A Pivotal Step: Nearly 10 Acres Secured for St. Helena's Future

A coalition of partners has preserved a key parcel at the Corners — keeping the future of the land in the community's hands.

A significant piece of St. Helena Island's future has been protected. Open Land Trust has acquired a nearly 10-acre property at the intersection of Polowana Road and Sea Island Parkway — the last large undeveloped tract in the Corners Community, the island's designated center for commercial growth.

The acquisition was made possible by a $600,000 investment from Coastal Community Foundation and a $1 million grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. When the property was at risk of being sold into private hands for conventional commercial development, the partnership stepped in.

Here's the important part: Open Land Trust is not developing this property. It is serving as a temporary bridge — holding the land so that a thoughtful, community-centered process can take place, and leaving the final use of the site to be shaped by that process rather than predetermined.

This parcel was always a commercial property, and always going to be developed in some form. The question was never whether change would come to the Corners. The question was whether the community would have a voice in shaping that change. This effort exists to make sure the answer is yes — and that the future of the site can better reflect St. Helena's values, history, and aspirations.

That intention reflects something residents have voiced for years: a desire to see growth at the Corners honor and reflect Gullah Geechee culture. On St. Helena Island, land, culture, history, and community are deeply interconnected — you cannot meaningfully separate one from the others. As Kristin Williams, Executive Director of Open Land Trust, put it, this is about "preserving the opportunity for a community-centered outcome that honors the history, culture, and character of this special place while supporting economic growth on St. Helena Island." South Carolina Public Radio

The next step is the St. Helena Island Economic Feasibility Study — a six-month process led by MOA Architecture, Inc. in partnership with Coastal Community Foundation to help the community assess what uses for this site would be viable, sustainable, and culturally grounded. The study is fully aligned with the Beaufort County 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which emphasizes cultural protection, preservation of historically significant land, and locally rooted economic development. Open Land Trust remains one partner within a much larger collaborative effort that includes community leaders, nonprofits, public agencies, and funding partners.

“Coastal Community Foundation has access to a variety of resources to ensure this project is successful,” says Darrin Goss, Sr., President and CEO.  “We are more than a funder. We are a convener that brings together expert partners to create long-term solutions for community benefit. None of our work is done in a vacuum, and we look forward to having in-depth conversations with the residents of St. Helena Island about how this land can best be used to preserve their culture and provide greater economic opportunity.”

No permanent decisions will be made during this process. The findings will be shared publicly once the study is complete — and the community's voice will guide the way.

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