The State of West Ashley

West Ashley was very much on the mind of Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. last week as he delivered his final annual State of the City address.
For the 39th time, Riley took to the rostrum in City Hall. He spoke of a robust city, with a crackling, resurgent economy, that is turning heads and winning awards and accolades from national bodies for its tech sector growth, management, and hospitality.
And later when he said “thank you and good night,” if you listened closely, you could hear a whisper of “goodbye” in his words. But it looks like his actions will live on for quite some time to come in West Ashley.
Riley spent nearly a fourth of the speech speaking directly about West Ashley, and the changes his administration has helped bring about in the past year and what could be expected in 2015, his final in office, as well as the future.
Riley likened his administration’s beginning efforts to revitalize downtown Charleston four decades ago, his biggest and most enduring success, to efforts to do much the same this side of the Ashley River.
Riley spoke of the effort to redevelop Citadel Mall to serve as West Ashley’s “downtown,” pointing to recent successes in the Avondale area.
Bees Ferry Road’s widening has led to the beginning construction on West Ashley Circle, already home to Wal-Mart on one quadrant, which will “increasingly become a wonderful mixed use neighborhood and a West Ashley civic center” as well as an enhanced gateway.
The mayor spoke of recent successes in preserving public access to the Ashley, including Northbridge Park, and the near-future completion of a water-access park at the end of the West Ashley Bikeway, Higgins Pier.
He promised to complete construction on the last two portions of the West Ashley Greenway connecting “dozens” of neighborhoods.
Riley also said construction would begin this year on bike and pedestrian paths across the Legare Ashley River Bridge, “providing a wonderful amenity and biking opportunity for residents West of the Ashley to commute to and from work.”
Once on the peninsula, the path would connect with the Ashley Riverwalk, slated to begin this year. He seemed excited to include a nearly 8-mile path would soon connect  The Greenway to James Island County Park.
Riley uncorked a plan to build a “natatorium,” or indoor pool facility, near Citadel Mall, but said it could take years to complete. A new senior center, that may or may not have a pool, will begin to take shape adjacent to Roper St. Francis Hospital.
Riley also had praise for the county and its voters, who approved sales tax bumps that will open a new St. Andrews School of Math and Science, as well as Center of Advanced Studies, specifically science, technology, engineering, and math on the campus of West Ashley High School.
City Council, he said, approved a “modest” tax increase that will fund a new fire station on Savannah Highway. Riley also called for the completion of Interstate 526.