The $40 million J-1 housing development is zoned correctly and moving forward in the city of Myrtle Beach.
Proposed for the intersection of Robert Grissom Parkway and Mr. Joe White Avenue is a dormitory-style development, which would house up to 1,200 participants in the BridgeUSA J-1 Visa program. The development would be built on land owned by Burroughs and Chapin and leased to the developers, International Residence Hall.
鈥淭his is a private development that specializes in purpose-built J-1 dormitory-style housing all throughout the country and they have a very solid reputation,鈥 assistant city manager Brian Tucker said.
International Residence Hall has locations in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Branson West, Missouri, and Foley, Alabama, according to IRH鈥檚 website. The Myrtle Beach campus will be constructed in two phases with the first phase with 600 beds expected to be complete in 2025.
The J-1 Visa program allows foreign nationals access to the United States for job training, education, research or internships. Participants are vetted by the U.S. State Department.
Myrtle Beach city leaders and developers say the area needs more housing for the J-1 participants who serve as a large workforce during the busy summer season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 much needed in our market and will allow us to provide better options to the J-1 workers we currently have and also attract new J1 workers. Our primary limitation is housing,鈥 Tucker told city council Tuesday morning. 鈥淲e have employers who want to hire more J1 students, we just don鈥檛 have anywhere to put them safely.鈥
At Tuesday鈥檚 city council meeting, the city gave approval on first reading for terms of a 鈥淔ILOT鈥 or fee-in-lieu of tax for the project and special source revenue credits. Under the agreement, the developer would get a credit of 75% for the first five years and 50% for the 15 years following. This would equal $50,000 per year for years 1-5 and $100,000 per year for years 6-20. After that, the city would collect $200,000 annually.
The terms of this agreement were negotiated between Horry County and the developer because it is located in a which allows for tax incentives, but must be approved by the city since the project is in city limits.
鈥淲e did not have an active role in negotiating these terms,鈥 Tucker said. 鈥淭hat said, I do recommend these terms and support these terms.鈥
City councilman Gregg Smith said the agreement would bring in more taxes to the city than if it were not developed. Currently, the property brings $30 in taxes per year to the city.
鈥淥ur options here are not do this, continue to collect less money than I have in my wallet per year in taxes, or we can do this, collect $50,000 in taxes/fees and have a safe place for J1 students,鈥 Smith said.
The ordinance was passed unanimously on first reading and will need to be approved at a subsequent council meeting to be final.
Other council business
DC Blox, the data center and network services provider, has been granted an easement from the city of Myrtle Beach in order to construct another subsea data cable.
The easement will allow DC Blox to construct a transatlantic cable, which would make landfall at Myrtle Beach's Hurl Rock Park. The cable will be underground and park operations would not be changed after construction is finished, city leaders said. DC Blox will pay the city $200,000 as part of the easement agreement.
(3) comments
Money Money Money
You grease my hand and I鈥檒l grease yours.
Foreigners over what is now a large young workforce here that needs training and entry level opportunities.
Vetted by the government? Was that a tongue in cheek joke? The government hasn鈥檛 vetted over 15 million in the last three and a half years and we are supposed to believe these people will despite how things have been handled in the past
Nice little fluff piece but how about digging into this deeper and giving the meat and potatoes and serious details of the project.
Was this presented to the community?
One member didn鈥檛 even know about it but agreed? Unanimous? Why? A $40m project just to get more than $30 in tax revenue? There鈥檚 more to it.
Who does the vetting, visas, transportation, and coordination with employers, who follows up on their return?
Who pays for all the above?
What are the obligations of the foreigner while here? What are their financial responsibilities?
Are they given food and health care while here?
Are they required to come with money to sustain their needs until they start getting paid?
How do they get to and from 鈥渢hese jobs鈥?
WHO monitors the units for upkeep and who pays for that?
Who pays for water, electricity, WiFi and any damage caused by resident?
What happens if they refuse to leave?
I could go on all day鈥
How does this affect the surrounding areas?
Sounds like another let鈥檚 slide this in under everyone鈥檚 noses before people realize the potential consequences. Interesting that you slipped in the undersea cable project with the story.
All good points delving into the deeper realities of this move. There's plenty of americans in this area that can use the hand up to get them back to being productive people with self worth etc.
Don鈥檛 need anymore visa people here. Train the citizens instead of letting foreigners get the benefits.
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