State Senator Marlon Kimpson

03/19/2026

Cogswell began the March 18 open house by saying that the design teams wanted feedback. But there was no way to record any suggestions, compliments or critiques residents brought. Cogswell said they were listening and would incorporate the verbal feedback as they move forward.

On March 16, at the kick-off event,
Cogswell was caught off guard when the audience members asked questions about costs and the potential displacement of residents living at the targeted sites.

The $125,000 week-long design effort is part of Mayor William Cogswell’s housing initiative that aims to add 3,500 new affordable units by 2032 and redevelop wide swaths of the peninsula.

03/16/2026

Looking forward to joining Chairman Thomas Dixon to bring opening remarks at the Charleston Democratic Party Convention this Saturday, March 21st. We are 🔥-up and ready to go! Please register by clicking on the link below:

Join the Charleston County Democratic Party for their annual county convention. All Democrats who are registered voters are welcome to participate. Help us elect county party leaders and organize to elect more Democrats. "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a register voter in this county. I con...

02/23/2026

Outstanding tribute to Mayor Reggie Burgess, an inspiration to us all. Excellent job Sherrika Myers! The book can be purchased online at every1voicematters.org/shop. Order a copy today.

https://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_sc/book-sherrika-myers-reggie-burgess-north-charleston/article_515fcdb8-fe57-40d2-b608-0c04df58d409.html -source=latest_posts

North Charleston author and nonprofit leader Sherrika Myers published a children’s book about Mayor Reggie Burgess’ life from childhood to becoming mayor.

02/10/2026

Charleston still can get this right. That means honoring established decisions, negotiating in good faith where adjustments are needed, staying with partners with demonstrated capacity and refusing to treat displacement as an acceptable byproduct of progress.

The city will be judged by what happens next. Not by intentions or slogans, but by whether long-standing black communities remain part of Charleston’s future or are quietly pushed out of it. In the end, fairness, growth and stability are not slogans; they are earned by a city’s willingness to honor its own lawful decisions.

That judgment will last far longer than any single administration.

The city of Charleston should stand by the Charleston Housing Authority's agreement with Integral to redevelop two public housing complexes on the peninsula, a former state senator writes.

02/05/2026

But two years ago the housing authority, at last, chose Integral Group, an Atlanta developer, to replace the flood-prone Cooper River Courts and Meeting Street Manor on the East Side. Under the contract signed six months later, the $400 million Morrison Station would increase the number of low-income apartments from 286 to 358. In all, there would be 1,116 new apartments, with the market-rate units subsidizing the lower-income ones.

Integral is a pioneer, among the nation’s best-in-class developers of mixed-income urban communities. Its founder and chief executive, Egbert Perry, was the ninth of 11 kids in a dirt-poor family in the Caribbean island of Antigua and went on to become chairman of giant government-backed Fannie Mae.

Thirty years ago, Perry used his vision of the “haves” and “have-nots” living side by side to turn Atlanta’s most violent housing project into Centennial Place, which became a national model for rebuilding distressed housing sites into transformative mixed-income communities. Integral has since completed dozens of developments in 20 cities.

Consider the public housing projects the mayor wants to take over. Together, those four projects are penciled in for 832, or one-quarter, of Cogswell’s affordable units. That means building two and three times that, probably more.

Integral, which has been doing this for three decades, expected to complete one project, Cooper River Courts, by 2031. Now Cogswell is proposing to start over, spend months seeking new bids and complete not one project but all four by 2030, a year earlier. Not going to happen.

What Cogswell gets wrong, particularly in the acres of public housing, is the people. Brick and mortar is pretty straightforward. Transitioning the people in those homes is not.

Yes, we need housing. But Billie Holiday had it right:

“The difficult I will do right now. The impossible will take a little while.”

https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/mayor-cogswell-housing-goal-integral/article_69fd6f5f-5cc5-4cff-9e9a-3ac5d7dceef8.html #

Mayor Cogswell’s housing goal hinges on targeted sites owned by the Charleston Housing Authority, some of which it already has contracted with Integral to redo

02/05/2026

Congratulations Karen Thrower!

North Charleston’s new housing coordinator, Karen Thrower, helps low income residents find affordable homes and keeps track of available inventory in the city.

01/26/2026

In response to today’s Post and Courier article titled “Charleston mayor asks Housing Authority to exit redevelopment agreement for 2 downtown properties”, I want to share my introduction of the Integral Group during my keynote address at the MLK Ecumenical service last week at Charity Missionary Baptist Church. I think it’s important for the community that I served as Senator for 10 years understand what’s at stake by this decision.

The involvement of The Integral Group in the redevelopment of Morrison Station and Gadsden Green speaks directly to the demands of this moment. Transforming legacy public housing into stable, mixed-income communities requires a depth of experience that remains uncommon and difficult to replicate, particularly when protecting existing residents and building long-term stability are central goals.

01/20/2026

Thank you Councilman Aaron Polkey. Not more than a week into being sworn-in and already exhibiting great courage and leadership!

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — As hundreds gathered for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade on Monday, many signs were displayed of Dr. King’s most famous quotes, but one sign drew …

01/13/2026

Join us on January 18th, 4pm at the Charity Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, SC. Details below.

01/06/2026

I’d rather see a sermon, than to hear one any day; Id rather one walk with me than merely tell me the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, Fine counsel is confusing, but examples are always clear; And the very best teachers, are the men who live their creed.

The Honorable Ittriss J. Jenkins lived his creed. He was a devoted husband. He was a proud father to two beautiful and smart children. He was a dedicated and humble servant to the Almighty God.

Judge Jenkins was my first appointment to the Charleston county magistrate’s bench. I had no doubt that he would make an impeccable jurist because of his character and credentials. He proved me right and served with honor and integrity.

He’s been called home to rest peacefully. One thing is clear, we are all better off because he lived his creed while here. Take your rest brother. God bless you and your family. ❤️ 🙏🏽