Boeing approved to purchase land, with option for more

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Boeing is cleared for take off. Today the airline manufacturer was approved to purchase more than 300 acres of land from the Charleston Aviation Authority, with an option to buy 488 more acres.

"Well I hope what it means is jobs, jobs and more jobs for the Charleston area", said Charleston Aviation Authority Chairman Chip Limehouse.

Limehouse say's it's an early Christmas present for the Lowcountry. "Boeing is tripling down on their commitment to South Carolina and while they have not laid out any specific plans for these properties I don't think a company like Boeing does things in small measures and I'm certain that this is going to bring economic opportunity"

On Thursday, officials with Boeing presented a proposal to the Charleston Aviation Authority board to purchase land around their manufacturing facility including the South Carolina Research Authority building.

"The first thing we've got to do is ground price. We've agreed on a process today and we agreed on the parcels that would be in play.  To protect our long term future of Boeing to grow here we have to get the process going" said Rick Muttart, Boeing Director of site services

The proposal calls for a purchase of 320 acres around the existing facility here in North Charleston, with an option to purchase an additional 488 acres.

"They've assured us they're not buying this business to land bank it, they've assured us they're in the business of building airplanes" said Limehouse.

Now it's up to the appraisers to determine how much the land should sell for

"Now we have to decide upon a price, and then we have to get FAA approval and then we have to get core permit, so we've got a long way to go before we can figure out what we are going to plot there but clearly the land would be there for future anticipating growth of the company" said Mark Fava Chief Counsel of Boeing SC.

"We've tied our economic hats to the rocket ship named Boeing and this is the Christmas present we've been waiting for" said Limehouse.

Boeings current facility is on 265 acres of land the company leases, they plan on purchasing that property before 2025. Boeing currently has 34 buildings in the Lowcountry.   In about 30 days the two sides should have a better idea of how much the land will sell for.  Currently Boeing has 6000 employees at its North Charleston facility.