WestEdge selected by Publix as Charleston, SC peninsula location
July 6, 2016
CHARLESTON, SC – WestEdge, Charleston’s “Discovery District,” has added national grocery giant Publix Super Markets as an anchor tenant amid a flurry of development and pre-leasing momentum in recent months.
Publix has leased space for a 45,000 square foot store in the 10 WestEdge mixed-use project, which includes an 870-space parking facility, 350 apartments and street-level retail space. Construction is expected to begin in August with completion by third quarter 2018. Meanwhile, pre-leasing momentum continues to climb for the Class A office and research building next door at 22 WestEdge, which will commence in fourth quarter 2016 for a spring 2018 completion. Construction has already begun on the mixed-use 99 WestEdge project.
WestEdge is envisioned as an economic catalyst for the future of the City of Charleston and expansion of The Medical University of South Carolina’s bio-tech research and business initiatives. The community is fully supported by a strong partnership between the City of Charleston, MUSC, the MUSC Foundation and private development.
“WestEdge presents an exciting vision for a live, learn and earn community, with urbane residences, workplaces and research labs, plus all the amenities that are so important to livability,” said Michael Maher, CEO of HPF, Inc.
A renewed sense of community, jobs, shopping convenience and learning is taking shape in WestEdge. Phase I includes 580 living units, over 100,000 square feet of street-front retail and dining space, 135,000 square feet of office and research space, and 2,000 structured parking spaces.
Today’s announcement complements a busy time for the WestEdge development team, according to Mack Reese of Gateway Development Services. His firm is working with South City Partners and Charleston-based WRS Realty on the development of the initial buildings and with Maher and HPF on the overall master development activities.
“The Publix lease commitment furthers the credibility of WestEdge and will allow us to create a mixed-use project that will be unique to the Charleston Peninsula and, specifically, to the Medical District and its 15,000 employees,” said Reese.
About WestEdge:
WestEdge is a bold economic development and urban revitalization initiative to advance the knowledge-based sector of the Charleston regional economy. It is a national model for a research-oriented urban infill development, a forward-thinking project that will incorporate all of the elements necessary to create a vital urban place. The site is a 25-acre aggregation of contiguous parcels located in downtown Charleston along the Ashley River and adjacent to the MUSC campus. Phase I includes 10 WestEdge, 22 WestEdge, and 99 WestEdge; collectively the three projects represent over $250 million in private investment.
