$252 million project breaks ground

LRT Company, a Charlotte-based real estate development firm, plans to break ground in December on an 83-acre mixed-use project adjacent to Coastal Carolina Hospital, marking one of the largest new developments in Hardeeville’s rapidly growing corridor along Medical Center Drive.

The announcement was made Nov. 20th, and follows years of planning, coordination and infrastructure discussions with the City of Hardeeville and the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority. The project carries an estimated value of $252 million and is expected to bring new housing options and commercial activity to an area that continues to see strong population and employment growth.

The master plan includes 600 multifamily housing units with amenities such as a clubhouse and business center; a 154-unit senior housing campus with independent living, assisted living and memory care residences; a 75,000-square-foot self-storage facility with an additional 15,000 square feet of flex and retail space; and a separate 20-acre parcel set aside for potential age-restricted senior residences.

“This project has been years in the making, and the path forward is now clear,” said Lawrence Labonte, president and chief executive officer of LRT Company. “With the long-anticipated Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) sewer upgrades moving from concept to execution — thanks to finalized agreements with the City of Hardeeville and BJWSA — we’re ready to begin.”

According to the company, construction is expected to begin before the end of 2025 on the multifamily buildings, self-storage facility and senior housing campus. The senior campus will include 75 independent living units and 75 assisted-living and memory-care residences.

Labonte said the development reflects both current demand and the area’s long-term growth trajectory.
“Hats off to the city’s past and present leadership for creating and executing a smart, sustainable growth plan,” he said. “Their vision has helped make Hardeeville one of the most dynamic markets in South Carolina.”

Labonte said the project is designed to help meet the needs of workers and families drawn to the region’s expanding job opportunities in Hardeeville, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

“By adding affordable, market-rate apartments, we see an opportunity not only to serve the employment base in Bluffton and Hilton Head, but also to meet the needs of Hardeeville’s expanding workforce,” he said. The project’s location next to the hospital is expected to support medical staff housing needs while providing additional retail, storage and residential options for the surrounding community.

More information is available at lrtcompany.com.