, cannot be removed “A...

WEST ASHLEY, S.C. (WCBD) – They’re in the sky, perched in trees, and on top of roofs.

Birds of all types are flocking to the Grand Bees neighborhood in West Ashley. According to neighbors, they’re leaving behind a mess.

“A lot of poop, a lot of debris left over in the yard. You know, it doesn’t matter how many times they clean it. It’s like ‘where’d this napkin come from, where’d this come?’” said Jamie Weiler, a Grand Bees resident.

The Lennar housing development is located right off Bees Ferry Road, next to a large Charleston County landfill.

Katie Fox moved to the neighborhood one year ago and said the birds are dropping off lots of trash when they fly in.

Wrappers, feminine products, chicken bones, and even needles are just a few of the items neighbors have seen in their yards.

“I have tons of trash in my backyard that I often use one of those trash claws to pick up because I don’t want to catch any diseases from this,” Fox said. “And then many kids can’t go out and play. Dogs are choking on bones. They had to go to the vet to get those removed from their stomach. So, it’s been pretty bad. We’re all running out of ideas.”

Fox said she’s woken up by the sound of the crows every morning. The noise doesn’t stop until the evening.

Jamie Weiler said the birds weren’t a problem when the homes were being built. Little did he know, a few months later, he would have some unexpected neighbors.

“Since there’s no construction noise there’s no hammering or anything like that. They’re not scared so they’re just hanging out, hanging out, hanging out. So, it’s gotten worse over time,” Weiler explained.

According to Charleston County officials, the landfill has been there since the 1970s.

News 2 reached out to Lennar’s Charleston office, but we have not heard back. We also made calls with county leaders in hopes of getting some answers.

Investigators search for cause of West Ashley weekend apartment fire

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Days after a large three-story apartment fire in West Ashley left at least 50 residents displaced, the cause of the fire still remains unknown.The fire at Colonial Grand at Cypress Cove, located near the 3500 block of Mary Ader Avenue, damaged 24 units. It was reported at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday....

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Days after a large three-story apartment fire in West Ashley left at least 50 residents displaced, the cause of the fire still remains unknown.

The fire at Colonial Grand at Cypress Cove, located near the 3500 block of Mary Ader Avenue, damaged 24 units. It was reported at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

The Charleston Fire Department said no one was injured in the fire and were still searching for a few missing cats on Sunday before firefighters with engine 116 located the last cat hiding inside a box spring of a bed in a fire-damaged apartment.

Lynn Walsh, who has lived in the complex since August, first heard about the fire when her Ring doorbell continued to go off with firefighters in front of the video camera.

“I was just kind of along with everyone else in the building. Whether you were home or not, it was kind of a waiting game to see what happened,” Walsh says. “All the first responders and everyone who worked at the apartment complex were super nice, super gracious with their time. They made us feel settled and were a good calming presence to have around.”

Charleston Fire Department Chief Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh said the crews arrived on the scene six minutes after the fire was called in. He said the fire was very difficult to control after it was extended into the attic.

“There are things that I still have, and there are people whose structure and belongings were burned,” Walsh says. “A lot of my damage is water damage and the roof is gone. All of my things were still there, but are they usable? No.”

A fire happened at the same complex in 2020 leaving 24 units damaged as well, but it is still unknown if the cause of the fire is the same in both cases.

Despite losing her apartment and the majority of her belongings, Walsh continues to look on the bright side.

“The biggest thing that I’ve learned is that people are really good; there’s a lot of good people left in the world, and think other people that lived in the unit are experiencing this as well,” she says. “The love, support and generosity that has been coming my way has been incredible.”

Julazadeh said Red Cross responded to the scene to help residents.

The fire department said the investigation is ongoing and has asked for the public’s help. Anyone who took photos or videos of the fire that may help as fire investigators reconstruct the timeline of the fire is asked to email them to CFDmedia@charleston-sc.gov.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Letters: West Ashley project has potential benefits

A recent letter to the editor argued against building the planned apartments at Ashley Landing Shopping Center as proposed by real estate developer Faison, which owns the shopping center.I think, however, there are good reasons to support the project.The writer states that the location is a centerpiece for the community.Th...

A recent letter to the editor argued against building the planned apartments at Ashley Landing Shopping Center as proposed by real estate developer Faison, which owns the shopping center.

I think, however, there are good reasons to support the project.

The writer states that the location is a centerpiece for the community.

The developer seems to agree, as the company has made meaningful improvements to Ashley Landing and is planning a full-scale makeover to fit the city’s vision for a central community space.

Faison, the city and the community all agree on this goal.

Traffic flow there needs an overhaul. I am likely not the only resident who takes a longer route home in order to avoid the “suicide merge” at Old Towne Roade and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard.

This should not be a reason to oppose new development. Traffic concerns are not stopping plans for the Sumar Street redevelopment, and they shouldn’t hold us back from building a lively community center.

In many ways, this location would be a great place for people to live. Residents could live a short walk from accessing their basic needs and have easy access to CARTA’s bus route 32.

Many driving trips could be replaced with short walks and bus rides, which would actually reduce traffic.

These benefits simply wouldn’t exist if these apartments were built somewhere else, such as on the urban periphery where many new developments are built.

Like other nearby residents, I plan to monitor the project through the Design Review Board process, but I also hope that others watching the project recognize its potential benefits.

GRAHAM GLAAB

Charleston

Post and Courier sports columnist Gene Sapakoff’s recent column, “Charleston needs a new sports arena,” was written by someone who has a seat up front on press row for sporting events and probably has never attended a concert in a generic modern mega-stadium like those in Atlanta and Charlotte.

My kids still joke about how I once took them to “see” Michael Jordan play for the Washington Wizards.

Even binoculars didn’t help the view from our seats in the far reaches of the Wizards’ arena in D.C.

The same is true when attending a concert or other event in those arenas.

Part of the charm of Charleston is that one can attend a show at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center or Coliseum or Charleston Music Hall and get closer to top performers than is possible at venues in other cities.

A large arena or stadium would likely lead to more traffic and tourists.

This may please those who are building all of the new hotels in town, but is it really what everyone else wants?

ROBERT ZISK

Mount Pleasant

Capping short-term rentals at Folly Beach keeps it as one of the few remaining and recognized rustic “funky” beach towns left in the United States.

Short-term rental advocates worry about optimizing their monetary investments by using arguments such as zoning and property rights.

Many of these advocates do not even live on Folly Beach. They may not understand that all land around Charleston is zoned in some manner, partly to prevent situations such as a strip club from opening next to a school or a residential district.

Supporters of short-term rentals have every property right to not purchase on Folly Beach or to sell their existing property.

Hardship cases could seek exceptions before Folly Beach City Council.

There are excellent places to operate short-term rentals such as Myrtle Beach, but not so much on Folly Beach.

VIC PROCKOW

Folly Beach

Last weekend, I took part in the “Chucktown Showdown,” a U.S. Pickleball Association sanctioned event at the Bees Landing Recreation Center in West Ashley.

I want to thank Katie Mell, a local resident who served as the organizer and director of the event, and Des Brown, who provided much-needed help and support. I also thank the many volunteers who helped to transform six tennis courts into multiple pickleball courts, the vendors and the more than 300 players who came from as far away as Seattle to make this such a great event.

I hope that in the future the city of Charleston will do more to recognize and support this sport that has become so popular with players of all ages in Charleston.

NORM HARRISON

Charleston

To submit a letter to the editor, send an email to letters@postandcourier.com or fill out the form on our online portal.

Letters can be a maximum of 250 words and are subject to editing for clarity, tone and libel. They must carry the writer’s name and address for publication and a daytime telephone number for verification.

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Affordable Housing Development Becomes First Project To Use Funding From Dedicated Municipal Bond in Charleston

Bulls Creek Apartments, in Charleston, South Carolina’s West Ashley neighborhood, is a 57-unit affordable housing development geared toward families. All of the one-, two-, and three-bedroom units are reserved for individuals and families earning less than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). When Bulls Creek opened in August 2022, it was the first project in the city to be completed using revenue from the city’s dedicated $20 million affordable housing bond. Bulls Creek Apartments represents a promising step toward resolv...

Bulls Creek Apartments, in Charleston, South Carolina’s West Ashley neighborhood, is a 57-unit affordable housing development geared toward families. All of the one-, two-, and three-bedroom units are reserved for individuals and families earning less than 60 percent of the area median income (AMI). When Bulls Creek opened in August 2022, it was the first project in the city to be completed using revenue from the city’s dedicated $20 million affordable housing bond. Bulls Creek Apartments represents a promising step toward resolving Charleston’s affordable housing shortage.

The Apartments

Bulls Creek consists of 7 one-bedroom, 35 two-bedroom, and 15 three-bedroom units ranging from 750 to 1,150 square feet. Forty-five apartments are reserved for households earning up to 60 percent of AMI and 12 are reserved for those earning up to 50 percent of AMI. Amenities at Bulls Creek include a fitness center, a clubhouse, and a laundry facility. The development is in Charleston’s West Ashley neighborhood, roughly 7 miles northwest of downtown, and a nearby freeway provides easy access to the city and surrounding metropolitan area. A large shopping center nearby offers residents retail and service job opportunities. The development cost approximately $16 million. The primary funding source was low-income housing tax credit equity. The city also provided roughly $2.6 million in dedicated bond revenue for construction.

Affordable Housing Bond

According to Geona Shaw Johnson, director of Charleston’s Department of Housing and Community Development, the city’s recent comprehensive plan found that Charleston needs to add more than 16,000 housing units to keep up with demand, nearly half of which should be targeted to those earning less than 30 percent of AMI. In November 2017, Charleston voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum allowing the city to issue up to $20 million in general obligation bonds for affordable housing. Bond funding could be used “for the acquisition, construction, and equipping of safe and affordable housing for persons and families of low- to moderate-income,” which is defined as those earning between 30 and 120 percent of AMI. The city uses bond revenue to award loans to developers who provide income-restricted units that remain affordable for at least 30 years. The city began accepting applications for loans in 2019, after the council approved funding to repay the bonds from the city’s general budget.

The city prioritizes projects based on factors such as the timing of the development process, duration of the affordability period, level of affordability, the energy efficiency of the project, and the project’s location. Reviewers also consider the projects’ proximity to grocery stores, medical offices, schools, parks, public transportation, and more. The city considered Bulls Creek an attractive project because the West Ashley neighborhood particularly needs affordable housing and because the project site is close to downtown Charleston, a bus stop, and neighborhood amenities.

Moving Forward

Although Bulls Creek was the city’s first project to be completed using bond financing, it is not the last. The city is planning eight other affordable housing developments that use bond financing. Most of these developments will also be targeted to families, although two will be designed for seniors. These projects will also be sited in West Ashley or downtown.

The city of Charleston still needs more housing units, particularly those targeted to low-income households, to meet its demand. City leaders are investigating additional sources of funding for affordable housing construction, including other municipal sources. For example, the city has started using tax increment financing for affordable housing. Although funding from the housing bond will support only a portion of affordable housing financing in Charleston, it has been a helpful local funding source for producing low- and moderate-income houses.

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