After ‘controversy’ mayor gifts downtown property to City of Myrtle Beach
BJ Investments, a company owned by Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune, will donate property downtown to the City for stormwater drainage.
The announcement was made at Tuesday’s City Council meeting by a lawyer for BJ Investments, Robert “Shep” Guyton.
“There was never a scenario where the city was going to pay any proceeds to the mayor,” Guyton said at Tuesday’s meeting. “The intent was always to make a contribution, preferably to a charitable entity, but given the controversy that trying to understand these transactions are, we believe it’s better to just contribute it directly to the city.”
Assistant City Manager Bryan Tucker said at the meeting that the contractor is ready to begin work on the property. According to documents presented by Tucker, the 1.45-acre parcel on Jackson Street is needed for stormwater drainage for the Arts and Innovation District.
“One of the things that slowed this down a little bit is the Mayor did not want to have an outright sell of the property,” Tucker said. “It was her intention to donate the proceeds of the property.”
In the original resolution, the city would have purchased the land for an appraised value of $650,000 from BJ Investments, who would then donate at least $500,000 from the sale to a nonprofit.
The new amended resolution that was unanimously passed by city council on Tuesday states that the property will be a donation from BJ Investments, costing the city zero dollars.
Bethune recused herself from the discussion and the vote.
At the end of the council meeting, Bethune shared a statement about her love for the community and her intentions with the property.
“I have spent my entire adult life giving back to this community in one way or another,” she said. “I was raised to serve back and give back to this community.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM.
