WMBF NEWS - On Thursday, construction crews were in the process of leveling an area by Oak Street to develop some prime real estate in downtown Myrtle Beach, SC. The lot is being developed into an affordable, low-income housing complex for people in Myrtle Beach. A representative for the developer confirmed it will be affordable housing, an option for people who have jobs and want to live downtown but can't quite afford steep close-to-the-beach prices. The complex is going to be called Carolina Oaks Village. It was the first week construction crews broke ground working to clear all the overgrown land and trees so that they can bring in the equipment and put up the buildings and pave the parking lot. The plans also include a community building for the people who will live there. The representative for the developer said it will take a year to finish the complex.
Businesses next door said the lot has a tendency to attract homeless people who set up camp, and sometimes hang around business parking lots. On top of the lot being an eyesore, that's one reason they fully support development. "Having a housing development, and space that's being used for business in a positive way, I think that helps everybody out," according to Dusty Rhodes, with Coastal Com Call Center. His company's new next-door neighbor is the Carolina Oaks Village Apartments. Rhodes said he was happy to see the new development, "The more folks that come to the Myrtle Beach area, the more opportunity for folks to spend money locally- that's always going to be a good opportunity."
Ashia Matthews also lives in Myrtle Beach and walks around every day for exercise. She said she is happy to see something move into the spot she calls an eyesore - it will benefit the job market. " Myrtle Beach has a lot of jobs to offer, so the more people, the more income and possibly in the future, more job productivity." The complex will go in between 12th and 16th Avenues North, right next to the city's law enforcement center. "Myrtle Beach police station is right here on the corner, so there's always going to be a large presence of patrolling police officers,” Rhodes said. This housing complex will also benefit local veterans. The developer has approval from the Myrtle Beach Housing Authority to rent 10 of the units specifically to low-income veterans. That will get final government approval when the building is complete in 2016.
