Chimney Sweep in West Ashley, SC

The abandoned Ryan's Steakhouse building in West Ashley is being torn down after standing vacant off St. Andrews Boulevard for almost 9 years. (City of Charleston)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The abandoned Ryan's Steakhouse building in West Ashley is being torn down after standing vacant off St. Andrews Boulevard for almost 9 years.

The City of Charleston announced the demolition began Monday and is part of its strategy to "rejuvenate" West Ashley. The demolition was made possible through a public-private partnership with Charleston-based developer Gramling Brothers.

“This is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to revitalize West Ashley,” said Mayor William Cogswell. “West Ashley residents can look forward to a brighter future with more opportunities and safer neighborhoods as we continue our investment in this part of Charleston.”

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The City said the building's demolition will open opportunities for "new amenities" in the area, likening it to the redevelopment of Sumar Street, also in West Ashley.

The building has stood vacant since 2016, becoming a hub for frequent crimes including trespassing, drug use, and assault, according to the City.

“The demolition of the Ryan’s Steakhouse property is a significant victory for West Ashley,” said William Tinkler, District 9 City Councilmember. “Working together with Gramling Brothers, we are removing eyesores and creating new opportunities for our community to thrive. This is just the beginning, and we are excited for what comes next.”

The City said it plans to have the site cleared "quickly" after work began Monday.

The city of Charleston's long-established West Ashley suburb continues to be a draw for buyers and renters seeking a slice of Lowcountry living.

From 2020 to 2025, city officials estimate the area's population grew 6 percent to almost 72,000 — and that's only counting the incorporated sections. The boom is more than double the 2.8 percent population increase nationwide during the same time period.

On average, South Carolina has gained about 360,579 residents a year from April 2020 through July 2024, or about 90,000 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But the West Ashley rush isn't slowing down. An estimated 6,000 housing units are in the works, with many of them expected to come online within the next year. And all are within a 5-mile drive, led by the long-delayed Long Savanna development.

The projects come in addition to existing major multifamily developments along the same corridor, like the 1,400-home Grand Oaks Plantation, built in the late 1990s; Hunt Club, built in the early 2000s with about 500 residences; and the 1,800-home Carolina Bay development off Glenn McConnell Parkway.

There's also the recently wrapped Grand Bees and the 394 apartments at Aventon Bees Ferry.

Heading down Bees Ferry, along Glenn McConnell Parkway and right on Henry Tecklenburg Drive, here's where the bulk of new single-family, townhomes and apartments will be built.

Bellerose at Bees Ferry: 155

The Bellerose at Bees Ferry apartments are are almost wrapped at 3029 Stonecrest Drive, at the corner of Bees Ferry Road.

Plans for the new Storia neighborhood call for 155 three-bedroom townhomes, pool, on-site dog par, open-air pavilion and walking paths.

Multiple fire departments were spotted on the scene of a reported structure fire in West Ashley Tuesday. (WCIV)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — No injuries were reported in a Tuesday afternoon structure fire in the West Ashley area of Charleston, the city's fire department reported.

Reports of a structure fire were first reported at 1 p.m. at 1800 William Kennertly Drive, fire officials said. Emergency personnel arrived in less than five minutes from the time of dispatch and reported light smoke visible near the roof of a two-story apartment building.

Fire officials from several agencies then worked to escort residents and their pets from the building, as crews determined the blaze was located within the attic.

The fire continued to progress and burned through the roof, prompting a second alarm and sending additional units to the scene. Firefighters worked to gain control of the bulk of the fire in approximately 30 minutes and then continued to extinguish hot spots and ventilate smoke from the building. The second alarm units were released once the fire was under control, officials said.

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Members of the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to review the incident. Residents reported hearing a smoke alarm active somewhere in the apartment complex since this morning. Investigators determined the active alarm was from a vacant apartment on the second floor and that the fire originated in or above the vacant unit, at a utility closet containing the hot water heater, and may have smoldered for an extended period.

At this time, the likely cause of the fire is related to a failure of the electrical service to the hot water heater, fire officials said.

Fourteen of the 16 apartment units in the building were rented at the time of the incident, officials said. Two units and the attic sustained fire damage, several units sustained smoke and water damage.

All the units have been vacated until assessments and repairs can be made, displacing 19 residents, officials said.