There are a lot of mattress companies in South Carolina that claim to have the perfect mattress for everyone. At Sleep King, we believe that every person is different and has different needs when it comes to their mattress. That's why our mattress store in James Island, SC, has a wide variety of beds and brands to choose from. That way, you can find the right mattress for your body and get the very best sleep quality possible.
As a family-owned and operated mattress store with more than 40 years of experience in the sleep industry, we know a thing or two about comfortable mattresses. James Island, SC residents choose Sleep King because we provide our customers with a personalized shopping experience. When you walk through our showroom doors, we want you to feel comfortable - both on our mattresses and with our store associates. At Sleep King, you won't ever have to worry about pushy salespeople and limited selection. Instead, you will discover that we encourage you to take your time as you search for your next bed. Sleep is incredibly important, and by proxy, finding the right mattress for your body type is too.
When you visit our showroom Near Me James Island, SC know that we are a full-service store with mattress experts ready to help. From questions about mattresses and their warranties to financing and mattress delivery, there's no question we haven't heard before.
We carry some of the most popular brands in America, and unlike other mattress stores Near Me James Island, SC offer them at the lowest prices around, guaranteed. There's a reason why we were voted your #1 mattress store in the Lowcountry - because we truly care about our customers and their quality of sleep!
Looking for discounts? Need to buy your mattress on a strict budget? We've got you covered at our new mattress clearance center Near Me James Island, SC where we have more than 50 models on display at 50-80% off retail value. Don't forget to ask us about our flexible financing options, where no credit is needed to make a purchase. Paying cash? We'll knock 5% off your bill!
As if that weren't enough reason to visit, remember that we provide free delivery, setup, and removal of your old mattress for FREE when you make a purchase at Sleep king.
Our business model is simple - give customers quality beds from national brands at amazing prices, coupled with unmatched customer service. We know that your sleep is essential but also understand that normal folks aren't made of money. You need a solution that isn't going to break the bank, which is why we offer up to 75% off our products.
When we say we have a bed for every budget, we're serious.
A few of our mix and match deals include:
Sets | Prize |
---|---|
Twin Mattress Sets Beginning | at $169.00 |
Full Mattress Sets Beginning | at $199.00 |
Queen Mattress Sets Beginning | at $229.00 |
King Mattress Sets Beginning | at $449.00 |
Of course, a mattress would be incomplete without a headboard, footboard, and rails. For queen mattresses, those items combined are only $199. At our mattress store, we pledge to beat any competitor's price on similar product specs - guaranteed! Here are just a few of the benefits of shopping at Mattress King
At Sleep King, we carry the largest selection of high-quality national brand mattresses Near Me James Island, SC.
Often considered the best mattress brand in the world, innovation sets MLILY mattresses apart from others. Our customers love MLILY mattresses because they are expertly built through decades of research and rigorous testing. The folks at MLILY are committed to precision, meaning every detail of product detail they push is geared towards the ultimate satisfaction and comfort.
Restonic Mattresses: Restonic line of mattresses are multi-layered beds with cooling foam technology that adds resilience, support, and temperature control. The result is a cool, comfy sleep that leaves you refreshed and ready to attack the day.
Every mattress in the Comfort Sleep lineup has a great combo of support and comfort, making for a restful night's sleep. With heavy-gauge coils and high-performance materials, these mattresses are durable and built to last. Be sure to try one of these mattresses out in our showroom - our customers love the pocketed coils and minimal motion transfer.
The Golden brand is lesser known than some, like Tempurpedic. Still, it is a quality product with many foam and non-foam options that we think you'll love. Choose from standard memory foam, hybrid, and innerspring options while visiting our showroom Near Me James Island, SC.
There's much more to choosing a good bed than how you think it will look in your bedroom. There's plenty to think about, from innerspring options to memory foam and even hybrid mattresses. At Sleep King, our priority is our customers. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service. We want to do right by you, which why we want to be sure you find the perfect bed when you visit our mattress store Near Me James Island, SC. To help you get started, here are a few tips on choosing the best bed for your sleep needs.
This tip might seem like a no-brainer to some, but it's important that you visit a showroom so that you can lay on different beds to get a feel for what you like. At Mattress King, you will have the chance to explore different styles, designs, and shapes, and mattress materials. Finding a bed online at a price you can afford is great, but you should lie on the bed first, not just look at it on a screen.
Here's a surprising fact: just because a mattress costs more money, it doesn't mean it's going to be a better bed. Sure, more expensive beds might have newer technologies and materials, but not everyone has the budget to walk into a mattress store Near Me James Island, SC and spend $3,000. Figure out what price range you're comfortable paying and look at the best options for your bottom line.
Before you swing by our showroom and start trying out beds, it might be a good idea to measure the space where your new mattress will go. If your bedroom is on the small side, a king-sized bed might be too big. Similarly, a small bed in a huge room might make for strange aesthetics. Aim for a reasonable amount of room around your bed - enough where you can walk around comfortably. As mentioned above, get specific measurements of the area you plan to use. That way, you have peace of mind knowing your new mattress will fit in your bedroom.
This tip often comes down to personal preference. It will take a little bit of trial and error to figure out which material works best for your back - innerspring, memory foam, or latex. While your friend's and family's opinions matter, keep in mind that their mattress choice was subjective. What works for them won't necessarily work for you.
Also called coil mattresses, innerspring beds are probably the most well-known on this short list. Innerspring mattresses are often more affordable than their latex and memory foam counterparts. These beds are ideal for people who want a lot of support and a cooler night's sleep.
This material is known for its great cooling properties and overall comfort. With latex, there are no strange off-gassing odors like you sometimes get with memory foam. Latex mattresses are ideal for people who want a responsive, bouncy feel and may have problems sleeping hot.
First developed by NASA in the 70s, memory foam is probably the most popular material in the modern mattress market. Memory foam conforms to every inch of your body, giving you maximum comfort and support. Memory foam is also know for its anti-motion properties. Memory foam can be a great choice if you tend to toss and turn at night and sleep with a partner who wakes up when you do. Memory foam mattresses are ideal for people who need pressure relief, good support, and refreshing comfort.
If you have a bad back, it's crucial that you find a mattress with proper support. Slat and spring beds often offer plenty of support, but latex and memory foam options have come a long way. If you want memory foam or latex but find the support to be subpar, consider an adjustable base instead of a normal platform. That way, you can always sleep in a comfortable position that benefits your back.
You read that right! Sleep King is the first choice for quality beds Near Me James Island, SC, but we also have a huge selection of furniture for your home. If you're looking for a one-stop-shop for mattresses and furniture alike, you have come to the right place. If you're shopping for a new mattress at the best price possible, why not throw in a bedroom suite at an amazing price too?
Living Room Sets - from traditional-style suites with classic textures to modern sets with attractive upholstery, we will help you find the best living room set for your home.
Bedroom Suites - our bedroom suites range from contemporary to classic and come in a variety of colors and styles to compliment your new mattress purchase.
Daybeds - from English-style daybeds available in espresso and cherry colors to multi-purpose beds with pull-out trundles, our selection of daybeds is unbeatable.
Futons - if you have younger children, they will love our futons. Who are we kidding? Adults do too! Futons are incredibly useful in small spaces and convert into comfy-cozy beds perfect for kids of all ages.
Bunkbeds - bunkbeds are another great option to consider if you have kids. Whether you have a classic-style home or an apartment, we have a style that fits you.
If you like what you see but don't have time to visit our mattress store Near Me James Island, SC, don't worry. Our online store is bursting with new items and deals every day. From mattresses and bedding to furniture sets and special sale items, Mattress King has got it all. With the highest quality mattresses, the best prices Near Me James Island, SC, a giant showroom with all the options, and a full team of helpful sales associates, you won't ever need to find another mattress and furniture store again!
GET FREE ESTIMATEJOHNS ISLAND — After 66 acres of land was successfully preserved, Charleston County Parks has plans to give residents public waterfront access by creating a new park.Located off Old Pond Road, the property provides direct access to Simmons Creek, which feeds into the Stono River. The preservation is part of a years-long effort to add more public access to water for Johns Island residents, according to Natalie Olson, Sea Islands program director at the ...
JOHNS ISLAND — After 66 acres of land was successfully preserved, Charleston County Parks has plans to give residents public waterfront access by creating a new park.
Located off Old Pond Road, the property provides direct access to Simmons Creek, which feeds into the Stono River. The preservation is part of a years-long effort to add more public access to water for Johns Island residents, according to Natalie Olson, Sea Islands program director at the Lowcountry Land Trust.
The effort started in 2018 when the Johns Island Community Conservation Initiative, funded by the Donnelley Foundation dedicated to land conservation, identified a growing concern through a series of workshops with residents: Johns Island's rapid growth and continuing development have reduced residents’ access to waterways.
As residential development has expanded on the island, Olson said, public waterfront access has been cut off and limited to just a few spots, like the John P. Limehouse Boat Landing.
She added that residents of the island deserve to have public waterfront access and shouldn't have to leave Johns Island to find it.
"We're surrounded by a beautiful and bountiful resource that has always been part of the culture and natural heritage of the Sea Islands, but the access to it is so limited," Olson said. "This is an effort not only to restore access, but to bring it to safeguard it for future generations."
The 66 acres were initially two separate parcels of land: one 13 acre parcel owned by Joanne Nason and a 53 acre property owned by Gary McLaurin.
McLaurin donated the 53 acres to Lowcountry Land Trust in 2020, and the Land Trust purchased the other 13 acres from Nason's estate for $930,000 in 2023 on a loan. Olson said they spent the next two years granting conservation easements — preserving the green space and ensuring no development happens — and applying for grants to help pay off the loan.
The Land Trust also received financial support from other organizations such as the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Charleston County's greenbelt program, the Ceres Foundation and the Lowcountry Land Protection Capacity Fund.
Lowcountry Land Trust transferred ownership of the land to Charleston County Parks in May. Matt Moldenhauer, senior planner at Charleston County Parks, said there is no current timeline for developing the park. For the time being, the property will not be open to the public.
While there are no specific plans yet, Moldenhauer said the park will be passive and include walking trails and a paddle sports launch.
He added people always tell the county parks department they want more trails and waterfront access. This property, which Moldenhauer described as a hidden gem, will meet that demand.
"It's a beautiful little marsh, tidal corridor on Johns Island that I don't think a lot of people know about," he said. "We're excited to be able to share that with the public."
Construction is now underway on a Charleston County pro...
Construction is now underway on a Charleston County project aimed at alleviating flooding in the James Island area, a project some residents say is long overdue. (WCIV)
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Construction is now underway on a Charleston County project aimed at alleviating flooding in the James Island area, a project some residents say is long overdue.
The project is also one that carries some short term pain for commuters and drivers in the area.
"Some of the problems are we've put two major developments back on that road that has probably not done anything but help decrease the amount of absorption that was getting done by the live oaks and the trees that were in that area. So that's contributed to this problem, but in theory it's gonna be good when it's done," said Adam Friend, founder, of the Woodland Source Road Coalition.
The initiative will involve a partial shut down of Central Park Road between Riverland Drive and Fleming Road.
The county is hopeful the initiative will fix an area long affected by king tide and spring tide events.
The project involves raising Central Park Road by up to two feet throughout the corridor and adding a series of large drainage pipes.
Those pipes will feature tide gates and check valves to block incoming tides that exceed normal levels.
It's a mixed bag for some residents who understand the need but worry about increased traffic congestion.
"You've got areas where the development just outpaces the infrastructure because it was never meant to support that many people. So, you know, that's really complex stuff way beyond my understanding. But I do see the problems that arise and it's usually traffic. It's congestion, it's over-crowdedness, said area resident Kev Hollo.
At the end of the day, county officials say the improvements will prevent that roadway flooding associated with nearby James Island Creek. Temporary adjustments will remain in place until November with the full project expected to be completed by spring of 2026.
Firecrackers will flash across Charleston's stunning skyline once again this year, offering yet another spectacular Fourth of July for the Lowcountry.If you're looking for a special setting to embrace the patriotic holiday, consider watching the dazzling light shows aboard the flight desk of the USS Yorktown. This year's event will feature two separate stages with local bands, the opportunity to explore parts of the Yorktown museum and more fun family activities to honor the national holiday."Every adult hits that point wh...
Firecrackers will flash across Charleston's stunning skyline once again this year, offering yet another spectacular Fourth of July for the Lowcountry.
If you're looking for a special setting to embrace the patriotic holiday, consider watching the dazzling light shows aboard the flight desk of the USS Yorktown. This year's event will feature two separate stages with local bands, the opportunity to explore parts of the Yorktown museum and more fun family activities to honor the national holiday.
"Every adult hits that point where you think you've been to every kind of fireworks show," said Sam Elkin, Patriots Point's director of marketing and communication. "If you've seen one, you've seen them all, right? That is until they've seen this one — which is the most unique fireworks show in Charleston — with unmatched views and sightlines of multiple fireworks shows across Charleston harbor. It's truly something special."
If you're in Summerville, head to the Fireworks and Freedom Festival, where there will be glow sticks for the little ones and the shuttle buses running from behind town hall to Gahagan Park.
"It's really a great event for Summerville, as well as for those from Moncks Corner or North Charleston looking for something a little different from what they're used to," said Rigel Kocur, Summerville Parks and Recreation Department's marketing and events manager.
With so many captivating celebrations to choose from, we've got 14 hotspots for your Fourth of July festivities and fireworks.
What: Enjoy a curated fireworks display, tasty food trucks, inflatable obstacle courses and community fun hosted by the Summerville Parks and Recreation Department.
When: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Gahagan Park, 515 W. Boundary St., Summerville
Price: Free
What: Get together at this pre-fireworks gathering and enjoy a live DJ, light bites, chilled cocktails and a stunning view of the fireworks over Charleston's skyline. Patriotic attire is encouraged.
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Little Palm, 237 Meeting St., Charleston
Price: Free
What: Goose Creek hosts their annual Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show, featuring live music, tasty food vendors and plenty of family-friendly activities to explore.
When: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Goose Creek Municipal Center, 519 N. Goose Creek Blvd.
Price: Free
What: Watch Charleston harbor light up with fireworks aboard the historic USS Yorktown with live music, tasty food vendors and unmatched views.
When: 7-10 p.m.
Where: USS Yorktown, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, 40 Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant
Price: $109
What: This annual parade which will march down Dunvegan Drive, turn left on Shadowmoss Parkway and travel around Muirfield before wrapping up at the starting line. Expect patriotic floats, some vintage cars and more.
When: 10 a.m.
Where: Shadowmoss Golf & Country Club, 21 Dunvegan Drive, Charleston
Price: Free
What: Board The Carolina Girl yacht for an exclusive night on Charleston harbor to view the annual fireworks shows, featuring a live DJ, light bites, an open bar and incredible views.
When: 8-11 p.m.
Where: St. Johns Yacht Harbor, 2408 Maybank Highway, Johns Island
Price: $170
What: Bring out your family and friends for an outdoor picnic with fun games, live music and fireworks.
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Bay Creek Park, 3706 Dock Site Road, Edisto Island
Price: Free
What: Break out the lawn chairs for North Charleston's annual festival featuring a stunning fireworks show after dark and live music from Motown Throwdown alongside DJ Natty Heavy and DJ D-Nyce.
When: 5-9:30 p.m.
Where: Riverfront Park, 1061 Everglades Ave., North Charleston
Price: Free
What: Celebrate Independence Day with some Gullah Geechee food and culture alongside some groovin' funk by DJ Kwame Sha as well as Beth Inabinett & For the Funk of It Band. All proceeds support the Penn Center's heritage program.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Penn Center, 16 Penn Center Circle E., St. Helena Island
Price: $28
What: Isle of Palms will host their annual fireworks show on the beach with incredible displays across the entirety of Charleston harbor.
When: 9 p.m.
Where: Front Beach, 1118 Ocean Blvd., Isle of Palms
Price: Free
What: Celebrate Independence Day with a fun bike parade, cookout, live music, watermelon-eating contest, breakdancing and fireworks.
When: 5-9 p.m.
Where: Night Heron Park, 1 Kiawah Island Parkway, Kiawah Island
Price: Free
What: Sign up for Daniel Island's golf cart parade, which begins at Bishop England High School and continues to Daniel Island School parking lot. A celebration will follow at Smythe Park with live DJs, dance performances, music from Wildflower Station and the East Coast Party Band.
When: 4-9 p.m. July 3
Price: Free
What: Join in on the annual golf cart and bike parade, starting at the Sunrise Presbyterian Church and heading to Sullivan's Island Elementary School. Registered participants will be judged for most-festive golf cart at the finish line.
When: 8:30 a.m.
Price: Free
What: Following the annual parade, break out a lawn chair or picnic blanket and watch the fireworks fly over Sullivan's Island while listening to jams from the Shem Creek Boogie Band.
When: 6 p.m.
Where: J. Marshall Stith Park, 2058 Middle St., Sullivan's Island
Price: Free
Imagine a developer who thoughtfully deliberates about what type of business would be best suited for an area. He meets with residents to address their concerns. He painstakingly implements every suggestion, even if he doesn’t have to. Most towns would welcome such a developer with open arms. That’s not what happened to Kyle Taylor. The Town Council of James Island, South Carolina, doesn’t want Kyle to develop his land at all, so the council decided to just take Kyle’s property away from him using eminent domain. The ...
Imagine a developer who thoughtfully deliberates about what type of business would be best suited for an area. He meets with residents to address their concerns. He painstakingly implements every suggestion, even if he doesn’t have to. Most towns would welcome such a developer with open arms. That’s not what happened to Kyle Taylor. The Town Council of James Island, South Carolina, doesn’t want Kyle to develop his land at all, so the council decided to just take Kyle’s property away from him using eminent domain. The council says they took the land to build a “park,” but that’s a ruse. They want to unconstitutionally stop Kyle from developing his own property.
Kyle is a native James Islander who only wants to use his civil engineering skills to develop thoughtful properties in his hometown. Consistent with the nature of small towns, he is acquainted with most of the residents and regularly works with them to ensure he takes their needs into account—a quality in a developer that most towns can only dream of. His projects are designed to blend in and enhance the surrounding neighborhoods. He initially wanted to build mixed-use, residential and commercial properties. After the town nixed that idea, he pivoted to something that would have minimal impact and was clearly allowed under the zoning code—a storage facility. The town wasn’t willing to allow that either.
The town tried to interfere with the sale of land to Kyle. But once their efforts failed, the town realized they only had one tool left to deny Kyle the right to develop his own property. The town resorted to the extreme tactic of authorizing eminent domain, claiming that they needed the land for a park. But without any previous discussion of a park, funds for a park, or plans for a park, it is clear that the park is just a pretext for stopping Kyle from lawfully developing his property, a blatant constitutional violation.
Kyle has teamed up with the Institute for Justice in his lawsuit filed in South Carolina state court to challenge the town’s unlawful attempt at taking his property.
Kyle Taylor was born and raised in James Island, South Carolina. After earning his degree in civil engineering, he wanted to return home and use his skills to improve his community by developing local properties for the benefit of all James Islanders. Kyle founded KT Properties, which develops both retail and residential properties.
Kyle’s love for his hometown shows in his work—he doesn’t look for the easiest or fastest projects. He works with his fellow residents to identify needs, listen to concerns they may have, and makes sure every development fits within the community.
A New Project
In 2022, Kyle began the process of purchasing a 1.2-acre wooded tract of land for his next project. The narrow sliver of land is on the border between homes and businesses, and Kyle envisioned developing a mixed residential and commercial property in this ideal location. The land is completely fenced off and surrounded by various other pieces of land undergoing construction.
Kyle followed every required building step to a T and filled out a rezoning application. His project was agreed to by town planning staff, and the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. The Town Council, however, rejected the Commission’s recommendation and denied the rezoning application, in response to a campaign by local residents who oppose development in James Island. With his original plan now denied, Kyle decided to develop the property into something that it was already zoned for: a self-storage facility. This type of structure was already approved by the Town Council, so Kyle believed that he could proceed without interference. Kyle even took the extra step of creating a design that would fit in with the town’s aesthetic to cut down on any potential complaints, adding features that would have it blend in with other buildings.
Town Caves to Anti-Development Campaign
Kyle had a clear legal right to build on his property, but he still wanted to make sure the process was smooth. After all, Kyle had grown up in James Island. These were his neighbors, and he cared about his community. So he made sure to work with the town at every step and took numerous meetings with the anti-development activists to address their concerns.
Kyle spent over $100,000 working with the planning commission to address comments from the town about potential problems. He hired a consultant to determine which trees on the property were healthy and could be preserved, modifying his plans to accommodate them. He followed up on every suggestion from the planning committee regarding design and architectural defects.
But none of this was good enough for the anti-development activists. Every time Kyle would respond to a concern, a new one would pop up. The concerns became more numerous and demanding until it became clear the only thing that would appease them would be no development at all. And while Kyle was acting in good faith, the activists continued their efforts to influence the mayor and council members to not only deny his permit, but to try to cancel the sale of the property entirely and prevent all development. When the sale still eventually went through, the town resorted to their ultimate tool to stop him from building—taking his property through eminent domain.
The town served Kyle with a condemnation notice in May 2024, claiming that they would be taking his land to create a “public park.”
Park or Pretext? James Island Abuses Eminent Domain
The condemnation notice was the first time Kyle heard anything about the land becoming a park. In fact, it was the first time anyone heard anything about the land becoming a park. That’s because the proposed “park” was just a pretext for stopping Kyle from building on his own land.
Proper park planning is a long-term process. Government officials, in consultation with the public, typically consider various sites, set aside funds, and engage in a detailed design process. It can take years. James Island did no such planning. The town never designated Kyle’s land as “Institutional/Special Purpose,” which can be used for recreation. The town never designated Kyle’s land as a “Community Facility,” which includes Parks and Recreation Services. And when given the chance, the town did not express interest or try to purchase Kyle’s land when it was listed for sale three separate times before Kyle bought it. The town has no budget to acquire Kyle’s land, design the park, or build the park and the town had no design, drawing, or plan of the park when they sent Kyle the condemnation notice. In fact, the town’s purported “plan” was nothing more than a pencil sketch that was created after they already decided to pursue eminent domain. The town refused to turn this sketch over when asked—forcing Kyle to submit a formal request to view the government document. A casual glance would also reveal the land itself is ill suited to be a park. The area is long and narrow, and wedged in between housing and a strip mall, making pedestrian access difficult.
Eminent domain, already a contentious subject, is supposed to only be used for a public use. But in the case of Kyle’s property, the government of James Island is not using eminent domain because it genuinely wants to turn Kyle’s property into a park. They’re using eminent domain because they are tired of dealing with him, and this allows them to keep the land the way it is—a skinny strip of land, fenced-in and forested, near a busy road with no sidewalk.
Legal Claims
The town’s use of eminent domain to stop Kyle from lawfully using his own property violates the U.S. Constitution. The Public Use Clause of the Fifth Amendment requires that James Island’s asserted public use for taking Kyle’s land is the actual reason the town is taking the property. The town’s attempt to justify its use of eminent domain by taking the land for a park is mere pretext. Courts around the country have rejected similar attempts to use eminent domain as a sort of “stealth-zoning” tool.1 The town’s complete lack of a plan for a park viewed in light of the town’s sudden change from full support to condemnation—after public outcry from politically connected individuals—makes it clear that the town is not really using eminent domain for a public use. Instead, James Island is using eminent domain only to stop Kyle from building on the land he bought with his hard-earned money. That is an unconstitutional abuse of eminent domain.
The Litigation Team
This case is being litigated by IJ Senior Attorney Jeff Redfern and IJ Litigation Fellow An Altik.
About the Institute for Justice
The Institute for Justice is the nation’s leading defender of property rights and has led the fight against eminent domain abuse for decades. In addition to litigating the landmark Kelo case, IJ has defended the property of beloved Atlantic City piano tuner Charlie Birnbaum and is battling against eminent domain right now in Sparta, GA, Freeport, TX, Ocean Springs, MS, and Brentwood, MO.
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The owner and developer of a property on James Island is explaining their development plan and why they are suing the town over their land for the first time since controversy over its use began in 2023.The property in question is about 1.2 acres out of an about six-acre lot off Dills Bluff Road. The land is owned by KT Properties. Principal Owner Kyle Taylor says he calls the Lowcountry home.“James Island is a special place. I’m from James Island. The people are tough, the people are pat...
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The owner and developer of a property on James Island is explaining their development plan and why they are suing the town over their land for the first time since controversy over its use began in 2023.
The property in question is about 1.2 acres out of an about six-acre lot off Dills Bluff Road. The land is owned by KT Properties. Principal Owner Kyle Taylor says he calls the Lowcountry home.
“James Island is a special place. I’m from James Island. The people are tough, the people are patriotic, sometimes the people are loud,” Taylor says.
Taylor started the process of buying about 1.2 acres on Dills Bluff Road in 2021 with plans to develop it. The plans had hoped to rezone the land for more commercial use but faced some nearby neighborhoods. Since then, KT properties shifted and proposed to build within the zoning, including some homes and a storage facility.
James Island residents expressed their opinions against the proposed development back in 2023.
“But I think the process, at least was as good as it could have been, and we tried to engage as much as we could, and engage early,” Taylar says.
KT Properties purchased the land from the James Island Public Service District. Taylor says while working through the final phases to purchase the property in 2024, the town got involved.
“Eminent domain was certainly surprising,” Taylor says.
Attorneys with the Institute for Justice are representing Taylor in a case challenging the town’s use of eminent domain.
“So eminent domain is the only legal way for the government to take your property. I would say that it has very, very limited use and has been expanded recently,” attorney An Altic says.
A common example of eminent domain used for a public purpose is the government buying land needed to build a new road, to alleviate traffic. Taylor’s attorney with the Institute for Justice says this situation is different than most.
“They resorted to the extreme measure of eminent domain to forcibly take his property simply because they don’t want any development on that land,” Altic says.
The Town of James Island filed an intent to condemn the land and pay the assessed value of $600,000 in 2024. At the time of the filings, the town said their master plan includes pursuing more green space, and this action aligns with their master plan.
While the Town of James Island doesn’t comment on pending litigation, a spokesperson says the Town looks forward to defending this case vigorously in court, and will not be bullied by the developer-friendly national law firm that’s chosen to intervene in this South Carolina case.
The town also provided a list of three facts the Town wishes to emphasize about the situation:
Any action on the land is on pause while the lawsuits play out in court.
“We’re willing to take it up as far as it as far as it needs to go up to the South Carolina Supreme Court if needed,” Altic says.
“This case, I think, raises a lot of constitutional questions, which is the heart of this case, and we’re not only trying to protect the rights of this property, but really the rights of everyone that could be affected by what may be illegitimate use of eminent domain and abuse of eminent domain, and so we’re trying to protect not only this property, but really everybody’s property,” Taylor says.
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