Tumult Over Turky’s

Lines are being drawn and heels are digging in over the decision to relocate a towing company to a spot next to a memorial park along Savannah Highway.
In 2007, the Charleston 9 perished fighting a blaze in what had been a Sofa Super Store fire just past Wappoo Road. The story caught the nation’s attention, and a public park was erected on the site to recognize the sacrifice those firefighters made.
Last year, Turky’s Towing sold its spot near the corner of Folly and Albemarle roads in the shadow of an onramp linking St. Andrews Boulevard to the Connector bridge into downtown and James Island.
While that piece of land has been designated for an apartment complex, Turky’s has since purchased a several-acre spot next to the park. And that has some in the community concerned, especially local realtor and preservationist Charlie Smith.
This time last year, Smith intervened to stop the destruction of a nearby vegetable shed that he said was a historic marker of West Ashley’s farming roots. Though initially successful, the owners won out, xqand were allowed to tear down the structure, preserving some of the wood for other uses.
This time around, Smith is arguing publicly that the city and county of Charleston need to rethink allowing Turky’s to relocate to the new site.
Smith argues that due to the sensitive nature of the park, and the need for the bordering neighborhood not to have “drunk and angry vehicle owners” in its midst, the nature of the business be reclassified to one that can’t use the lot.
Currently, the piece of property located at 1902 Savannah Highway is located within the county and is in the process of being annexed into the city.
City Councilman Bill Moody wants to make sure that permanent landscaping features are added to the site “before we would ever consider annexation.” A wall running the full border of the park has already been constructed.
Moody has spoken with officials in the city’s Planning Department to make sure that whatever goes in there will have a pleasing frontage.
Turky’s previous spot, it’s home since 1993, would occasionally have older for-sale 4×4 trucks or vintage Mini Coopers parked out front. But passersby riding the ramp to the Connector would also be treated to a messier overview of the insides of Turky’s yard, which was often a collection of broken-down or rusting cars.
“There’s no comparison between the two locations,” said owner Warner “Turky” Burky. “We plan to improve the site to better than it’s looked in decades and to create a showplace for our towing and car business.”
Tim Keane, Director of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability at City of Charleston, said there would have to be permanent landscaping and structures to provide appropriate separation from the business and the park, as well as from the neighboring residences.
Burky said he, his wife, and his daughter Allison Burky Boone, who now runs the business, met with city officials
recently and discussed several beautification opportunities.
“They were very helpful and made some great suggestions, all of which we intend to put into affect,” said Burky, who would like to be up and running along Savannah Highway by the end of this calendar year. Currently, his business is located on James Island.
Burky said in addition to existing fences and “natural growth areas” separating his site from the park and the neighborhoods and apartments, he was going to beautify both corners of the lot along the highway with trees donated by local businessman Tommy Baker.
“This is not going to be a junkyard; it’s going be a stand-up, nice-looking facility for a business that’s been part of the Charleston business community fabric since 1976.”