Charleston will ask residents in January what to do with 62 acres off Oak Leaf Street donated by the Brumley family. Fields, trails and parking are early ideas.

Daniel Island residents will help decide what happens to 62 acres of land given to the City of Charleston. The land is off Oak Leaf Street. The city said it will open a public input process in January.

Mayor William Cogswell announced the plan Tuesday night at the State of Our City event for Daniel Island and Cainhoy. The city published the details in a news release Wednesday.

Nothing has been decided. Ideas raised by city staff so far include:

  • athletic fields
  • trails
  • parking

“This land was given to the City by the Brumley family, and we are very grateful for it, especially at a time of unprecedented growth in our area,” Cogswell said. “That growth makes every open acre worth more. We want to get this one right, and that starts with listening to what residents want.”

A possible pier, and a safer crossing

The city is also exploring a public pier behind the Daniel Island Recreation Center. The city said the pier is only a concept. Any plan for the site would go through its standard public process.

Work on a busy Daniel Island intersection could start as soon as next week. The city plans pedestrian safety work at Seven Farms Drive and Pier View Street:

  • curb extensions
  • flashing beacons for people crossing

Wildwood is the contractor, and the job will cost $182,000, the city said. Residents have raised safety at the intersection repeatedly. It was among the questions sent in before Tuesday’s event.

Cainhoy: Point Hope and land for a fire station

On the Cainhoy peninsula, the developers of Point Hope have sent the city a plan covering the full build-out of the property. The city said it asked for that, and the developers were not required to do it. Normally a developer submits one phase at a time. The plan went to the city’s Technical Review Committee.

The city said the full plan shows staff what is coming over the next 20-plus years. That lets it plan roads, drainage and public services around it.

“We asked them to take on way more than what our process requires, and they put forth the time and money to meet that ask,” Cogswell said.

The city also has just over four acres near Point Hope under contract. It said that land could otherwise have held about 80 apartments. The purchase is part of an effort to secure about 28 acres for future public services, including a fire station and a police station. About 15 of those 28 acres are wetlands.

The rest of the series

The Daniel Island and Cainhoy event was the third of five State of Our City meetings this fall. In each, the mayor and City Council members report on one part of the city. Council members Boyd Gregg (District 1) and Mike Seekings (District 8) joined Tuesday’s meeting. The James Island and peninsula meetings are still to come.

The city said any question submitted and not answered on the night will get a written answer within 10 days. Answers will be posted on the city’s State of Our City page or sent by email.

What it means for you

  • Have a view on the 62 acres? The city’s public input process opens in January. We will publish the dates and how to take part when the city announces them.
  • Use the Seven Farms Drive and Pier View Street crossing? Expect crews there as soon as next week.
  • Sent a question before Tuesday’s meeting? Look for a written answer by early November.
  • Live on James Island or the peninsula? Your State of Our City meeting is still to come.

More about the island: our Daniel Island neighborhood guide and Charleston parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

What will happen to the 62 acres on Daniel Island?

Nothing is decided. The City of Charleston said it will open a public input process in January. Ideas raised by city staff so far include athletic fields, trails and parking.

Where is the donated land on Daniel Island?

The city said the 62 acres are off Oak Leaf Street. The land was given to the city by the Brumley family.