Charting a New Course: SeamonWhiteside to Lead Transformation of Georgetown’s Historic Port
Plan will balance community priorities with long-term economic growth opportunities
SeamonWhiteside (SW+), a full-service site design firm with offices throughout the Carolinas, has been awarded the Georgetown Port Redevelopment Master Plan by Georgetown County. This landmark project marks a turning point for the region, guiding the reimagining of the port site following the impactful closures of the community’s longtime economic anchors, the steel and paper mills. By facilitating a comprehensive, community-driven planning process, SW+ aims to bridge the gap between Georgetown’s industrial heritage and its future as a vibrant, resilient, waterfront community.
As the lead consultant, SW+ will oversee a multidisciplinary team to deliver a holistic and actionable plan. The scope includes economic development analysis, community engagement, environmental and brownfield evaluation, waterfront development strategies, infrastructure assessment, and the creation of a long-term master plan that outlines potential uses such as mixed-use development, commercial space, and other opportunities that reflect market demand. The plan encompasses the vast footprint of the former port site, representing one of the most significant redevelopment opportunities in the Lowcountry.
A key component of the process will be robust public engagement. SW+ will work alongside local partners to help facilitate multiple community meetings across Georgetown, ensuring the local community will help shape the vision for the site. Input gathered from residents, stakeholders, and Georgetown County Leadership Council will inform a plan that reflects both community priorities and long-term feasibility.
“Projects like this are the heartbeat of our firm,” said Lee Gastley, managing principal at SeamonWhiteside. “As a company deeply rooted in the Carolinas, we don’t view the Georgetown Port as a blank slate or a standard development site, we see it as a vital piece of the state’s heritage that deserves a second life. Our approach will be to listen first. We want to ensure the final plan is authentically Georgetown, creating a resilient, job-generating waterfront that residents can take immense pride in for generations to come.”
In addition to community input, the planning process will consider environmental conditions and long-term resilience. Given the site’s history as an industrial property, the team will evaluate existing conditions, including potential environmental constraints, while also planning for future challenges such as sea level rise and other coastal impacts.
By combining technical expertise with a strong emphasis on collaboration and community engagement, SW+ aims to deliver a plan that is both visionary and implementable, that can attract future development, support economic revitalization, and create a lasting impact for Georgetown County.
To learn more about SeamonWhiteside, its offices, and projects, visit www.SeamonWhiteside.com.
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ABOUT SEAMONWHITESIDE
SeamonWhiteside (SW+) is a full-service site design firm providing master planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, urban design, land surveying, water resources, permit coordination, and construction administration to public and private clients throughout the Carolinas. SW+ elevates the site design experience through a full commitment to its people, clients, plans, and communities. Their passion, collaboration, quality, and care results in innovative spaces that enrich lives and leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, SeamonWhiteside also has offices in Summerville, Greenville, Spartanburg, Columbia, Charlotte, and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information on SW+, visit www.seamonwhiteside.com.
