Beaufort County is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at addressing the critical need for affordable workforce housing and medical office space in our community.

The development project will be a collaborative effort between Beaufort County, the Town of Bluffton, and Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) that aims to create 125-150 affordable housing units and approximately 25,000 square feet of medical office space. The property earmarked for the project is located at 333 and 335 Buckwalter Parkway and was owned by St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church on Hilton Head.

Over the past year and a half, Beaufort County has been in discussions with St. Andrew By-The-Sea to acquire property for the intended purpose of developing affordable workforce housing. St. Andrew By-The-Sea generously agreed to sell the property at a reduced price to support this vital initiative.

“We were very happy to work diligently with the county towards a successful conclusion knowing that the land will be used to develop workforce housing, a goal that aligns with our vision as well,” said Sarah Coffin, Chair of the St. Andrew By-The-Sea Church Council. Locally, St. Andrew has a long history of serving the Beaufort County community. The church began the Hilton Head community Thanksgiving dinner with Hudson’s in 1999, operates a weekly soup kitchen, supports Backpack Buddies, and in December hosts Christmas Grace to enable families to select special gifts.

The Town of Bluffton is supportive of the construction of affordable housing units and needed medical facilities. The Town’s Affordable Housing Committee has reviewed the proposed use and is supportive of the reuse and partnership. The workforce housing units are intended to be made available to the public and Beaufort Memorial would establish services in the medical office space.

"We always appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on community-driven solutions," said Russel Baxley, CEO of Beaufort Memorial. "Together, we are working to address one of the most pressing needs in our community. We are grateful to St. Andrew By-The-Sea for their generosity and to the Town of Bluffton for their contributions to this important project."

Beaufort County extends its sincere appreciation to all partners involved in this endeavor and looks forward to seeing the positive impact of this project on the community. Projects of this scope align with Beaufort County’s comprehensive plan and strategic goals and underscore our commitment to serving the needs of residents in our community.