Representatives from Beaufort County Open Land Trust and Beaufort County recently approached Sam Levin of Whitehall Point Holdings, LLC in a final attempt to purchase a portion of Whitehall for public open space before construction commences on the approved development. Mr. Levin agreed to consider the possibility of the sale of up to 10 acres of the western waterfront portion of Whitehall that overlooks the Beaufort River and Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
“Up to this point in its current ownership, the property has not been for sale. We are doing all we can to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to give this community what it has been so passionately asking for. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once construction begins, the conversion of this land to residential use is irreversible,” states Barbara G. Holmes, Director of Land Protection for the Beaufort County Open Land Trust. “As part of any agreement regarding the possible purchase of property for a park, the development on the remaining acreage retained by Whitehall Holdings would be built according to the Whitehall Conceptual Master Plan.”
County Council discussions regarding the possibility of protecting and using the Whitehall property for a public park have occurred as far back as the 1960’s. Development on the Whitehall property has been planned numerous times by developers. Each time, the land value went up along with the density requirements to make developing it economically viable. Beaufort County residents have long realized the value of this property, citing it as ‘a treasure,’ ‘priceless’, ‘irreplaceable,’ ‘beautiful historic land’ and ‘idyllic’ during a public comment period in 2017 prior to a proposed re-zoning which would have increased allowable density on the property.
Whitehall is the only piece of property in northern Beaufort County of its kind – the only waterfront property remaining that could serve as a useable public waterfront park connecting Lady’s Island to the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. With 850′ of walkable waterfront, the 900’ pedestrian/bike trail and ample parking, it can be one of the most connected, accessible and useable public parks in downtown Beaufort. If 10 acres of this property were to become a park, it would remove 67 approved residential units and associated impacts.
The Beaufort County Open Land Trust is continuing positive discussions with Beaufort County, Whitehall Point Holdings and the City of Beaufort to make this park a reality by negotiating a price that does not exceed the appraised value of property. The spirit of this combined partnership is to preserve this iconic parcel of critical land and to enhance and protect the quality of life in Beaufort for future generations.
