13 hours Ago
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster alluded to a balancing act that has become very familiar to Aiken residents in his 2024 State of the State address . "South Carolina's mountains, beaches, sea islands, lakes, and marshes are among the most beautiful in the nation," McMaster said according to a pre-provided copy of the speech.
"This land, as noted by the explorers for kings and queens, is lush, fertile, and brimming with abundance, flora and fauna. Our incomparable cultural and environmental heritage distinguishes our state and people from others. And all possess a strength and beauty we must never lose.
" Economic growth — South Carolina was the fifth fastest growing state from 2023 to 2024 — and preservation of what makes the state unique aren't opposite objectives, he continued. Voting open through Dec. 31 for 2025 Aiken’s Choice Top Docs However, they must be balanced as in a competition, one against the other, he added.
Working to balance growth and keeping Aiken unique has played out several times over the past year, most notably in Aiken City Council and Aiken Design Review Board meetings. For example, Parker's Kitchen plans to build a gas station and convenience store south of the city along Whiskey Road. Blessing others: Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association gives away personal items during giveaway in Aiken Given the traffic between Aiken's Southside and the Savannah River Site and vice versa, it's no surprise the company would want to build there.
And, given the lack of gas stations between Aiken and New Ellenton, there's definitely a market. But, a group of residents appeared before the Aiken City Council and argued the gas station's location — Whiskey and Chukker Creek — would disrupt their lives. Ultimately, the Aiken City Council agreed to provide city utility services to Parker's Kitchen.
Another example: the ongoing Design Review Board battle over the historic Hitchcock Stables. Aiken Republican Club names new officers, holds holiday party The stables, at 525 Laurens St. S.
W., are part of the city's history because they've been owned by the Hitchcocks and the Bostwicks since their construction in the early 1900s. But, the stables are also in danger of collapse according to an engineering report.
And a plan submitted to the board in the summer would have preserved part of them but demolished other parts. Yet, the Design Review Board viewed it legally necessary to recommend a change in the designation of the stables on the city's historic register before considering the plan. A third example: Scott and Kimberly Gudith's battle with the Design Review Board over plans to covert a Whiskey Road church into a home.
The church, at 433 Whiskey Road, is vacant. I.e.
someone needs to do something with it before it begins to decay. But, the Design Review Board voted 3-3 to reject the Gudith's plans to convert the church into a home. The members that voted against said they didn't feel the home's design would fit the neighborhood in which it sits.
.
