‘No remorse’: SC school district sued after construction site flooded homes
Stormwater from a now-terminated construction project in Lower Richland has routinely flooded a nearby neighborhood, severely damaging several homes and infrastructure, according to a new lawsuit.
And the homeowners claim there is no end in sight.
The Creekside in Reflections Homeowners’ Association, represented by attorneys Chris Kenney, Toby Ward and Derick Jackson, is suing Richland School District 1 for inverse condemnation and negligence.
The district declined to comment on the lawsuit.
A 12-acre swath of land on Caughman Road in Lower Richland was once forested, and had been left untouched for decades under district ownership. It lies directly adjacent to Creekside, a modest community of about 51 houses, mostly home to retirees and members of the U.S. military, HOA members said.
But the property was clear-cut for an expansive $31 million early learning center that was never built. Issues over permitting and procurement led the district to cancel the project, after it was paused for more than a year because of a stop work order from Richland County.
Rain began severely flooding the neighborhood like never before, according to the lawsuit, as ponds at the construction site flowed into the residential area. It was designed to do so, Kenney said.
Homes were and continue to be overwhelmed by water. The streets and the 25-year-old drainage system, for which the HOA is responsible, are routinely subject flooding, which has quickly worn the infrastructure.
Tony Chaviz, president of the Creekside In Reflections neighborhood HOA, said it would cost millions of dollars to replace it — something the little community can not afford.
The repeated flooding has caused damage, but has also brought pests in excess: frogs, snakes, mosquitoes and worms.
“It’s like we’re living in biblical days,” Chaviz said.
Richland 1 has shown “no remorse” for its course of action, said Charles Scriven, vice president of the association. Apologizing, he said, would mean the district would be accepting responsibility for the damage it has caused.
Two separate lawsuits were filed by individual Creekside homeowners in 2024.
Homeowner Johna Wilkes described her home as “unlivable” after the damage caused by routine flooding. She is still struggling with repeated flooding, Kenney said, and now black mold.
The temporary measures agreed upon in a mediated settlement were put in place, Kenney said. But the HOA has seen no plans for the district’s permanent solution.
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 2:12 PM.
