FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) -- Florence County last week lost a yearslong legal dispute against an Aynor-based developer that was blocked from building a $15 million, 60-unit development near the Florence County Club.

A federal jury on Nov. 5 ordered the county to pay DHD Jessamine more than $12 million for violations of the Fair Housing Act.

In May 2021, DHD Jessamine submitted a market study to county leaders for the project to be located about 2.5 miles west of downtown Florence on an income-qualified basis of between $7,783 and $39,240 annually, depending on the size of a family.

"Considering current economic conditions throughout the state and region, homeownership is not a viable alternative to a large percentage of low-income households in the (market area), especially among the

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