Rants & Raves: Does Old Town need a hotel?

On a proposed 13-room hotel coming to Old Town Bluffton:

I like the idea of Old Town Bluffton being a mixed-use area but I also like the idea that the people who live there get it back to themselves at night. No overnight stays please.

Please, you've got maybe 4 city blocks of "charm" and no parking. Sometimes I think we need to get over ourselves a little bit.

Something would be nice in OT, however, let's develop some productive ideas on parking before you build another building in Old Town.

It's no longer Old Town. Not much old about it anymore.

I see two issues-noise and parking.

Isn't there a humongous parking problem there already?

Gross.

Why?

Everyone gasps when I say I'm a local and they follow with, “You're one of the few left.” Yes I am. And I don't mind change but it really is a shame that Bluffton has changed so much and it's lost its small town charm. When I ride through that part of town and see Mercedes, Audi's,Tesla's, and you speak to people and they ignore you or look the other way, it bothers me. Old Town isn't what it used to be. But all they are concerned with is the money. Again I don't have a problem with change I have a problem with people who think they are too high class to speak to someone whom they don't know. That's the kind of people we are drawing to the heart of our small town.

I think it's wonderful! It beats "another restaurant" as that's what everyone usually gripes about as well as a closer option instead of having guests stay at Holiday Inn Express or Comfort Inn. Not to mention folks it's only 13 rooms, not 130. I'm sure it'll all be valet so just relax. Old Town can handle 13 more cars.

I've lived here 45 years and the one thing that has never changed is that every new resident wants to close the gate to Bluffton as soon as they walk through it.

Wow. Bluffton is losing all of its charm. So sad to hear this!

What I want to know is what building and zoning regulations would allow this to happen? I guess the ones Old Town apparently doesn't have. How convenient for the developers and their town council buddies.

No no no and no! Seriously town council, if you approve this, you've gone crazy! No!

Let me guess; One of our local legislators has a piece of the action. And please, "don't worry about the parking."

Big mistake.

But those beautiful homes on and around Calhoun can't be B&Bs?

Here we go again. The whiners of the Lowcountry. It's a free market! Don't want a hotel then buy the land, babies.

There goes the neighborhood.

Ugh.

Yup, that'll sure resolve our parking issue in that area.

Love! So happy for progress and lots of people!

People still stay at hotels?

I like the idea of an upscale boutique Inn. A charming, southern residence would look nice there. The article states the owner has the parking issue covered. In the rear of the building I'm sure. I hope.

Hilton Head 2.

Yankees are a virus.

No! Stop building and taking away from our beautiful charming town!

There goes the feel of a small town again.

How about build more affordable living.

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Rants & Raves: Does Old Town need a hotel?."