West Ashley Urban Horticultural Center one step closer to a reality

CHARLESTON - The plan to build a horticultural center and community garden on Sycamore Avenue took another step toward fruition Monday as the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend approving the funds needed to purchase the land for the project.

If ultimately approved by the Charleston County Council, the money, $410,500, will come from the Charleston County Greenbelt Bank. Restrictions on the bank limit the what the money can be spent on to land purchases for park and greenspace uses and minor improvements to existing greenspace properties. Building the horticultural center on the property would be funded seperately, and under the direction of the Charleston Parks Conservancy, which would ultimately take over the property.

"We want it to be public greenspace forever," Jim Martin, CPC Executive Director said.

Currently the Mount Plesant Land Conservancy is the entity pursuing the application for the greenbelt funds for the project. The MPLC has been working with the Charleston County Urban Greenbelt Program on behalf of owners of small parcels of property. It will act as steward of the property during the purchase and turn it over to CPC after the sale.

The Parks Conservancy is supplying $20,000 toward the cost of purchasing the land in addition to the requested $410,500 greenbelt funding.

Martin told the Commission that initially the site will include a playground and passive park while his group works with the City of Charleston and members of the community near the property to develop the final plan for the site.

"It's really a three-pronged approach of us working with the city and the community," Martin said.

Eventually community gardens and possibly greenhouses would be added to the site along with a headquarters building for CPC. That center would be a place to offer gardening and horticulture training as well as a testing ground for future concepts.

Martin said there isn't a whole lot to talk about yet with the project because it will be so community driven and the land purchase hasn't been finalized yet. Should the project win County Council approval in August then the real discussions will begin.

The greenbelt funds request next goes to the Charleston County Finance Committee on Thursday, Aug. 11 for a recommmendation and then on to county council on Tuesday, Aug. 16.