Robert Mashburn & City Of Myrtle Beach Do A Workaround On Business As Usual

From reading an article on Uschnews.universdev.com, we understand The Charleston Post and Courier did a glowing report on the City of Myrtle Beach today concerning its downtown historic tax credits.

So that all who were able to read that article can be fully informed, below are items that we believe are most critical.

THE WHOLE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE

Robert Mashburn owns Mashburn Construction located in the Arts and Innovation District. He purchased the historic tax credits for this project.

The City of Myrtle Beach was not eligible for those tax credits, however, as only a private business could apply. A work around can be clearly heard on the video above. The then City Manager John Pedersen re-organized the former Downtown Redevelopment Corporation (then owned by the city) into a 100% private business.

A highly interesting character named Robert Lewis previously and continues to work with Mashburn in Columbia, S.C. and Myrtle Beach. He is also the consultant that advised former City Manager John Pedersen on how to implement the city’s tax credit “work around”. Questions remain how legal the work around is.

Nance Plaza sits in front of the Grand Strand Brewing Company. The picnic tables pictured here are all on public property. The law states that alcohol can not be consumed on public property. However, the City of Myrtle Beach has made a special exception in this instance as well.

Should patrons from any other restaurants in the city leave the establishment with alcohol, they would immediately be arrested for open container.

THE FINANCING

As can be heard on the video above, Pedersen says the tax credits have been purchased. He does not point out that it was Mashburn who made the tax credit purchase. He does state that Mashburn was awarded a contract for $1,100,000.00 to redevelop the former Super Block buildings.

It’s a great “insider” deal, if you can get it. This news video was taken during an emergency Saturday meeting held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in December 2020. The meeting was not televised for the locals by the city. City leaders were very disappointed that we showed up with cameras.

THE RISKS

This brewing company is located in a high crime district. The City of Myrtle Beach is going into peak season 45 police officers short. The city averaged a shooting every weekend from May 15, 2020 for several weekends.

Allowing patrons to drink outside on public property in this location is a train wreck waiting to happen.

The article written by the Post and Courier glows on the efforts here.

However, when you pull back the curtain, it is clear the City of Myrtle Beach is picking winners and losers, while using suspect methods to achieve these Historic Tax Credits.