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health insurance agent in Charleston, SC
Trying to find the right health insurance plan for you or your family can be a complex, often difficult task. Just trying to find the best carrier can be stressful and confusing on its own. That is why the Health Insurance Solutions was founded - to take the stress and confusion out of the health insurance process. Our goal is to help hardworking men and women find the best protection for their unique needs.
Unlike some health insurance brokers, we make every effort to learn about the kind of health insurance you really need. When you speak with an agent from The Health Insurance Solutions, know that we will never try to upsell you on a plan that you can't afford. Instead, your knowledgeable, helpful health insurance agent in Charleston, SC will help you navigate the uncertain waters of the health insurance world. Once we understand the health insurance plan you need, we will explore your options. That way, you can leave our conversation feeling informed about your health insurance options and confident that you are making the best choice possible.
We are proud to have served people just like yourself for more than 15 years at the Health Insurance Solutions. We have helped countless individuals, families, and business owners find the coverage they need at a price that won't send them into bankruptcy. If you know that you need health insurance but don't know how to start or what to look for, we've got good news - you're in the right place.
Do You Really Need Health Insurance?
Before we talk about the solutions that our health insurance broker in Charleston, SC provides, we should address the elephant in the room. Everyone regardless of age or health, can benefit from a health insurance plan. Even the healthiest of people want to maintain their health and have protection in the event of a catastrophe. One of the best ways to stay healthy and plan for unexpected events is to visit your doctor for an annual check-up. When you have a health insurance plan, these visits are often fully covered by your insurance carrier when you choose an in-network doctor. Without health insurance, you will be responsible for the full cost of any medical care - even routine check-ups with your primary care physician. If something horrible happens, and you don't have health insurance, you may have to pay the full amount for the emergency care you receive. Even young, healthy individuals can benefit from the right health plan. After all, nobody plans on getting sick or injured, but bad things can happen to anyone. Something unexpected like a broken leg can cost more than $7,000 to treat when you don't have coverage. A three-day stay in a hospital can cost upwards of $30,000. That can be an incredible amount of money to pay out of pocket. Having a health insurance plan set in place can help you get quality care at a much more affordable price, especially if something unforeseen happens.

Who We Serve
At the Health Insurance Solutions, our mission is to educate and empower our clients so that they can get the best access to medical care possible. Because everyone has their own unique set of needs when it comes to health plans, we serve a wide range of clients.
Individuals
Individual plans, also called personal health plans, are health insurance policies that you can purchase solely for yourself. When you work with Health Insurance Solutions, your health insurance agent in Charleston, SC will go over your health plan options and help find the best fit for your needs. Individual health plans are not tied to your employer, so you can make a career change without having to worry about losing your health insurance. For individual plans, we offer major medical, short-term, and fixed benefit plans that include life, dental, vision, and other coverage options.
Families
Finding the right health plan for your family can be a real challenge, but our experienced health insurance agents are here to help. We understand that not all members of your family will have the same needs. To help your family get the best coverage possible, we search for custom plans that will meet each of your family members' needs. Whether you're looking for major medical coverage or fixed-benefit plans with no deductibles, our experts are here to serve you. Common coverage options include vision, dental, life, STD and LTD, long-term care, and more.

Self-Employed
Entrepreneurs have their own set of needs in terms of health plans and how much they can afford to spend on coverage. Once thought of as a small percentage of the workforce, 57 million Americans freelanced in 2019 alone, according to the Upwork and Freelancers Union. If you are a consultant, independent contractor, or freelancer, the Health Insurance Solutions will find a plan that caters to your current needs and future endeavors. Common health insurance plans for self-employed people include vision, life, dental, and stand-alone prescription coverage. We also offer major medical, supplemental, short-term, and fixed-benefit plans at a range of prices that you can afford.

Small Business
Offering health insurance to your employees is one of the best ways to keep your team happy and attract diligent workers to your company. If you are a business owner who wants to provide health insurance to your employees but cannot do so because the cost of benefits is too high, worry not. Our experienced health insurance agents will work directly with your employees to help them find the coverage they can afford. We also offer hybrid plans that can be customized so that both you and your employee's needs are met. Whether you need a major medical package or voluntary benefits only, the Health Insurance Solutions has got you covered. Common small business health insurance plans include life, LTC, medical, vision, 401K administration, and dental insurance.

Travelers
If you travel regularly for business or pleasure, it pays to plan ahead and protect yourself. Because unexpected events happen all the time, you could lose a lot of money if your business trip or vacation is canceled at the last minute. Situations like this can be particularly concerning on international business trips and on long vacations. Whether you get sick before your trip or have valuables within your baggage stolen, traveler's insurance can help minimize expensive cancelation fees and costs.
Most Popular Types of Coverage
Figuring out the kind of insurance you need is a crucial part of the health insurance process. Do you have a prescription for eyeglasses or contacts? Do you have a condition that requires you to visit the doctor on a regular basis? Health insurance plans change depending on what you need. At the Health Insurance Solutions, we will provide you with a trusted health insurance agent in Charleston, SC to help you choose the best plan for your budget.
Here are a few of the most popular types of coverage that our clients ask about:
Major Medical
This type of insurance covers minimum essential benefits and meets the standards of the ACA for family and individual coverage. Major medical insurance is a fantastic option to choose if you want to be sure all of your medical expenses are covered. Major medical plans usually cover ten essential benefits:
- Outpatient Procedures or Ambulatory Care
- Hospitalization
- Check-Ups and Preventative Care
- Prescription Medications
- Emergency Services
- Pediatric Care Services
- Laboratory Services
- Newborn and Maternity Care
- Addiction Counseling and Mental Health Care Services
If your goal is to cover a full range of care, major medical plans are often the best choice. We recommend you contact our office today to learn more about the major medical plan options available to you. As a licensed, private health insurance broker in Charleston, SC you do not need to wait until Open Enrollment to protect yourself with a major medical insurance plan.


DENTAL
From basic cleanings to complex procedures like root canals, dental work can be awfully expensive. When you have dental insurance, you will have peace of mind knowing that you won't have to pay for your procedure out of pocket. In general, a quality dental insurance policy will cover some or all of the following:
- Routine cleanings and checkups (copay may be required)
- X-Rays
- Filling Cavities
- Bridges, Implants, and Crowns
- Root Canals and Repair Work
- Emergency Services Oral Surgery, etc.)
It should be noted that some types of dental equipment and services may be covered at higher levels of coverage. While preventative work like cleanings is typically covered, some procedures require out-of-pocket costs.
VISION
Usually purchased as an addition to your medical insurance, vision insurance helps cut back on costs associated with eye care Like dental insurance, vision insurance is great if you know that you will regularly visit the eye doctor or just want to protect yourself for a "worst case scenario." In general, a quality vision plan will cover some or all of the following:
- Routine Eye Exams
- Medical Eye Care
- Vision Correction Products (Eyeglasses, contacts, etc.)
- Surgeries for Vision Correction (LASIK, etc.)
It should be noted that not all types of vision insurance will cover medical issues related to eye care. For instance, if your optometrist discovers a medical problem during your eye exam, they may refer you to a different doctor. While vision insurance may not cover all eye-related medical services, major medical health insurance often does.


LONG-TERM CARE
It might be hard to imagine at this stage of your life, but as you age, there is a chance that you will need long-term care services. The question is, how will you or your loved ones pay for this kind of care? Many people choose to eliminate the burden of senior care by purchasing long-term care insurance. Services like meal preparation, medication assistance, and help with day-to-day activities like bathing are not covered by regular health insurance plans. Long-term care insurance will help you or your children lessen the expense of care when you have chronic medical conditions, dementia, or disabilities. When you speak to one of our health insurance agents, ask if you can purchase a policy that reimburses you when you receive care in the following locations:
- Routine cleanings and checkups (copay may be required)
- In a nursing home
- In your own home
- In an assisted living center
- At a long-term residential senior facility
Expert Help Is Only a Phone Call Away
We call ourselves the Health Insurance Solutions because we are committed to finding you the best, most affordable options for your health insurance needs. We work with all the major insurance carriers, such as:
- Aetna
- Advent Health
- United Healthcare
- National General
- Humana
- Transamerica
- Many More
Unlike some health insurance brokers who only care about making a sale, we don't view you as a financial transaction. We believe that serving others never goes out of style. That's why we prefer to educate you on your health coverage options so that you can make an informed decision. As your health insurance agent in Charleston, SC we would be honored to help you seek out a plan that is the perfect fit for your life. You will receive the same excellent level of service whether you are a business owner with employees or a single individual.
When you're ready to protect yourself and your family with quality health insurance, we will be here to help guide you along the way. Contact us today so that we may discover your insurance needs and provide you with a quality insurance solution that will give you peace of mind for years to come.

Call us 843-364-9155 for a complimentary consultation and evaluation of your healthcare coverage.
Latest News Near Me Charleston, SC
10 events to attend in Charleston to celebrate Juneteenth
Diana Sidorevichhttps://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_scene/events/cookouts-jazz-community-fun-for-charleston-juneteenth/article_00c914b3-bcf3-4912-8d2f-f6820654695b.html
A long-held tradition since 1866, the annual celebration of Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden. This year, Charleston can expect plenty of fun and educational regional events highlighting the works of Black-owned businesses and honoring African American traditions.Beyond Emancipation Day, communities will be excited to find that a whole week of activities has been planned by local community leaders. J19 Week returns for another year of honoring Charleston's Black voices with memorable festivities....
A long-held tradition since 1866, the annual celebration of Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden. This year, Charleston can expect plenty of fun and educational regional events highlighting the works of Black-owned businesses and honoring African American traditions.
Beyond Emancipation Day, communities will be excited to find that a whole week of activities has been planned by local community leaders. J19 Week returns for another year of honoring Charleston's Black voices with memorable festivities.
"This year’s fifth anniversary is more than a milestone — it’s a movement," said Latisha Manigault, cofounder of J19 Week. "We’re proud to see this celebration grow each year as more people connect with the history of Juneteenth and the beauty of the Gullah Geechee culture. J19 Week is about unity, empowerment and honoring the journey."
Vice President Sean Smith added, "This isn’t just a festival — it’s a family. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or a first-time attendee, J19 Week is where everyone can feel seen, celebrated and inspired. We invite the entire community to come out and be part of this incredible experience."
Among events, Liberty Hill will be honored with a unifying parade followed by a celebration perfect for those looking to honor Black artisans, preview some of their community's local vendors and hear from leaders in this historic African American community.
"We hope people will better understand our history and why we celebrate the significance of our freedom. And really build up a sense of hope, setting goals for our future, paying homage to our ancestors and their resilience and that sense of camaraderie that we can impart to our children," stated Hester McFadden, president of the Liberty Hill Historical and Genealogical Society.
With everything from jazz concerts to family-style cookouts, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Here's how to celebrate Juneteenth in the Lowcountry.
J.O.Y. Juneteenth on the Yard
What: Celebrate Juneteenth with your community in a space dedicated to reflection, healing and joy. Grammy-nominated artist Mumu Fresh joins other artists and storytellers in an evening of music, food and fun.
When: Noon-5 p.m. June 19
Where: International African American Museum, 14 Wharfside St., Charleston
Price: Free
More Info: tinyurl.com/3tsek3hu
MOJA x Juneteenth
What: Experience a proper block party presented by MOJA Arts Fest in celebration of Juneteenth. There will be local artisan and food vendors to peruse, live entertainment from Motown singer Charles Grant, live painting by Kolpeace, performances by the Harambee Dance Company and more.
When: 6-9 p.m. June 19
Where: Ann Street (Between King and Meeting streets)
Price: Free
More Info: tinyurl.com/5erenxnu
Jazz Under the Stars
What: Enjoy a night of tasty hors d'oeuvres and some Lowcountry tunes from featured jazz artist Marcus Johnson as well as Reggie Graves and the Theory Band.
When: 7-10 p.m. June 19
Where: The Admiral House, 1100 Navy Way, North Charleston
Price: $32-$81
More Info: tinyurl.com/2tp5nj2y
Living Legacies: A Juneteenth Commemoration
What: Magnolia hosts their upcoming Juneteenth speaker series with Polly Sheppard, a survivor of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting, another speaker series with author Margaret Seidler and artist John W. Jones, an interactive historic slave cabins tour and a solemn reading of the names lost to slavery at Magnolia Gardens with special a cappella performances.
When: 6 p.m. June 19-6:30 p.m. June 21
Where: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston
Price: Free
More Info: tinyurl.com/262jxm82
Nonprofit opens North Charleston boarding home for vulnerable adults
Nick Reaganhttps://www.live5news.com/2025/06/16/north-charleston-see-opening-boarding-home-vulnerable-adults/
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A relatively new nonprofit is working to provide affordable housing to Lowcountry and Palmetto State adults with nowhere else to turn.The organization Berry Manor Boarding Home specializes in both memory care and supportive housing. They provide affordable, long-term, nonmedical residential care to elderly, disabled and memory-impaired adults—including U.S. Veterans and people suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia.Founder Deanna Miller-Berry says what they’re d...
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A relatively new nonprofit is working to provide affordable housing to Lowcountry and Palmetto State adults with nowhere else to turn.
The organization Berry Manor Boarding Home specializes in both memory care and supportive housing. They provide affordable, long-term, nonmedical residential care to elderly, disabled and memory-impaired adults—including U.S. Veterans and people suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Founder Deanna Miller-Berry says what they’re doing is a completely new approach to addressing the needs of people who are falling through the gaps of the health care system. Veterans without support from Veterans Affairs and seniors with pending disability claims are at the top of her client list.
“The whole premise of our program is making sure when these families trust their loved ones to us, they know that they’re going to be loved,” Miller-Berry says. “They know they’re going to be cared for and we’re going to make sure they get the health care that they need. Between good, old-fashioned science with basic, holistic foundations of community and love, this is what we are building.”
This week, Miller-Berry and her team are opening up their eighth home, this one in North Charleston. At least six people will live in the home.
Every day, a small, but dedicated, staff will spend hours at each home, cooking meals, reminding residents to take their medications and helping them set up home health care.
Miller-Berry says communal living is the key to making this system work. Many of the seniors are on fixed incomes that are too low to afford housing, health care and necessities.
She says they provide those things, like food and beds, in a home-style setting that helps clients with memory issues connect with their environment. While they leave the actual medical care to outside nurses and doctors, Miller-Berry says having a community can work wonders on health.
“We pride ourselves on making sure that we provide an atmosphere that’s conducive for healing. We use a very holistic approach, which is old-school traditional love. Literally,” Miller-Berry says. We take the time to be able to pour into them in a way that makes them feel like they’re still a part of society and they’re still contributing to building what we call all our new community of folks.
The nonprofit is rapidly expanding with new homes popping up throughout the state all the time. Berry-Miller says she expects to go from the current eight homes to 17 homes by the end of the year.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Top Chef finalist Shuai Wang cooks Chinatown BBQ with a Lowcountry flair
Debbie Elliotthttps://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5418982/shuai-wang-corrie-wang-king-bbq
Top Chef contestant Shuai Wang does not think of himself as a competitive person. "I'm one of those people who thinks everyone deserves a trophy for participating," he says.And yet, the Charleston chef did really well on the television cooking show - making it all the way to the finale."Prior to going on Top Chef, I felt very stuck," Wang says. He thought he'd peaked. But being in competition mode, learning from other chefs, he says, "it kind of just rejuvenated my creativity...
Top Chef contestant Shuai Wang does not think of himself as a competitive person. "I'm one of those people who thinks everyone deserves a trophy for participating," he says.
And yet, the Charleston chef did really well on the television cooking show - making it all the way to the finale.
"Prior to going on Top Chef, I felt very stuck," Wang says. He thought he'd peaked. But being in competition mode, learning from other chefs, he says, "it kind of just rejuvenated my creativity." In one episode, he cooked with ants that he'd foraged and gently toasted. They tasted like lemons, he said, "such a wonderful, zingy flavor."
When he's not off filming a reality show, Shuai Wang is usually in North Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and business partner, Corrie Wang. The couple met working at a restaurant in New York City. They moved south 10 years ago and had a food truck before opening their first restaurant, Jackrabbit Filly, named after their zodiac signs, and then a second restaurant, King BBQ.
Catie Dull/NPR
Catie Dull/NPR
It opened a year and half ago in a building that was, at various times, an ad agency, a church and a lunch counter, says Shuai. It's a beautiful space, with lots of personal touches. A pair of lions standing guard out front and the tile ceiling were custom made and shipped from Beijing, where Shuai was born. Framed portraits of the couple's dogs line the hallway. Red Chinese tassels hang from the ceiling and the walls are painted jade green - for good fortune.
The Wangs call their menu "Chinatown BBQ made with southern smoke." It, too, is full of personal touches. Krab rangoon with buttermilk hush puppies and hot honey. Chinese BBQ egg rolls with habanero duck sauce. "I cook from nostalgia," Chef Wang says.
Catie Dull/NPR
Catie Dull/NPR
The first dish Shuai cooks for NPR rings that bell - crispy, smoked duck on top of noodles with bok choy.
"That's just my fondest memory of growing up in New York," he says, "my parents taking me to Flushing on the weekends, or late nights after work, going down to Chinatown."
Catie Dull/NPR
Catie Dull/NPR
Shuai Wang remembers that when he was a young boy in Beijing, Communist China was still handing out food rations. So his grandma, who helped raise him, had to stretch her portion of rice and allotment of lard to feed the family.
He likens it to how enslaved families in the South improvised using the scraps they were left with to make a meal.
"That's why I feel so connected with Southern food, right?" he says. "That's where collard greens came from. The field peas, the butter beans."
Wang immigrated to the United States when he was nine, where his mom took over the cooking. He calls her the "OG Top Chef." But he didn't find his own love of cooking until high school. "I had to take a culinary class in my last two years to make up credits for all the classes that I 'accidentally missed,'" he laughs.
Catie Dull/NPR
The next plate he makes - chili tofu, a take on mapo tofu - is an homage to Shuai and Corrie's relationship. "That's the first dish that Corrie and I shared on our first date," Shuai explains. "I immediately scooped it up and put it in my mouth, not thinking that it would be a million degrees. And I spat it right out onto my plate, and everywhere."
Corrie didn't leave, and that's how they knew it was meant to be. "We're both like, crying… everything's so spicy and hot," adds Corrie. "It was a great time."
Catie Dull/NPR
This version of chili tofu is done in a fancy, Hamburger Helper, Asian-Italian style, with soft tofu, a sweet, spicy, tangy chili sauce and local ground pork on a bed of pasta, topped with mozzarella cheese. Tofu and mozzarella sound a little funky? Somehow, it really works.
"I get crazy ideas," Shuai Wang says. "I have a million and one crazy ideas. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, you know?"
Catie Dull/NPR
Corrie Wang says she's seen a natural progression as they've developed the restaurants where Shuai is "just creating legit Chinese food" rather than making gimmicky dishes.
"I just realized I really just want to embrace myself and my culture and cook Chinese food," he says.
After his Top Chef stint, Shuai is taking all his crazy ideas, his heritage and a renewed spirit of adventure and creativity into the future. "I realized oh, I didn't peak," he says. "Chinese food has 500 years of history. I've explored very little of it."
Shrimpers sue Charleston-area restaurants, alleging they falsely advertised local seafood
Anna Sharpehttps://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_sc/shrimpers-lawsuit-shrimp-fraud-south-carolina/article_93d9224d-5a65-4d18-b3b6-49127dbffa34.html
MOUNT PLEASANT — The S.C. Shrimpers Association is suing the 40 unidentified Charleston-area restaurants that were recently found to be selling imported shrimp following a genetic study by a Texas-based research firm.The federal complaint, filed June 13 on behalf of the association by attorney Gedney Howe IV, accuses the restaurants of false advertising and violating ...
MOUNT PLEASANT — The S.C. Shrimpers Association is suing the 40 unidentified Charleston-area restaurants that were recently found to be selling imported shrimp following a genetic study by a Texas-based research firm.
The federal complaint, filed June 13 on behalf of the association by attorney Gedney Howe IV, accuses the restaurants of false advertising and violating South Carolina's Unfair Trade Practices Act.
That statute states that knowingly misrepresenting food as a South Carolina-produced product is an unfair trade practice.
Joined by representatives and chefs from nearby restaurants, Howe and association leaders announced the lawsuit from the humid docks of Shem Creek.
"These boys don't want a lot. They just want to be able to work and earn a living and continue the work that their parents and grandparents that came before them did," Howe said.
The defendants, called John Doe Restaurants 1-40 in the complaint, were secretly tested by SeaD Consulting, a Texas-based research firm, in late May.
A team took small samples of cooked shrimp sold by the restaurants, some of which were labeled on menus as being wild-caught in the United States. Some locations were selected for using shrimp boats and other imagery. The 40 establishments named in the lawsuit were found to be selling imported shrimp, not U.S.-caught shrimp.
Because SeaD Consulting did not release the names of the 40 restaurants they claimed were misleading consumers on June 10, it’s unclear if all the defendants were publicly advertising local, wild-caught shrimp but serving the imported product.
A representative for SeaD Consulting said the company had not seen the lawsuit and declined to comment.
The complaint alleges that passing off imported, farm-raised shrimp as wild-caught threatens to "irreparably harm the strong reputation and customer goodwill" earned by South Carolina shrimpers.
Rocky Magwood, president of the S.C. Shrimpers Association and a fourth-generation shrimper, said he has spent his entire life fighting to keep the industry alive. He hopes the testing results, and the subsequent lawsuit, can change the tide for the dying industry.
"Now that we we have some proof ... hopefully we can get something to come out of this, because it's wrong," Magwood said. "It's been a long time coming."
The association is seeking monetary damages, an amount to be determined at trial, as well as an injunction against the 40 restaurants. The injunction would prohibit restaurants from labeling imported or farm-raised shrimp as wild-caught or local, Howe said.
Restaurant community reacts
For many, the genetic testing results published June 10 by SeaD Consulting were shocking. For others, the fact that only four of the 44 restaurants sampled served wild-caught shrimp came as no surprise.
Kerry Marhefka, a biologist and member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, suspected that if every restaurant in the tri-county area were to be tested, the ratio would be about the same.
"It's a huge problem, and it's not just shrimp," Marhefka said.
There are reasons for serving imported seafood, Marhefka said, whether it's access or cost of goods. But the issue in this case, she said, is whether some restaurateurs are lying about what's on their menus.
"Don't try to pass off to the public that it's local when it's not," Marhefka said. "The key is to be honest."
She does have one concern about the study: By not naming the supposed offenders, researchers have put the entire restaurant industry on the defensive to say they are not one of the 40, Marhefka said.
Allison Cagle, an owner of The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene restaurant off Shem Creek, said the seafood establishment tucked away on Haddrell Street in Mount Pleasant has "only ever served locally sourced shrimp right here from our South Carolina shrimpers."
"While we were very happy with the testing, finally, it was the manner in which the results were reported, I was kind of shocked," she said. "The exclusion felt purposeful, even though I'm quite sure it wasn't, but there are a lot of people in this area serving nothing but great locally-sourced shrimp."
Local purveyors like Tarvin Seafood have taken to social media to highlight the many restaurants that do serve local shrimp. Still, the news has sent waves of chatter through the dining community.
"I know a lot of restaurants here in Charleston are probably using the shrimp that are being outsourced. They get at a cheaper price, but at the end of the day, it's hurting our families that are around here," said Grant Smith, director of restaurants for Miller's All Day.
Parker Milner contributed to this report.
Dockside's repair cost could reach $151M, estimate says. Should residents cut their losses?
Ali Rocketthttps://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_sc/charleston-dockside-condo-repairs-sell/article_8b07fb82-60b8-4a9f-bc5e-552c50815845.html
CHARLESTON — Fixing the structural issues that forced Dockside condominium tower residents to evacuate could cost $151 million, the building's homeowner association now estimates.In February, some 200 residents were forced from their homes inside Charleston's tallest building — other than a church steeple — and also from the surrounding townhomes ...
CHARLESTON — Fixing the structural issues that forced Dockside condominium tower residents to evacuate could cost $151 million, the building's homeowner association now estimates.
In February, some 200 residents were forced from their homes inside Charleston's tallest building — other than a church steeple — and also from the surrounding townhomes after engineers found the condo tower unsafe.
The evacuated owners are still in the process of gathering their possessions from the 19-story building, but will soon have to make a difficult decision: repair or sell.
A spokeswoman for the building's association board said all owners will first consider whether to repair the structural issues. No date has been set for holding that vote, but the spokeswoman said it would likely take place early this summer.
The costly repair bill would be apportioned across all owners. That includes not only the tower's 112 condominiums, but also the surrounding 21 townhomes, which don't have the same structural deficiencies — an argument made in a lawsuit challenging the evacuation order.
Each owner's share of the bill is based on their ownership percentage of the building, which varies condo to condo. A larger apartment might bear more than 1 percent share, meaning that owner would pay more than $1.5 million for the repairs.
Up until recently, the condos typically sold for upward of $500,000.
In some cases, the repairs could cost some owner three times what they paid for their home.
The repairs
It's unclear exactly what the $151 million projected price tag would cover.
But a March letter from the engineers hired by the condo association laid out several next steps that include installation of temporary shoring, asbestos remediation, further testing and design of the necessary retrofits.
Engineers from Wiss, Janney and Elstner, a national construction engineering firm that Dockside hired after a condo in Florida collapsed killing 98 people, found that the concrete slabs that make up Dockside's upper stories aren’t strong or thick enough to carry the weight of the building, its furnishings and residents. Any additional load could cause the building's columns to burst through the slab.
Engineers call this "punching shear failure."
Brandon E. Ross, professor at the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering at Clemson University, explained the concept in layman's terms using a pencil and a Styrofoam plate. A pencil standing vertically represents a building's columns, and the plate is the slab floor. Excessive pressure on the plate causes the pencil to punch through and the plate to collapse.
That's what happened to Champlain Towers South in Florida, according to WJE, the same firm now assessing Dockside. A primary structural element failed on the ground floor, resulting in the failure of adjoining elements that ultimately caused the eastern half of the 12-story tower to pancake.
The structural defects in Dockside stem from the building's construction more than 50 years ago, and are not the result of degradation over time.
But there are ways to address punching shear issues, Ross said.
"Basically, punching shear is all about how strong is the connection between the floors and the columns, and you need to improve that," he said. "Some ways that they can do that is go to the top of the column, right underneath the floor, and add additional structure around the column."
That could take the form of steel angles, carbon fiber wraps, or a cap or crown around the top of the column, the professor described.
"Basically, you're creating a pedestal at the top of the column for the slab to sit on," he said.
Returning to his pencil and plate analogy, he continued: "It would be like if you glued a quarter to the top of the pencil before you tried to push it through the Styrofoam. You've spread out the column. You made it bigger, so to speak, and that makes it harder for the slab to punch through. It increases the punching capacity."
According to the March letter, WJE has already designed conceptual "collars and corbels" that will serve a similar function as Ross' quarter.
In order to access the column, the existing floor and ceiling finishes must be removed from around each of Dockside's 702 columns, according to WJE. This demolition work prompts the asbestos remediation, which can be costly on its own because it requires special permitting and expertise to remove and contain the cancer-causing fibers.
This also indicates why the evacuation was necessary, aside from the concerns over safety should the building collapse. Many of the columns are inside condos where residents were living.
No timeline
There has been no timeline given for repairs.
The WJE letter said it would take nine months to a year for their engineers to preform additional testing, and that is only after temporary supports are installed and the demo is done.
No demolition or repair work is likely to start until all residents have removed their belongings. The protracted move-out, two apartments at a time, is expected to take through the end of June.
If the former residents decide not to save the harbor front property at 330 Concord Street, just south of Union Pier, they could vote to sell to a developer.
But all owners would have to agree to the sale.
Reach Ali Rockett at 843-901-1708. Follow her on Twitter @AliRockettPC.
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