Myrtle Beach Advances First Workforce Homeownership Project

 One‑acre site on Third Avenue North slated for 16 affordable units through regional land trust partnership

Myrtle Beach, SC — Myrtle Beach City Council marked a major milestone in expanding workforce homeownership by approving the first land purchase through the city’s Workforce Housing Fund. (Tuesday, July 28)

City Council approved spending $480,000 to purchase property at 904 Third Avenue North. The property will be acquired by the Horry County Community Land Trust, with Habitat for Humanity of Horry County providing operational support. The approximately one-acre site is planned for the development of 16 permanently affordable condominium units for the local workforce.

Plans include a parking lot, green space and the preservation of existing live oak trees. The homes will be designed to complement the surrounding neighborhood and support the continued revitalization of downtown Myrtle Beach.

The homes are intended for permanent Horry County residents earning 80% to 120% of the area median income, including teachers, nurses, first responders, hospitality professionals, municipal employees and other middle-income workers.

“If you can work in your community and live in your community, it brings a little more pride into your work,” City Manager Jonathan “Fox” Simons Jr. said. “For our police officers, firefighters, teachers, health care workers and others who serve this community every day, it’s exciting to be able to give them an option to live where they work. I think that’s pretty neat.”

The homes will remain permanently affordable through resale restrictions administered by the community land trust.

“This is about families who are working hard to contribute to their community,” said Meagan Michal, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Horry County and startup manager of the Horry County Community Land Trust. “By working together, we can build long-term housing solutions that meet the needs of our residents while strengthening our neighborhoods.”

At City Council’s direction, the city has set aside a portion of commercial building permit fees since 2018 to build the Workforce Housing Fund, which now has an approximate balance of $3.5 million. The fund may be used for future workforce housing land purchases as opportunities arise.

The $480,000 land purchase is the city’s only financial contribution to this project. The Horry County Community Land Trust will pay for construction when development begins.

The Horry County Community Land Trust is governed by representatives from the City of Myrtle Beach, the City of Conway, Horry County, private-sector leaders and community organizations, reflecting a regional partnership to expand workforce housing opportunities.

The next step is for the community land trust to complete the property purchase. Because the site currently includes a leased residence, groundbreaking is not expected until late 2027.