The past week in the Charleston economy
Rail request
Palmetto Railways filed for a permit to build a rail line that Volvo can use to transport cars from its Berkeley County plant. The request seeks approval to fill 103 acres of wetlands and clear another 17 acres. The nearly 23-mile line would connect the plant with existing tracks near Cross.
Palmetto Railways is proposing ways to offset the wetlands it would fill.
The exact cost of the project has not been determined.
On the Hill
An Upstate company paid $14.3 million for most of the Watson Hill timber tract in the Ashley River Historic District and plans to develop a portion of the property.
No construction plans have been finalized for the 4,000 acres along Highway 61. Development is limited under an easement to about 1,000 residential units.
Watson Hill was the site of an annexation battle that began in 2004, with North Charleston prevailing in 2011. Johnson Development Associates is the new owner.
Same, same
Boeing Co. is changing the way it builds the rear section of its 787-8 to make it more compatible with newer versions of the Dreamliner.
An official at the North Charleston plant said the modifications will make that section of the original jet essentially the same as the 787-9 and 787-10, except for the length.
Seeking changes
The design for the proposed $100 million National Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point was sent back to the drawing board, with little hope Mount Pleasant will approve it without major changes. A committee gave the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation 60 days to make significant revisions or start over.
The foundation has spent $3.5 million on architect Moshe Safdie’s modernistic concept that’s far taller than anything the town has approved before.
Air lift
Two airlines are expanding to Charleston and adding flights with parttime schedules.
Allegiant made its market debut with service to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.
Frontier, which has offered flights to Denver and Philadelphia since February, added another to Trenton, N.J. Service to Austin, Texas, starts April 10, followed Chicago O’Hare flights on May 11.
Power bill
The S.C. House passed a bill creating a committee to study the possible sale of Santee Cooper. The proposal also lets the governor fire the board that runs the state-owned utility.
Santee Cooper is responsible for 45 percent of the costs associated with the failed expansion of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.
