‘It’s none of your business,’ says Myrtle Beach candidate. The potential leader sues SC

A Myrtle Beach city council candidate who rejected a $645,000 compensation package from state transportation officials in exchange for handing over demolition rights says her ongoing legal dispute wouldn’t be a conflict of interest.

“DOT has nothing to do with the city and it’s none of your business,” Myra Starnes told The Sun News Oct. 13. I’m not going to do anything that’s a conflict of interest..”

If elected, Starnes will play a key role in deciding the future of downtown redevelopment as the city moves forward with plans for an arts and innovation district expected to bring more employment and housing options to the urban core.

Founder of Leisure Unlimited, Starnes is also downtown property owner. She was offered the money late last year for a building that runs from 706 to 712 Main St. to accommodate the realignment of U.S. Highway 501 at Broadway by connecting its intersection to 7th Ave N.

The $13.9 million project is being paid for through RIDE III funding, a 1 percent sales tax approved by voters in 2016 to pay for road improvements across the county.

Court records show that Starnes requested a jury trial to determine how much she should receive for the loss of her properties.

“I’m 71 years old, I got nothing to lose, honey. Those little pieces of paper I call money, I can’t take that with me,” she said.

Four businesses were forced to either close or relocate as a result of the project. Here’s what happened to them:

• . William H. Miller Art Studio. After nine years at their Main Street location, the studio moved nearby to 702 8th Ave. N. and held a grand re-opening on Sept. 14.
• Rose + Aila Hair Salon. The Brazilian beauty parlor moved around the corner to 608 Broadway St.
• Black Thai Restaurant and Lounge. This Asian eatery closed in late August after 16 years in business. The restaurant’s voicemail said they shut down due to the DOT “seizing our land and wishing to push a road through our building. They gave us one last summer and we had a nice run.”
• Ed’s Hobby Shop. The model vehicle store is still open for business and looking for a new location, an employee told The Sun News in September.

According to a RIDE III dashboard, right-of-way acquisitions are underway for the project. No construction date has been provided. Once complete, improvements will include:

• Replacement of a skewed U.S Highway 501 southern approach at Broadway with a more direct alignment to improve lane assignments and traffic flow.
• Combining three intersections into one to reduce congestion resulting from closely spaced intersections Improving driver guidance at several locations by replacing unconventional routing with a more traditional, grid-like system Improving pedestrian accessibility with more dedicated crosswalks and pedestrian routes
• Improving use of space by allowing existing U.S. Highway 501 to be repurposed under a separate project.
• Reconstruction of an existing section of U.S. Highway 501 to accommodate pedestrian access, green space, parking, redevelopment and other uses.