Myrtle Beach to lease downtown apartments for use by contractors

Adam Benson
·1 min read

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — As work picks up on major projects within Myrtle Beach’s Arts and Innovation District, city leaders think they’ve found a way to keep some of those crews downtown.

The city council on Tuesday gave early support for a plan to rent out seven apartment units at 7th Ave. N and Chester Street at $1,500 a month. Each one has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

“If you go in that area today, you’ll notice that bounded on two sides is a construction lay-down for our arts and innovation district infrastructure project,” Assistant City Manager Brian Tucker said during a council meeting. “These are sort of sitting in the middle of those, and the prior operator hasn’t really been able to do anything with them.”

Myrtle Beach to begin construction for Arts and Innovation District next week

Tucker said many contractors are driving to work from outside the city or occupying hotel rooms. Consolidating them keeps activity downtown while making it more convenient for the workers, he said.

But some residents pushed back at the city’s plan.

“My big question is, ‘why is the city becoming a landlord? It’s ridiculous,'” said Stuart Behar, a fiscal conservative who ran for a seat on city council last year. “In the end, we know this property is going to be sold to some LLC or something, and then you’re going to tear all this stuff down and put a casino up there.”

Businesses excited for growth in Myrtle Beach Arts and Innovation District

The city has a goal to build 5,670 new housing units — about half being rentals — through 2033.

State law bars any land-based casino venues, though Mayor Brenda Bethune said it’s something that officials have discussed.

“Unequivocally, the idea of a casino there is beyond not probable, not possible, not going to happen,” Tucker said.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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