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 — as a place for culture, commerce, gathering, and heritage.

Nothing has been decided. This is an open process, and the community's voice will shape what we learn and what we recommend.

Next Community Meeting June 15, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. @ St. Helena Branch Library

Next Community Meeting June 15, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. @ St. Helena Branch Library

GET INVOLVED

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 would genuinely serve St. Helena Island's residents, entrepreneurs, and cultural community for generations to come?

The vision being explored may include:

  • Cultural programming and educational spaces rooted in Gullah Geechee heritage

  • Market and artisan spaces for local vendors and entrepreneurs

  • Flexible gathering and event spaces for the community

  • Heritage tourism programming that keeps economic benefit local

  • Phased development that grows at a pace the community can support

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.

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.

June

  • June 15 | 5:30 - 7:00pm | Community Meeting

    St. Helena Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr Rd, St Helena Is, SC, 29920

  • Kick off individual meetings with residents, organizations, business owners, and community leaders

  • Site visit

July

  • July 13 | 5:30 - 7:00pm | Community Meeting

St. Helena Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr Rd, St Helena Is, SC, 29920

  • Individual meetings with residents, organizations, business owners, and community leaders conclude this month

August

  • August 17 | 5:30 - 7:00 pm | Community Meeting

    St. Helena Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr Rd, St Helena Is, SC, 29920

    • Draft report for final comments

September

  • Final report presentation

Updates and Announcements

Coming soon!

Stay in the loop. This page will be updated regularly throughout the study process. Check back here for meeting announcements, study updates, and summaries of what we've heard from the community.

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

  • No. This is a genuine evaluation process. The study team has no predetermined outcome to defend. If the analysis finds that a proposed concept is not viable, the report will say so clearly — and explain what might need to change for a project to succeed.

  • Community input shapes what types of uses and development scenarios are evaluated and how priorities are weighted in the analysis. Summaries of what the study team hears will be shared back with the community before the final report is finalized — so you can see your input reflected in the process.

  • Your submissions go directly to the MOA study team. Personal information will not be shared publicly. Anonymous submissions are welcome.

  • The previous study evaluated a traditional performing arts center. This study asks a broader question — what type of project could realistically serve this community, its entrepreneurs, and its cultural heritage for the long term — and evaluates a wider range of possibilities before drawing any conclusions.

  • 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.

  • Reach the study team directly at MOA Architecture at (864) 777-3023 or admin@moaarc.com.