Beaufort Memorial Workforce Housing Project Sees Next Steps with Land Transfer from County
July 3, 2025
Collaboration between Beaufort Memorial, Beaufort County and the Town of Bluffton is bringing workforce housing to the booming Bluffton area with the LiveWell Terrace by BMH project.
Beaufort Memorial is also partnering with Woda Cooper Companies to bring a total of 120 affordable housing units to 333 and 335 Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton. This apartment complex will include 30 one-bedroom units, 60 two-bedroom units and 30 three-bedroom units, with monthly rent costs ranging from $570 to $1,720. These units are open to any tenant, Beaufort Memorial employee or otherwise, based on income qualifications.
The property also will include medical office space to house a new Beaufort Memorial primary care practice and physical, speech and occupational therapy services.
As the Lowcountry continues to grow, the need for healthcare services grows with it. As Beaufort Memorial strives to meet those needs, hiring and retaining employees plays a critical role in that mission’s success.
“The lack of affordable housing for the local workforce in the Lowcountry is at a crisis level,” said Russell Baxley, MHA, Beaufort Memorial President and CEO. “Without housing options that meet the needs of the working population, all industries suffer, including the healthcare industry. The collaborative approach to this project is an example of the innovative partnerships that Beaufort Memorial is pursuing to meet these crucial needs of our workforce and community.”
Beaufort County purchased the 10-acre property in 2023 from St. Andrew By-The-Sea with the intended purpose of developing affordable workforce housing with the approval of the Town of Bluffton’s Affordable Housing Committee. The site along Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton – less than a mile from where the new Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Community Hospital is being constructed – was transferred in the middle of April, with the authorization of the transfer receiving unanimous support from the County Council.
“Beaufort County is dedicated to continued collaboration with our partners as we work to solve our area’s tough challenges,” said Beaufort County Council Chair Alice Howard. “Our workforce deserves affordable housing options, and we are grateful to have made significant progress on several initiatives over the past year. This project is a remarkable achievement, and we look forward to seeing this vision come to life as we continue to work together to make Beaufort County an ideal home for everyone in our community.”
Beaufort Memorial will be working with the Town of Bluffton throughout the summer and early fall to obtain the appropriate permitting for the LiveWell Terrace by BMH site, actively moving the project forward in coordination with both the town and with Woda Cooper Companies. Construction is expected to begin at the end of 2025, with its completion and the move-in of the development’s first tenants scheduled for the beginning of 2027.
Read more about the ongoing expansion projects at Beaufort Memorial, and about how the Beaufort Memorial Foundation is helping hospital system employees learn about the area's housing options.