North Myrtle Beach Betters Its Big Sister?

In an editorial in Tradingmarkets.com today, I found an article about plans for North Myrtle Beach's annex of 1363 acres along the waterway, and up to Grande Dunes "west".

I've always been partial to North Myrtle Beach myself. As a teenager, our "cool" group at Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, NC refused to participate in some of the normal teenage pasttimes...from circling McDonalds (so, so uncool!) to circling the Pavilion at Myrtle Beach. Instead, we all went to Ocean Drive and tried to find a bar that wouldn't check your ID...or at least someone old enough to buy your beer for you.

In those days, North Myrtle Beach had several arcade areas that were pretty wide open, and full of people...kids, teens, adults...and lots of beer. We hung out at the "Horseshoe" and chuckled over the rednecks hanging out at the kiddie rides and redneck bars like The Bowery.

And when nobody was looking, we might drive down there and go round the block once or twice just to see if we were missing anything. It was seldom that we were. Ocean Drive had it all for most of us.

And according to this article, North Myrtle Beach may be superior in adult virtues as well. To quote:

"Attracted by the city's superior public services and stable property-tax rate, [Developers] practically beg the city to redraw its boundaries to include their acreage. Not for nothing did a city councilman joke a few years back that the city could annex its way along S.C. 9 to the city limits of Loris if it wanted to."

Vacationers from the Carolinas to the northern states have always had a hard time distinguishing between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Most don't understand that there are two separate cities. All summer long, the locals are stopped to point out where 71st Ave North is in Ocean Drive. (It ISN'T)

If North Myrtle Beach decides to annex this huge new section of land, then Myrtle Beach real estate could become less of the top dog, and more of an equal to our Shag Capital of the World. This particular annexation project would be bigger than the waterway portion of Grande Dunes - much bigger. The numbers crunch at 10,000 residential units, from condos to single family homes, and 4.3 million sq ft of commercial real estate space.

North Myrtle's planners are being very particular about the developers and the developments discussed. They would have to invest millions in police personnell, fire, water, and other city management costs. But the huge growth would really change the climate of North Myrtle Beach from the small-town residential beach that it once was to a major vacation mecca that Myrtle Beach has long boasted.

Already most of the local residents tend to live on the outskirts of the two beaches. I have a condo in Little River, SC, about 2 miles from Cherry Grove Beach. The most wealthy of the business owners here tend to choose Pawleys Island real estate for their multi-million dollar homes.

Myrtle Beach beach houses generally are used only for vacation rentals, as are almost all of the oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach. North Myrtle is no different. Between the outrageous tax rates, hurricane scares, and ability to generate rental income, most of the beachfront and beachview real estate in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach is not residential.

I have also heard rumors of Little River being a possible annexation target for North Myrtle Beach real estate. I would welcome it, taxes and all. To have such a superior police and fire department (instead of Horry County) would be worth the extra expense. And hopefully some of the Little River eyesores, such as that flea market and other run-down buildings would be eliminated.

North Myrtle Beach is the best all around city in South Carolina as far as I'm concerned!

Jan is a guest blogger on Beach Living. See also our newest Myrtle Beach Blog !