Former North Charleston Kmart Property to Become Kids On Point Youth Development Campus
A long-vacant retail property along Rivers Avenue is being given a new purpose, with plans to create a permanent home for a nonprofit serving hundreds of Lowcountry children and families.
A former Kmart site at 3725 Rivers Avenue in North Charleston is slated to become a new youth development campus for Kids On Point, a Charleston-based nonprofit providing educational, athletic and enrichment programs.
Announced in late October 2026, the project will establish the organization’s first permanent, independently operated campus while expanding access to its year-round services.
The new facility is currently expected to open in 2029.
From an Empty Retail Property to a Community Investment
The site sits near the intersection of Rivers and McMillan avenues, along a corridor that has experienced significant changes over the years.
Once home to a Kmart department store, the property has remained largely underused for decades.
Now, a major private contribution is helping position the property for a different future.
Jessica and Todd Aaron acquired the property through an affiliated company and plan to donate it to Kids On Point. According to property records reported by local media, the site was purchased for approximately $9.5 million in June 2026.
The couple has also committed an additional investment toward developing the campus. The amount of that construction contribution has not been publicly specified.
The donation represents a major step for an organization that has spent years providing opportunities for Charleston-area youth without owning a permanent campus of its own.
What Is Planned for the New Kids On Point Campus?
The proposed facility will be designed around the needs of children, families and community partners.
Plans discussed publicly include educational spaces, athletic facilities and areas where neighborhood organizations can collaborate.
The project is also intended to offer more room for after-school and summer activities, helping Kids On Point accommodate students who are currently on waiting lists.
Rather than operating solely as a youth program location, the organization envisions a broader neighborhood resource that brings families, community groups and support services together.
Specific architectural plans, construction milestones and a final development budget have not yet been announced.
Serving More Than 500 Lowcountry Students
Founded in 2009, Kids On Point has grown into a year-round youth development organization serving more than 500 students annually, from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
Its programming emphasizes academic support, athletics, enrichment opportunities and long-term student development.
The organization works with more than 60 community partners and has maintained a longstanding relationship with the College of Charleston.
That relationship will continue.
Kids On Point says its existing College of Charleston programming will remain operational after the new North Charleston campus opens.
With the additional space, the nonprofit hopes to approximately double the number of young people it reaches annually, with the potential for further growth.
Why the Rivers Avenue Location Matters
The choice of North Charleston was intentional.
As families across the Charleston region relocate beyond the peninsula, transportation and accessibility have become increasingly important to organizations serving children.
The future campus is located along a major public transportation corridor and near the planned Shipwatch Square Transit and Workforce Center.
That proximity could make it easier for more families to access programs consistently without traveling into downtown Charleston.
The redevelopment also adds another community-focused investment to the Rivers Avenue corridor, where vacant commercial properties have long presented opportunities for revitalization.
Community Input Will Help Shape the Project
Although the new campus remains several years away, Kids On Point wants neighborhood residents to have a voice in the planning process.
The organization has invited community members to share ideas about how the facility could serve children, families and local partners.
North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess has also publicly welcomed the investment, emphasizing the importance of community involvement as the project moves forward.
With a target opening in 2029, further announcements about design, construction and programming are expected as plans develop.
For now, the transformation of this former Kmart property represents something larger than the reuse of an empty building.
It’s an opportunity to create a long-term educational and community resource in the heart of North Charleston.
Location: 3725 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC
Organization: Kids On Point
Estimated opening: 2029, subject to development progress.
Sources and attribution
This article was independently written by What’s Going On In Charleston using publicly available information from:
- Kids On Point’s October 2026 campus announcement, published by Who’s On The Move
- Live 5 News — Kids On Point’s North Charleston community hub plans
- Charleston Business Report — Property transaction and redevelopment details
What’s Going On In Charleston will continue following developments surrounding the project.
