Beaufort Unveils Exciting Plans for Former Bowling Alley: Multi-Use Building to Revitalize Ribaut Road

Exciting Developments in Beaufort: New Plans for the Former Bowling Alley

Beaufort, SC – Big changes are coming to the old Ribaut Road bowling alley, which has been sitting empty for three years now. Last week, the city’s Planning Commission gave the green light for a new multi-use building at 1140 Ribaut Road. While it does mean more storage units are on the way, the plans also include space for office rentals and a handful of residential apartments. So, we can finally say goodbye to the mystery of what will happen with that vacant property!

Dr. Skeet Burris and his son, Andy, have been hard at work over the past year, collaborating with the city planning team to come up with this creative solution. Their vision includes 28 rental offices with a cozy common area, and to the back, they’ll set up space for storage units. If that’s not enough, the second floor will host a property manager’s unit, plus two apartments for rent, bringing a dash of community back to the area.

Community Concerns and Local Changes

The approval comes at an interesting time, as neighboring Port Royal Town Council is looking to limit the number of self-storage facilities within their town limits. Just earlier this month, they made some changes to the T4 zoning ordinance based on input from citizens. Many folks in the community expressed during public hearings that they feel Port Royal is becoming “the storage unit capital of the Lowcountry.” It seems like this is a classic case of listening to what the community wants and making adjustments accordingly.

Remembering the Past: Hurricane Season Approaches

As we embrace the arrival of autumn, it’s important to remember that hurricane season isn’t over yet! This past Sunday marked the 35th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo hitting the South Carolina coast. For anyone in the Lowcountry during that storm, just hearing the name “Hugo” brings back a whirlwind of memories. The destruction that followed, the rush of evacuations, and the long lines of traffic all remain vivid in the minds of residents.

So far, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has been relatively calm for us here in Beaufort. To date, we’ve only had four named storms, with two reaching hurricane strength, which is a pretty good track record given the predictions for this year promised an “above normal” season. According to forecasts, we could end up with between 17 and 25 named storms before the season wraps up on November 30. While we stay vigilant, we’re grateful that the storms have passed us by for now.

But just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean we should let our guard down. There’s still a storm brewing in the Atlantic, slowly making its way toward the Gulf of Mexico, potentially crossing Florida and heading this way. If you’re like many in the community, you may be doing a mix of hoping for calm weather and getting a little nostalgic about the past, especially those who lived through the devastation that Hugo brought. With 86 lives lost and damages ranging from $8 to $10 billion, the impact can still be felt today, especially when you look at the trees that still bear the scars of that storm along U.S. 17 south of Georgetown.

Keeping Our Spirits High

No matter what storms may come, the community spirit here in Beaufort shines through. It’s heartening to see people rallying together whether it’s through acknowledging past challenges or celebrating new developments like the multi-use building on Ribaut Road. While the town adapts, residents remain engaged and active in shaping its future. So, here’s to hoping for safety as we continue through hurricane season and cheers to new beginnings in our beloved Beaufort!