U
nion Pier redevelopment expands its footprint. A firm tied to Ben Navarro’s Beemok holding company has bought a high‑profile property opposite City Market and next to the 67‑acre Union Pier marine terminal it is acquiring from the South Carolina State Ports Authority. The Carroll Building, a 1980s office complex that had sat on the market for six years, sold for $11.5 million—a steep discount—according to county records. The seller, Carroll Building LLC, had owned the property for over 30 years.
Beemok, through 24 North Market LLC, now owns the vacant 51,000‑sq‑ft structure and seeks state approval for an environmental cleanup of the 0.67‑acre site, formerly a gas station and chemical storage facility. Public comment closes September 30.
The building’s early‑1900s section was built by Thomas W. Carroll, who ran a fish business and icehouse there. The 1980s added modern office space and parking. The Art Institute of Charleston was its last major tenant before closing its downtown campus in 2018. In 2019 the building was listed for $22.25 million with plans to become a 50‑room hotel.
Historic Charleston Foundation, which holds a conservation easement on the site since 1984, opposed the hotel proposal, citing the concentration of short‑term accommodations in the City Market area. A lawsuit under federal tax law led to a settlement allowing only office, retail, restaurant, and residential uses; hotels remain prohibited.
The three‑story, brick building requires extensive rehabilitation. A 2020 fire in a ground‑floor restaurant triggered the sprinkler system, damaging much of the interior. Beemok’s cleanup plan calls for mixed‑use redevelopment but offers no specifics. In a statement, the family‑owned company said it is “thrilled to acquire this prominent corner property” and is committed to revitalizing the site in partnership with the community.
Historic Charleston CEO Winslow Hastie declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement. The Carroll Building sits next to a 3‑acre industrial warehouse that S.C. Ports is selling to Beemok’s Marti Holdings LLC as part of the Union Pier deal announced last year. The $250 million transaction is slated to close in 2027.
The sale closed as the federal government began reviewing the underutilized U.S. Customhouse on the next block. Initial meetings took place last week.
The Preservation Society of Charleston supports improvements to Market Street’s waterfront base but has no details on Beemok’s plans. CEO Brian Turner said, “Once we learn more we’ll be excited to join the conversation. It’s a huge opportunity to improve that corner.”
Contact John McDermott at 843‑937‑5572.
