The State Ports Authority board will consider today whether to sell back to the previous owners much of the Cainhoy land it acquired on Daniel Island for a port-related rail line and road.

MIC SMITH/STAFF Fred Lincoln

SPA Board Chairman Whit Smith has said the SPA would consider offering to sell land it bought north of Interstate 526 at the same price the SPA paid for it.

While the gesture could help heal deep wounds that remain in Cainhoy where some residents said they were strong-armed into selling their land to the SPA several years ago, community leader Fred Lincoln said the deal still falls short because it doesn't include all of the authority's Cainhoy land.

The SPA will consider selling 29 parcels totaling more than 230 acres while keeping nine parcels totaling about 56 acres, mostly south of Interstate 526.

"I can't see how the port can sit by and arbitrarily decide which ones they'll give back," Lincoln said at a recent meeting of the Charleston County legislative delegation's port oversight committee.

While the SPA has all but abandoned its plan to build a shipping terminal on Daniel Island in favor of building a port at the former Navy base on the Cooper River, it has not yet decided what to do with its Daniel Island land. If the SPA can secure the necessary permits to build a port at the Navy base, the Daniel Island land could be sold or borrowed against to raise money for the Navy base port, said State Sen. Arthur Ravenel. But Ravenel and the SPA say it would not be wise to sell back the nine parcels south of Interstate 526 because they may be needed to provide access to 1,300 acres the SPA owns on Daniel Island.

Ravenel, who was among the legislative team that battled against a Daniel Island terminal and has called upon the SPA to sell its land there, said the SPA can get more money for its 1,300-acre tract if it holds on to the land south of the interstate.

"You can't sell the access," Ravenel said Tuesday. "It would be very foolish."

Ravenel, a real estate agent, often refers to the SPA's 1,300 acres on Daniel Island as "the most valuable piece of undeveloped real estate on the East Coast."

He also noted that even if the SPA retains the handful of parcels south of 526, it would still need to buy other properties before a contiguous strip of access is assured.

Those who can buy back their land at the same price they sold it for between 1997 and 1999 stand to regain property that has increased dramatically in value over the years.

Lincoln said the state has no business keeping any Cainhoy land. Even if the previous owners get their land back and then sell it to developers, that's their right, he said. "Only an imbecile wouldn't want their property back."

Another issue the board could address is how much time to give previous owners to decide whether they want to buy back their land. Ravenel has suggested six months.

There should not be a deadline, Lincoln said, arguing that residents shouldn't face losing the option to buy their land back just because they couldn't quickly muster enough money.

STATE PORTS AUTHORITY'S CAINHOY LAND

Cainhoy land north of Interstate 526 that the SPA may offer back to the owners who sold: 29 parcels totaling about 230 acres. The combined price tag is about $3.6 million.

Cainhoy land south of Interstate 526 that the SPA might retain: Nine parcels totaling about 56 acres. The combined price tag is about $1.4 million.

Ron Menchaca can be reached at rmenchaca@postandcourier.com or 937-5491.