Myrtle Beach’s veteran tiny homes ‘officially opened.’ But why is no one living in them?
It was a sunny November morning in Myrtle Beach and traffic was flowing up and down Highway 501.
The new tiny homes dedicated to housing unhoused veterans in the area were completed, with black plastic shutters and floral curtains peeking out from the white blinds inside.
But there was one big problem: no veterans were in them.
The new community, which had hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening two weeks prior, was a ghost town.
The new baby Palmetto trees that had been planted in the new community were still so young their palm leaves just began to pop out of the top.
No cars in the driveway. No decorations on the front doors. Not a single person or pet in sight.
This project began almost three years ago in January 2022. Last winter, organizers said the homes would be ready to open “any day,” according to previous reporting.
Scott Dulebohn, chief executive officer and president of the nonprofit that built the homes, previously told The Sun News that the homes cost more than $1 million.
The Veterans Welcome Home & Resource Center is the nonprofit behind the tiny home community. Attempts to reach Dulebohn for comment were unsuccessful Monday and Tuesday.
In response to questions about the project’s Certificate of Occupancy (CO), Myrtle Beach’s Communications Director Meredith Denari said that the homes have not yet received it.
The main hold-up in this project is the permitting for the community’s water and sewer systems, she said.
As a result, the tiny homes are not legally allowed to have any residents in them as of Monday morning. Once the occupancy permit is granted, residents will be able to move-in to the homes.
“Right now, the CO has not been given because Public Works has not received the sewer operating permit from the state’s Department of Environmental Services,” Denari said on Monday via email. “The city cannot grant the CO until Public Works receives the permit from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. Other than getting the permit, there are no other outstanding city issues at this time preventing a Certificate of Occupancy from being given.”
Public Information Officer for the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Laura Renwick confirmed that the agency looks over water and sewer permits for groups of homes or communities. She said it can range from communities the size of this one to large cities, like Charleston.
As of Tuesday evening, Renwick said SCDES is waiting for the project’s engineer to submit regulatory required tests.
“We’ve been in direct contact with the project’s representatives, and the testing requirements are understood,” she said. “Once the testing has been performed and the results are provided to SCDES, if the results meet the necessary standards, then we can begin issuing the final approvals for the sewer system and drinking water lines.”
The CO process for tiny homes is no different than other homes within the city for city permits, according to Denari.
“If the standards are not met or submitted plans not followed, the city will inform the builders of what needs to be adjusted or fixed to pass inspection,” Denari said via email. “It’s important to note that any deviations from the approved plans or failure to meet safety and water/sewer requirements can result in failed inspections.”
The city has worked with the tiny home builders in order to ensure compliance. But at this point, the city is unable to grant the tiny homes its occupancy certificate until they receive the stamp of approval from the state’s Department of Environmental Services, according to Denari.
“The city wants this project to succeed for our veteran community in need,” she said in an email to The Sun News. “In order for it to succeed, the water and sewer systems must work correctly and life safety standards must be met before veterans move in.”
This story was originally published November 20, 2024 at 8:43 AM.
