Residents gathered on Reynolds Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 7, for Reynolds Homecoming, a neighborhood gathering where North Charleston families weighed in on what development along the historic corridor should look like.

The event, organized by Metanoia Community Development Corporation, included activities and a chance for residents to share their thoughts about upcoming development, ABC News 4 reported. It came just days after Charleston County voters approved a half-cent transportation sales tax that lists Reynolds Avenue improvements among its funded projects.

Jerome Smalls, a community design consultant, said Reynolds Avenue was once a financial and shopping hub and remains an important thoroughfare, according to ABC News 4.

"There's a lot of development coming, but we want our people to have a say in it," Smalls said. "We want our people to be able to stay here."

The message was personal for Mayor Reggie Burgess. He said he remembers coming to the area with his mother as a child to shop. Seeing people gathered on the avenue again made him emotional, he said.

"I'm blessed that I've lived a long enough time to experience what's going to happen here on Reynolds Avenue," Burgess said.

Resident Destinee Parker said the event showed that community members' opinions matter, according to ABC News 4.

Sales tax opens the door

The gathering carried extra weight because of what happened at the polls. Charleston County voters on Tuesday, Nov. 3, approved the continuation of the half-cent transportation sales tax, with nearly 64% voting yes, according to the Post and Courier. The tax is expected to generate $4.25 billion over 25 years.

Officials at the homecoming said changes to the Reynolds Avenue area could be supported by that tax revenue, according to ABC News 4. They said they hope to begin making changes in the near future. No specific funding amount or timeline for Reynolds Avenue improvements has been publicly detailed.

Metanoia noted in a Nov. 3 Instagram post on Election Day that the ballot listed "Reynolds Ave improvements" as a named project under the county's transportation tax question.

A portion of the broader tax revenue will also fund a rapid transit line connecting North Charleston to downtown Charleston along Rivers Avenue, Live 5 News reported. That project is projected to receive roughly $850 million starting in 2027.

Roots in a 2018 block party

Reynolds Homecoming traces its roots to the Better Block initiative, which brought residents together in 2018 to imagine new possibilities for the corridor, according to What's Going On In Charleston. Community-led advocacy after that effort helped build momentum for the transfer of Reynolds Avenue from state to city ownership in 2020, according to Metanoia.

Metanoia Chief Operating Officer Jamilla Harper said in the organization's announcement that residents need to stay involved as changes move forward.

"It's our time to be a part of the conversation and ensure that the future continues to have the community as a part of the plan and at the table," Harper said.