SUN NEWS - North Myrtle Beach is headed toward another major development, although this time it’s for homes rather than stores. Developers are asking the city to annex and zone residential 92 acres on Robert Edge Parkway between U.S. 17 and S.C. 31. They
have agreed with the city’s Planning Commission to set multi-story
buildings 400 feet back from the property’s edge along the Intracoastal
Waterway because of concerns of residents in two communities across the
waterway. Developers could not be reached for comment Monday, but
Pat Dowling, North Myrtle Beach spokesman, said the subdivision is one
that developers had begun to plan before the Great Recession. “It looks like they ran up against the recession and decided to put it on hold,” Dowling said. While
no site plans have been submitted to the city yet, the land will be
zoned to accommodate both single-family and multi-family neighborhoods
with a small commercial space, some of which could be along a lake
that’s within the acreage. The development, which is not named
yet, is the third either announced or to open this year in essentially
the same part of the city. Coastal North Town Center is under construction not far away on U.S. 17. Near
Gator Hole Plaza, the Town Center should open later this year with the
Grand Strand’s first Hobby Lobby and Publix Super Market, as well as
other stores that already have a presence along the Grand Strand: TJ
Maxx, Ulta Beauty, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ross Dress for Less, Rack Room
Shoes, PetSmart and Versona Accessories. Champions Crossing along
Robert Edge Parkway on the inland side of S.C. 31 has been owned by a
Winston-Salem, N.C., developer for a number of years. Scott Williamson,
the company’s vice president, said he hopes to attract merchants from
out of the area that will appeal to a regional audience. Williamson said he expects to begin announcing tenants of the center later this year. Like
the new subdivision, Champions Crossing was originally planned before
the recession and then put on hold until earlier this year. Dowling
said the original plan for the subdivision had more single-family homes
than is anticipated from the new plan. Single-family homes will help
fill the 400 feet between the waterway and the multi-family buildings. The maximum commercial development is about 20,000 square feet, Dowling said. The lake on the property is a former coquina pit that he said is 80 feet deep.
