Day: October 27, 2017

Oklahoma Native, Commander of the 354th at Myrtle Beach by Melissa LaScaleia Brigadier General Joel T. Hall was born in 1935 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His career trajectory brought him to serve the United States Air Force as commander of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in 1984. Hall Lane, which intersects with Cook Circle near Iris Street in the Market Common, is named in his honor. We commemorate his career and accomplishments and remember his service to our city and country in this month’s history section. Joel T. Hall attended Shawnee Oklahoma High School, and graduated in 1954. He joined ROTC in college, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s School of Aerospace Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in 1961. Then, he was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Air Force Re-serve Officer Training Corps program and began pilot training. After completing pilot training, he returned to his home state of Oklahoma in 1962 where he was stationed to train other pilots. In January 1967, during the Vietnam War, he was assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, in South-Central Vietnam, about 16 miles from Saigon. Joel Hall was awarded the Silver Star by the President of the United States for his gallantry in service during his Vietnam term. On July 11, 1967, Joel, then a Captain, was acting as the Wingman in a relief flight mission of two F-100s that were sent to deliver weapons to a U.S. special forces camp that was in danger of being overrun by the North Vietnamese. The weather conditions at the time were hazardous, and visibility was very poor, making it challenging to accurately deliver the needed relief weapons. He also faced in-tense hostile ground fire from the enemy. Despite these circumstances, Captain Hall made numerous successful deliveries. Because of his valor, the special forces were able to overcome the North Vietnamese and cause them to retreat. In 1968, he left Vietnam for England, where he was assigned to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station, in Lakenheath. He later served as a squadron weapons officer, as well as a flight examiner in the wing standardization and evaluation office. Then he was stationed as Directorate of Operations at the U.S. Air Forces Europe Headquarters, in West Germany from 1970-1972. Hall attended Air Command and Staff College, and graduated in 1973. Then he served as the Directorate of Operations for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, in Washington, D.C., from July 1973 to July 1977. His duties included serving with the worldwide range improvement program, joint operational tests, and the joint Air Force and Navy air combat evaluation and air intercept missile evaluation. He was stationed in South Korea in 1977. He graduated from National War College in 1981. In 1984, he was appointed commander of the 354th Tactical Fight Wing at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, where he served until 1986. General Hall is a command pilot who has flown more than 4,000 hours. His military awards and decorations include: the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Combat Readiness Medal. He was promoted to brigadier general on February 1, 1987. He retired from service on August 1, 1991. To read more about the Market Common’s history, click here!

A Perspective and Historical Account by Lynn Mueller On October 16, 1939, the Myrtle Beach Town Council concluded that the community was in dire need of a municipal airport. Given this conclusion, the town purchased one hundred thirty-five acres of adjoining property. Shortly thereafter, the airport was named the Harrelson Municipal Airport. It was named after Mayor W. L. Harrelson, a strong supporter of this project. During World War II, the Army Corps took over Harrelson Municipal Airport. The United States Department of War formally took charge of the airport in 1942 and named it the Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range. Finally, in 1943, the 5,000-acre base became known as the Myrtle Beach Army Air Field. After the war, the site was deactivated and returned to the city with 114 buildings in place. The Myrtle Beach Municipal Airport was reborn in November of 1947. The airport was donated to the military once again, this time to the Air Force, in 1954. It continued under their direction until 1991, when it was announced that the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base would permanently close. The base closed two years later, on March 31, 1993. It was expected that the closing of the base would necessitate the loss of more than 5,000 jobs, leave 1,500 homes vacant and for sale, reduce student enrollment by 15%, and raise unemployment by 20%, and generate a loss of over $91 million in taxes and general revenue. The lake across from Grand Park offers a mile long walking and running path with exercising stations along the way. This aerial photograph, taken atop a crane, shows how thoroughly and beautifully the Market Common has been redeveloped. By August 1995, the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Redevelopment Authority was created with retired Air Force Colonel Buddy Styers at its head. This lead to the creation of the area we now know as the Market Common, which is comprised of 110 acres. In the early 1980s, the concept of New Urbanism arose. New Urbanism is a planning and development approach based upon an understanding of how cities have been built over the last several centuries. This approach replicated walkable blocks and streets, housing, and shopping near and accessible to open, public spaces. This approach was a reaction to the sprawling, single-use, low density pattern of post World War II development. The flight from urban America to suburbia had created a post urban society which disconnected homes from a traditional urban setting, where shopping and community connectivity had been the norm. The net result of suburbia was the creation of a situation with negative economic and environmental impacts. The evolution of New Urbanism was principally created as a reaction to the flight to suburbia. While Market Common as we find it today is unique to all of us, it is but one of literally thousands of similar types of developments across the United States and nations including The Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The basic principal driving the New Urbanism approach, which sometimes is called Traditional Neighborhood Development or TND, is that public and private spaces are of equal importance. Given this concept, one can create a balanced community which serves a wide range of home and business opportunities. Howard Avenue, in the Market Common, bustles with activity. Few people notice the building block that is encroaching beyond its intended borders. Colonel Buddy Styers, as head of the Redevelopment Authority, worked close- ly with the City of Myrtle Beach. The city had commissioned the development of an urban village plan that the Authority did not have access to, but through his efforts the city cooperated and an agreement was reached to integrate this plan into the planning process of the Authority. It was a commitment which included connecting what was to be developed with the history of the site. This led to the naming of all the streets in Market Common after those who were connected in some way to the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. In addition, plaques were placed throughout Market Common with narratives relaying the history of both the Air Force Base, and the people who made memorable contributions in connection to it. In addition to what might be characterized as Market Common’s downtown, residential neighborhoods surround the core shopping and living area. The core commercial district is filled with unique shopping opportunities with many locally owned businesses and eateries. The SoHo section was designed to replicate past urban America with a first floor as a commercial shop/work place and the business owner living upstairs. This section is relatively unique in these types of developments, and a tremendous shopping experience for residents and visitors alike. The mix of housing opportunities has stayed consistent over recent years. Sales trends tracking the sale of condominiums versus single family homes has continued to sustain each category. For example, in 2012, one-third of the properties purchased were condominiums and two- thirds were single family homes. This percentage stayed the same in 2013. By 2014, the ratio was one condo for every seven single family homes sold, and by 2016, this ratio was one condo for every five single family homes sold. “The backside of Curtis Brown Lane in the Sweetgrass Square development. Developments such as these bring life to the Market Common and support the economy.” Some interesting historical development tidbits are: Based on client design criteria, both the Barnes & Noble and P.F. Chang’s buildings required specific design com- mitments including the need for the Authority to build two large horses at the entrance to P.F. Chang’s. The lakes, the parks, the playgrounds and other public spaces were designed for not only aesthetic purposes but to serve the community and visitors. The addition of Horry Georgetown Technical College campus and the recent addition of the International Culinary Institute have enhanced the nature of the entire development. The development called for the installation of decorative street lamps throughout Market Common. The city wanted to put in standard street … Read more