What began as a groundbreaking celebration in February 2024 is now a reality: the Esau Jenkins Village is officially complete and fully occupied ahead of the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at 3 p.m. The new community, which reached 100% occupancy in under 35 days, opens its doors to 72 affordable apartment homes for seniors aged 62 and older. The multi-year project fulfills a long-held vision for safe, clean, and dignified housing for Sea Island seniors.
The development honors the legacy of Mr. Esau Jenkins, a Johns Island leader whose lifelong work in education, civil rights and economic empowerment helped generations build a better future. The vision for Esau Jenkins Village was championed by Leon Burton, CEO of Sea Island Comprehensive Healthcare Corporation, which has been serving the community for over 50 years. In partnership with Ward Mungo Companies and Nix Development Company, Burton advanced plans for a high-quality replacement housing community designed for longtime Johns Island residents, many of whom live directly across the street from the new site.
The development team, along with members of the Jenkins family, Charleston Mayor William Cogswell, local officials, and other guests, will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 11.
“Having spent a lot of time on the Sea Islands throughout my childhood, being part of this project carries real significance for me,” said Edward Mungo, founder of Ward Mungo Companies. “After eight years as a single-family homebuilder, Esau Jenkins Village is the first multi-family development we’ve taken from concept to completion, and seeing it open its doors to local seniors is especially meaningful.”
“Additionally, together with Nix Development and Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care, we are extremely proud to contribute to the City of Charleston’s goal of adding 3,500 new affordable housing units to the area,” said Mungo.
“This is the kind of project Charleston needs more of: a practical collaboration that addresses a community need,” said Charleston Mayor William Cogswell. “Esau Jenkins Village moves the needle on delivering more affordable housing for our residents and shows what’s possible when a community refuses to settle for anything less than dignity for its seniors. I applaud everyone involved.”
Located at 3627 Maybank Highway, Esau Jenkins Village offers 61 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom apartments. All units are income-restricted to households earning up to 60% of the area median income, ensuring affordability for low- and moderate-income seniors. The community offers amenities such as a fitness center, walking trail, and outdoor gathering spaces.
The project received a total of $25.9 million in funding from more than 10 sources, including support from the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, the City of Charleston, Charleston County, the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority, South Carolina Community Loan Fund, and federal housing credits and private loans.
“Our entire team brought passion, purpose, and unwavering commitment to transform a vacant, underutilized parcel into a vibrant, welcoming, and contemporary campus designed to enrich the lives of independent seniors,” said Ray Nix, CEO of Nix Development Company. “We are proud of this collaborative effort and honored to support the mission and legacy of Esau Jenkins and his family.”