Bluffton council approves 120-unit workforce housing project

Bluffton Town Council has cleared the way for a 120-unit affordable apartment community aimed at supporting the region’s workforce and future health care employees.

Town Council unanimously approved the development of Livewell Terrace by Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH), a 120-unit apartment community on Buckwalter Parkway. The decision followed the second and final reading of ordinances transferring residential development rights from the town to to project developer Woda Cooper Companies and Beaufort Memorial.

The complex will be built on Buckwalter Parkway, less than a mile from Beaufort Memorial’s planned Bluffton Community Hospital, a $103 million, 28-bed facility expected to open in 2027.

“Providing quality, affordable housing is critical to attracting and retaining the staff we need to deliver exceptional care,” said Russell Baxley, BMH president and CEO. “Livewell Terrace will not only benefit our team but will also help address a pressing community need.”

The project will include 30 one-bedroom, 60 two-bedroom and 30 three-bedroom apartments. Rents will range from $570 to $1,720 a month, depending on unit size and income qualifications. Units will be available to qualified tenants regardless of employer.

The 10-acre site was purchased in 2023 by Beaufort County from St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church with the intent of creating workforce housing. The sale was backed by the Town of Bluffton Affordable Housing Committee and received unanimous approval from Beaufort County Council earlier this year.

“Affordable housing is essential to sustaining Bluffton’s economic growth,” Mayor Larry Toomer said. “Projects like Livewell Terrace make it possible for teachers, nurses, hospitality workers and other essential employees to live in the community they serve.”

“A decade ago, affordable housing was an issue few wanted to tackle—today it’s a top priority because we know it directly impacts economic development, quality of life and the prosperity of our entire community,” Mayor Toomer said.

The high cost of living in the Lowcountry is one of the barriers to attracting skilled professionals in healthcare and other industries.Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year once permitting is complete. The first tenants could move in by early 2027.