Your Island.
Your Voice.
Your Future.
A community-driven feasibility study is underway on St. Helena Island - and your input matters.
This study is exploring what potential uses of this land could realistically serve this community for the long term. Nothing has been decided. This is an open process, and the community's voice has shaped what we have learned, and what we will recommend.
Your voice has shaped what comes next.
At our third community meeting in July, the community narrowed down top priorities for the property to the following:
Youth and Education Programs
Culture and Heritage Center
Community Wellness and Environment
Tourism and Visitor Experience
The study team also presented traffic, economic, and market data.
Next Community Meeting August 17, 5:30 - 7pm, Frissell Community House @ Penn Center
Next Community Meeting August 17, 5:30 - 7pm, Frissell Community House @ Penn Center
ABOUT THIS LAND
A Once-In-A-Generation Opportunity on St. Helena Island
The land at the center of this study is no ordinary parcel.
Located at the intersection of Polowana Road and Sea Island Parkway, this nearly 10-acre property sits at the heart of the Corners Community — St. Helena Island's designated center for commercial growth — and is the last large undeveloped tract in that area.
For years, community members have made clear what they want: development in the Corners that reflects and honors Gullah Geechee culture. When the property was at risk of defaulting to a national retailer, a coalition of partners moved quickly to prevent that outcome.
Open Land Trust acquired the site with support from a $600,000 investment from Coastal Community Foundation and a $1 million grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism — securing time and space for the community to determine its own future for this land.
Now the question belongs to the people of St. Helena Island:
What should this place become?
This feasibility study is the next step in that process. It is not a construction plan. No permanent decisions will be made during this study. Its purpose is to listen carefully, evaluate honestly, and help the community understand what is realistically possible — so that whatever comes next is built on a foundation of facts, not assumptions.
This effort is fully aligned with the Beaufort County 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which calls for cultural protection, preservation of historically significant land, and small-scale, locally rooted economic development on St. Helena Island. It is supported by partners including Penn Center, Coastal Community Foundation, Open Land Trust, and the Beaufort Area Small Business Development Center.
ABOUT THE STUDY
What This Study Is - and What It Isn’t
A feasibility study is a professional evaluation process that asks one core question: Can this project realistically work, long-term?
It is not a construction plan. It is not a done deal. It is not a decision that has already been made.
This study will look honestly at what the community wants and needs, what types of uses and programming could succeed here, what the real costs and funding realities are, and what scale and approach makes the most sense — or whether a different direction is worth considering altogether.
The goal is responsible decision-making, not a predetermined outcome.
How This Study Is Different.
A previous study evaluated a traditional performing arts center. This study starts from a broader question — what kind of project does the community want, and what options are feasible.
We believe preserving the culture of St. Helena Island and creating economic opportunity are not competing priorities.
Who is Conducting This Study
This feasibility study is being led by MOA Architecture, Inc., a full-service architecture, interiors, owner’s project management and planning firm based in Greenville, South Carolina, with experience in civic and community-centered projects across the Southeast.
MOA is working alongside a consultant team with specialized expertise in market analysis, financial planning, and operational assessment to ensure the study's findings are grounded in real-world data — not assumptions.
The study team's role is to listen, analyze, and report honestly — including when the findings raise hard questions or point toward a different direction than originally envisioned.
Updates and Announcements
What To Expect This Summer.
STUDY TIMELINE - SUMMER 2026
The study will unfold over several months with multiple opportunities for community input. Here is where we are and where we are headed.
May
May 18: Community Kick-Off Meeting(complete)
The community kickoff meeting has been completed. The study team is now moving into the background research and stakeholder engagement phase. Interviews with residents, organizations, and business owners are beginning in June. If you would like to be contacted for a stakeholder interview, use the form below.
Demand analysis
June
Site visit
Market and economic analysis
Individual meetings with residents, organizations, business owners and community leaders will begin
June 15 | 5:30 - 7:00pm | Community Meeting(complete)
St. Helena Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr Rd, St Helena Is, SC, 29920
The community gathered for a second time to build on the ideas shared during the project kick-off. Through interactive visioning exercises and facilitated discussion, participants explored opportunities for the future use of the property at the corner of Sea Island Parkway and Polowana Road while identifying key challenges and priorities. The input gathered will help inform the feasibility analysis and guide recommendations that reflect the community's vision, values, and long-term aspirations.
Meeting photos and materials are available on the meeting recap page here»
Place your vote on challenges and opportunities for the property here»
July
July 13 | 5:30 - 7:00pm | Community Meeting (complete)
St. Helena Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr Rd, St Helena Is, SC, 29920
Individual meetings with residents, organizations, business owners, and community leaders will conclude
Begin shaping recommendations for the final report
Traffic study
Meeting photos and materials are available on the meeting recap page here»
August
August 17 | 5:30 - 7:00 pm | Community Meeting
Frissell Community House @ Penn Center, 16 Penn Center Circle, West, Saint Helena Island, SC 29920
Draft report for final comments
September
Final report posted to website
GET INVOLVED
This Study Belongs to This Community.
There are several ways to make your voice part of this process. Choose what works best for you.
Share Your Voice.
Fill out the form to sign up for project updates and community meeting notices. If you would like to receive updates directly from our team, please make sure you provide at least one way to contact you.
Questions We Hear Most Often
COMMON QUESTIONS
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No. This is a genuine evaluation process. The study team has no predetermined outcome. The study team is here to gather facts, listen to the community, analyze what is realistic, and provide honest recommendations - not to advance a decision that has already been made.
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We have gathered input from the commiunity in a variety of ways including three open community meetings, events in the community, individual meetings, and online forms at the study website: moaarc.com/sthelenastudy. The ideas and challenges identified by the community have been carefully considered. The community’s input has guided the direction of the study as we head into our final community meeting on August 17 to present potential scenarios for the site.
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Your submissions go directly to the MOA study team. Personal information will not be shared publicly. Anonymous submissions are welcome.
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The previous study focused on evaluating a traditional performing arts center. This new study expands beyond that concept and explores what the community wants. The most dominant themes emerging from the community are:
Youth and education programs
Culture and heritage center
Community wellness and environment
Tourism and visitor experience
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Sign up for updates above and meeting notices will come directly to you. Dates and locations will also be posted in the Announcements section of this page as they are confirmed. The last community meeting is scheduled for August 17.
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Reach the study team directly at MOA Architecture at (864) 777-3023 or admin@moaarc.com.