Press Release
Atlantic Beach’s first ever Economic Development Seminar Series is presented by Councilman-elect John David and Councilman Lamar Campbell, the town’s two newest councilman. The first seminar in the series is Thursday, July 20, 2023 from 1 pm to 3 pm. Attendance can be in person at the Atlantic Beach Community Center at 1010 32nd Avenue South, Atlantic Beach, SC 29582 or virtually via Zoom Meeting. Join through Zoom with the link and passcode provided.
https://orannge-k12-nc-us.
Seminar participants include the Small Business Administration (SBA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), SCORE, I-Hope Women’s Business Center, Small Business Development Center at Coastal Carolina, various lenders, and builders. The goal is to meet with the residents and non-resident landowners of Atlantic Beach to discuss business opportunities, financing and building designs (commercial and residential) and to provide expertise and assistance that promotes grown along the Atlantic Beach commercial corridors, 30th Avenue South and 31st Avenue South.
Lenders are providing lending products that will best benefit the citizens of Atlantic Beach to finance commercial and residential building to promote growth in Atlantic Beach. Builders are presenting displays, mock-ups, and floor plans of beach rental homes with commercial storefront options on the first level with residential on the second and third level, like the style prominent in the Market Commons development in Myrtle Beach, SC.
What makes this economic development series to timely and meaningful to many is that after years of disinvestment in the town brought on by desegregation, a residential renaissance is occurring in Atlantic Beach. Within the last five years more than 30 new homes have been constructed with values of $300,000 to greater than $1,000,000. Now, councilmen David and Campbell are looking to jumpstart the commercial revitalization. There actions are supported by the polls taken of people who live and own property in Atlantic Beach. These polls show that the preferred type of development is small-town, entrepreneurial, low-density development. Most people favor a walkable main street, lined with unique shops, boutiques, galleries and eateries — consistent with the historic character and quaint charm of the town.
However, the current majority of the three longest-serving council members are supporting and fast-tracking plans for a towering 21-story condo/hotel complex and an 11-story parking structure on the ocean front and 2nd row. A plan that many feel will result in the ultimate loss of the cultural integrity of Atlantic Beach and a real threat to the revocation of the town’s municipal charter.
Councilman-elect John David adds, “The majority of our voting and tax-paying residents do not want a high rise on our beach front. I stand with the majority. The negative environmental impacts of a 20-story high rise and an 11-story parking garage for more than 400 cars blocking our beach would be a detriment to our town. The town council should be protecting Atlantic Beach’s natural habitat, maintaining our public beach access, and considering the impact on our local infrastructure and ecosystems. We must preserve the history and the culture of Atlantic Beach for future generations to enjoy. My co-council Mr. Campbell and I are committed and our supporting new commercial and residential development that protects and preserves the town’s historic character. We’re looking forward to the positive outcomes from the economic development series and what it will mean for the town and the positive transformation of our Main Streets. We also feel that the council must abide by the deed restrictions from the 1930s limiting development to residential construction on the oceanfront parcels. I stand with the people of Atlantic Beach.”
To support the councilmen and their efforts to preserve the integrity of Atlantic Beach, we invite you to contribute to our community action organization, STARD via our website at https://no-beachfront-high-
