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A nationally respected academic leader, accomplished administrator and award-winning educator, Ayers will assume the presidency on Aug. 1.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Clemson University’s Board of Trustees on Thursday unanimously selected Benjamin C. Ayers, Ph.D. as the University’s next president. Ayers will assume the presidency on Aug. 1. 

A nationally respected academic leader, accomplished administrator and award-winning educator, Ayers comes to Clemson from the University of Georgia, where he serves as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. As UGA’s chief academic officer, he oversees the University’s academic enterprise, including its 20 schools and colleges, as well as instruction, research, public service and outreach, information technology and the offices supporting faculty, graduate education, global engagement and libraries. 

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected to serve as the next president of Clemson University,” Ayers said. “I am grateful to the Board of Trustees and the search committee for its confidence and humbled by the opportunity to join the Clemson Family. Clemson’s tradition of excellence, its commitment to students and its impact through teaching, research and service make it one of the nation’s most respected public universities. I look forward to working alongside our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters to build upon the strong foundation and shape an even brighter future together.” 

“Dr. Ayers brings a wealth of experience in all levels of academia and vast relationships with the private sector,” said Trustee Cheri Phyfer ’93, M ’99, chair of the presidential search committee. “Throughout the process, he impressed the committee with his candor, integrity and genuine enthusiasm for Clemson University. His experience spans every stage of academic leadership — from assistant professor to department chair, dean and provost — and he has distinguished himself in each role.” 

As University of Georgia provost, Ayers has led the university’s academic enterprise during a period of continued momentum and growth. Under his leadership as provost, UGA launched a new School of Medicine, established the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing and expanded study abroad opportunities to rank among the nation’s top five public universities for participation. He also has overseen UGA’s research and innovation enterprise as it reached new milestones, including earning the No. 1 ranking among U.S. universities for bringing new products to market. 

“Ben Ayers is an accomplished scholar and collaborative leader whose record reflects a deep commitment to academic excellence, student success and institutional advancement,” said Board Chair Kim Wilkerson ’80. “He understands the opportunities ahead for higher education and has demonstrated the ability to bring people together around a shared vision. We are confident he is the right leader to build on Clemson’s remarkable momentum and guide the University into its next chapter.” 

Wilkerson also thanked the presidential search committee for its work throughout the process. 

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Trustee Phyfer and every member of the search committee for their dedicated service throughout the process and especially through the past few days,” Wilkerson said. “Their thoughtful leadership, careful deliberation and commitment to Clemson helped identify an exceptional leader for our University.” 

Before becoming UGA’s provost, Ayers served for 11 years as dean of the Terry College of Business, one of the nation’s leading public business schools. During his tenure, the college strengthened its national reputation, expanded academic offerings, increased undergraduate and graduate enrollment, significantly grew scholarships and study abroad opportunities, and endowed academic departments, institutes, chairs and professorships. The college also completed a successful fundraising campaign resulting in more than $300 million in private support for students, faculty, academic programs and new facilities. 

Prior to serving as dean, Ayers led UGA’s J.M. Tull School of Accounting for nine years. He joined the University of Georgia faculty in 1996 as an assistant professor. 

An accomplished teacher and researcher, Ayers has received numerous honors for excellence in teaching and scholarship throughout his career. His research has earned national recognition from the American Taxation Association and the American Accounting Association, and he served as president of the American Taxation Association in 2017. 

Ayers earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Alabama before completing a doctorate in accounting at the University of Texas at Austin. Before entering academia, Ayers worked in the private sector with KPMG and Complete Health Inc. 

Additional information regarding Ayers’ transition to Clemson University and opportunities for the Clemson community to welcome him to campus will be shared in the coming weeks. 

Source: Clemson University

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Columbia, S.C. (July 9, 2026) – Following an announcement from the US Department of Transportation, the South Carolina Department of Transportation announced today that it has received a competitive $23.5 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to replace several aging bridges across the state. In total,18 bridges across nine counties—Berkeley, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Williamsburg, will be replaced to improve safety for drivers. The total cost to replace the selected bridges across the state is $116,644,428. Many of the bridges being replaced by the grant award are between 50 and 100 years old and are classified as being in poor condition. Several also have load restrictions or are currently closed, underscoring the need for replacement.  Closed and load restricted bridges limit access for drivers and reduce connectivity for the communities that depend on these routes. These conditions can also disrupt emergency response, school transportation, and commercial traffic.  “Our bridges remain a top priority in keeping our transportation system safe and reliable,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “Working together with our federal partners, we are continuing to make important investments that benefit South Carolinians. This grant will help us build on the progress we’ve made to improve critical infrastructure and keep South Carolina moving forward.”   “I am so pleased that South Carolina was selected to receive a $23.5 million BUILD grant to replace up to 18 bridges in need of repair across nine counties. Early on, I met with state officials who made the case for South Carolina to receive this grant. Improving several bridges across our state is a worthy use of taxpayer dollars. I was glad to advocate strongly to the Trump Administration for South Carolina to receive this grant and vote for the underlying funding on the Senate floor,” said Senator Lindsay Graham. “Ensuring our state has structurally sound, modern bridges to ensure the safe passage of residents, visitors and commerce is vital to South Carolina’s wellbeing. I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for approving this much-needed federal funding.”  “South Carolina’s rural communities deserve infrastructure that’s safe and built to last,”said Senator Tim Scott. “Replacing structurally deficient bridges across nine counties will strengthen local economies, improve safety, and ensure our roads keep pace with South Carolina’s growth. I’m grateful to see federal resources delivering real results for the communities that need them most.”   “This is a major win for South Carolina,” said Congresswoman Nancy Mace. “Our state is growing fast, and our infrastructure has to keep up. This investment will replace aging bridges, improve public safety, support local businesses, and strengthen the connections our communities rely on every day. These new bridges are built to last more than 70 years, giving South Carolinians safer, stronger, and more reliable infrastructure for generations to come.”  Congressman Russell Fry said, “Safe, reliable bridges keep South Carolina’s families safe and our economy moving. I’m proud to help secure $23.5 million to replace 18 structurally deficient bridges across the state, including 12 in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee, strengthening critical infrastructure that serves South Carolinians and the millions of visitors who travel our state each year.”  Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell said, “SCDOT will move quickly to put these funds to use and get construction underway. We appreciate the continued investment in South Carolina from the Trump Administration and Secretary Duffy. Today’s announcement is another example of SCDOT keeping its promise to provide a safer, more reliable transportation network that connects communities and supports economic growth across South Carolina for generations to come.”  The BUILD grant allows SCDOT to bring the carefully selected bridges up to more modern standards, remove local restriction postings, and build bridges that can withstand extreme weather and natural disasters.   SCDOT will move forward with the bid process this fall with design and construction following in 2027. With plans for accelerated schedules, we currently anticipate these projects to be completed by the end of 2029.   SCDOT will provide updates to community members as projects get underway and will work to sequence construction and optimize traffic control coordination to minimize travel impacts. SCDOT encourages community members to stay tuned to our website for updates as these projects progress.

About SCDOT The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is the state agency with oversight of South Carolina’s network of highways and bridges, including responsibilities such as planning, design, construction, financing, and roadway safety. To ensure the nation’s fourth-largest highway system is prepared to serve the needs of South Carolina’s growing economy and population, SCDOT has developed a Strategic 10-Year Plan that addresses improvements to the state’s highway and bridge systems. Learn more at scdot.org.

Create, Sip, and Be Inspired in the Heart of Downtown Charleston

Unwind with an evening of creativity, great conversation, and exceptional hospitality at the Grand Bohemian Gallery’s Paint & Sip experience. Held every other Monday, this guided workshop invites guests of all skill levels to create a beautiful floral collage while enjoying wine, light bites, and an inspiring atmosphere inside one of Charleston’s premier art galleries.

Led by local artist Erica Brooks, each session provides step-by-step instruction, making it easy for beginners and experienced artists alike to relax, explore their creativity, and leave with a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

Whether you’re planning a date night, girls’ night out, solo creative escape, or celebrating a special occasion, Paint & Sip offers the perfect blend of art, wine, and community.

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Event Details

• Event: Paint & Sip with Erica Brookes
• Location: Grand Bohemian Gallery – 55 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401
• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• Upcoming August Dates:
  • August 3
  • August 17
  • August 31
• Cost: $75 per guest (Your admission includes all materials, instruction, refreshments, and your completed artwork.)
• Click HERE to register

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What’s Included

Your registration includes everything needed for an enjoyable evening:

• All painting and workshop supplies
• Step-by-step instruction from artist Erica Brookes
• Wine and non-alcoholic beverages
• Lite bites
• Your own handcrafted floral collage to take home
• A fun, welcoming atmosphere surrounded by beautiful artwork

No previous artistic experience is necessary.

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How to Register

Reserving your seat is easy.

• Click HERE or Scan the QR code on the event flyer.
• Complete your registration online.
• Arrive a few minutes early to check in and enjoy your refreshments before the workshop begins.

Advance registration is recommended, as seating is limited for each session.

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Who Should Attend?

This experience is perfect for:

• Couples looking for a unique date night
• Friends planning a creative evening out
• Visitors looking for an authentic Charleston experience
• Corporate team-building events
• Anyone wanting to relax, socialize, and create something beautiful

Reserve your seat today and experience one of Charleston’s most creative evenings.

Clemson University is proud to announce BMW of North America as the primary sponsor of Deep Orange 17, the latest iteration of the flagship vehicle prototyping program. Deep Orange is a framework within the university’s Department of Automotive Engineering that immerses graduate students in an environment that mirrors a real-world automaker or Tier-1 supplier, bringing students, faculty, and industry partners together to design, engineer, and build a fully functional concept vehicle.

“Deep Orange is an incredibly unique program that prepares students to make an impact on the industry from day one,” said Greg Mocko, Deep Orange Program Director. “We’re proud to have a partner in BMW that is not only investing financially, but has been generous with its time, expertise, and mentorship of our students. While we’ve unveiled some remarkable prototype vehicles, the best product from this program is always the students.”

For Deep Orange 17, a team of 25 graduate students is collaborating closely with BMW engineers to develop a solar-integrated, energy-positive electric vehicle concept. The concept would redefine vehicle efficiency by producing more energy than it consumes over a standard 24-hour commuting cycle. The project launched at the beginning of 2025, with the prototype scheduled to be unveiled this August. View the latest project video update here.

“Clemson University is the only institution we know of where master’s students design and build a fully functional prototype vehicle in less than two years,” said Stephan Augustin, Project Manager of Research and New Technologies at BMW. “The talent and vehicles coming out of this program are amazing, and we haven’t seen anything else quite like it.”

BMW was a founding partner of CU-ICAR in 2007, helping to establish Clemson’s Department of Automotive Engineering and the world’s first PhD program in automotive engineering. Since then, the company has been a long-standing supporter of Deep Orange and has previously served as the primary sponsor for four projects. Earlier collaborations include concepts focused on Gen-Y mobility (DO1), human-machine interface innovation (DO2), a next-generation SUV design (DO4), and a reimagined MINI experience (DO7).

“We are grateful for the incredible partnership we have with BMW,” said David Clayton, Executive Director of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). “Beyond Deep Orange, BMW has invested in student scholarships and fellowships, collaborated on numerous research initiatives, and was a founding partner of CU-ICAR in 2007.” BMW’s Information Technology Research Center is located on the CU-ICAR campus in Greenville, SC.

Additional information about the Deep Orange program, including previous BMW-sponsored projects, is available here.

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World Premiere Southern noir anthology by Rodney Lee Rogers runs July 16 through August 1 at the Cannon Street Arts Center

Charleston, SC, For Immediate Release: PURE Theatre is proud to announce the world premiere of Red Shirts by PURE Co-founder Rodney Lee Rogers, directed by PURE Co-founder and Artistic Director Sharon Graci. This bold multimedia production will run July 16 through August 1 at the Cannon Street Arts Center as PURE’s 2026 Preseason Summer Slam, offering audiences a dangerously funny and haunting prelude to the company’s 24th season.

From the co-founders of PURE Theatre, building on twenty-four years of uncompromising storytelling, comes a new Southern noir anthology for the stage. Red Shirts brings together three stories of men living at the edge of consequence: a stuntman who has spent his life taking hits meant for someone else, a musician still waiting for the end of the world, and a man in the Charleston marsh country who discovers that some debts are older than the people who owe them.

These are the Red Shirts. The expendables. The people nobody expects to survive the story. Until they do.

“Red Shirts is a different kind of PURE project for us,” says director Sharon Graci. “It has the intimacy and danger our audiences expect from PURE, and it allows us to push into a more stylized visual and sonic world. It is film, Southern Gothic storytelling, and live theatre performance all colliding in one room. I love that it feels a little unruly. I love that it feels very theatrical.”

“This guy—a kind of archetype, if you will—trapped in his own head, circling the same wreckage, has been in everything I’ve written for thirty years, since Steaming Milk in 1997. Red Shirts, the short stories, is the closest I’ve come to saying the whole thing at once. To have them come to life on stage is incredible,” says Rodney Lee Rogers, the writer/playwright of Red Shirts. 

Featuring David Mandel, Scott Pattison, and Robbie Thomas, Red Shirts is staged as a spare, heightened, multimedia event with live performance, projection, sound, and the raw immediacy of actors telling stories under pressure. The production leans into the atmosphere of noir, the strangeness of the Lowcountry, and the ache of men who have spent too long pretending they are fine.

David Mandel, Scott Pattison, and Robbie Thomas make up the show’s cast of expendables, lovingly pushed around by the sharp direction of Sharon Graci. 

“Rodney’s writing has always had this muscular, cinematic quality,” says Graci. “He writes men beautifully, but not sentimentally. These characters are funny, damaged, self-aware, evasive, and deeply human. They are standing inside stories that could destroy them, and somehow they keep talking.”

Red Shirts also marks the return of PURE’s Summer Slam, a preseason production designed to keep the company making work during the summer while giving audiences something outside the formal mainstage season. Though Red Shirts is not included in PURE Theatre’s Season 24 Flex Pass, Flex Pass holders receive discounted tickets.

To celebrate summer and the launch of this world premiere, PURE is offering a Happy Summer BOGO ticket discount from July 1 through July 15. The offer is valid for opening weekend performances only. Patrons may buy one ticket and receive one ticket free during the promotional window. Use the code: BOGO

Tickets for Red Shirts range from $47 to $53. Pay What You Will performances will be held on July 16 and July 22, with Pay What You Will tickets available for online purchase one week before opening. Student tickets are available for $12 for every performance.

Tickets are available now at puretheatre.org.

Additional information about Red Shirts can be found on PURE’s website at puretheatre.org or by calling the box office at 843.723.4444, Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

ABOUT PURE THEATRE

Founded in 2003, PURE Theatre is Charleston’s award-winning professional theatre company, now entering its 24th season. Built around a resident ensemble of actors, directors, and designers, PURE produces bold contemporary plays, often Southeastern and world premieres, that bring the most current voices in American theatre to Charleston. Known for its quality, intimacy, and consistency, PURE offers audiences a boutique cultural experience that complements the city’s historic and culinary landscape.

PURE Theatre creates consequential theatre experiences by and for a diverse gathering of artists and audiences. PURE produces work that inspires thought, ignites dialogue, heightens consciousness, and contributes to the community’s urgent exchange of ideas, viewpoints, aspirations, and inspirations.

PURE’s staff includes Sharon Graci, Co-founder and Artistic Director; Rodney Lee Rogers, Co-founder and Producing Director; David Mandel, Associate Artistic Director; Joy Vandervort-Cobb, Associate Artistic Director; Tippy Trombly, Patron Experience and Marketing Manager; and Isabella Gardner, Associate Patron Experiences Manager.

Serving on PURE Theatre’s board of directors are Stephanie Hunt, President; James M. Ward, CPA, Treasurer; Michael Culler; Amy Gaffney; David Smalls; Bea Wray; and Josh Wilhoit.

The Folly Beach Historical Society has added a new small exhibit as part of the Folly Beach History Museum called “The Porgy House:  A Cottage on an Island in a Culture”.  The so-called “Porgy House” was built by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward in 1933 as their summer home and it’s where they collaborated with George Gershwin on the libretto and music for the opera Porgy and Bess.  Gershwin spent time on Folly soaking up beach culture and traveling to local African American churches and gathering places to get a feel for the Gullah Geechee culture of the Lowcountry.  The unique cadence of that culture can be heard in the numerous productions of Porgy and Bess.

Although the opera was written and first performed in 1934 it was not performed in Charleston until 1970 due to the continued segregation of audiences.  The exhibit has artifacts and photos from that 1970 production as well as first editions of the original Heyward novel, Porgy.  Visitors can also view drawings of the house done by the College of Building Arts and letters back and forth from the Heywards and Gershwin, one with the heading “Follywood”.  The house is still standing at 712 West Ashley Ave. on Folly Beach.

The FB Historical Society would like to thank the SC Historical Society, the Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, photographer Charles McKenzie, filmmaker Lauren Waring Douglas and many others for their contributions to this exhibit.

The Folly Beach Community Center is located at 55 Center St. and the exhibit is located inside in the glass display cases across from the Museum.

For further information please contact Regina Anderson (914) 400-6435 or Anne Hughes (703) 623-6230.

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Construction begins on the 285-unit residential component of one of Charleston’s most anticipated mixed-use redevelopments

CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 6, 2026) – Woodfield Development, one of the nation’s top 20 developers of Class A multifamily communities, has closed on the purchase of a portion of the Ashley Landing redevelopment and will immediately begin construction on Westbourne Ashley Landing, a 285-unit mixed-use residential community that will serve as the multifamily component of the transformative Ashley Landing redevelopment in the heart of West Ashley. Groundbreaking is imminent, marking a significant milestone for one of the largest mixed-use redevelopments currently underway in the Charleston region. 

“We are honored to be a part of the redevelopment of Ashley Landing and working with EDENS to bring their vision to life here in this great neighborhood,” said Mike Schwarz, partner at Woodfield Development. “Opportunities of this scale are increasingly rare. Ashley Landing will reconnect a highly visible corridor, create new opportunities for residents and businesses, and establish a lasting focal point for West Ashley’s continued evolution. Westbourne will bring new housing to one of Charleston’s most desirable neighborhoods and help establish the residential foundation for the broader redevelopment.”

“We’re proud to partner with Woodfield Development on this project in West Ashley and invest in a community that is so integral to the Charleston region,” said Mary Katherine Phillips, Senior Director of Investments and Charleston Market Lead at EDENS. “Together, we’re focused on creating a place that brings people together—delivering much-needed residential while fostering connection, walkability, and the everyday experiences that make neighborhoods feel like home.”

Construction financing is being provided by TD Bank, with equity financing from PGIM. The capitalization positions Westbourne to move into immediate active construction and advances the next phase of the broader Ashley Landing redevelopment.

Located within Ashley Landing at Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road, Westbourne will consist of 285 apartment residences offering a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans ranging from approximately 384 to 1,663 square feet. Residences will feature upgraded appliance packages, quartz countertops, walk-in closets, luxury plank flooring, spacious balconies, built-in shelving, and high-speed internet. 

The amenity-rich community will feature garage parking with EV stations, indoor mail rooms with package concierge services, state-of-the-art fitness facilities with private studios, a business center with work pods, grab ‘n go market, pet spa and park, pickleball court, and saltwater pool and sunbathing deck.

Westbourne’s location provides convenient access to many of the Charleston region’s major employment centers. The community is less than 10 minutes from downtown Charleston and North Charleston; approximately 15 minutes from Mount Pleasant, Charleston International Airport, and James Island; and within 20 minutes of more than 60,000 jobs, including seven of the region’s 10 largest public and private employers. 

Westbourne represents Woodfield’s 21^st residential community in the Charleston region. Over the past two decades, the Charleston-based developer has delivered more than 4,600 residences across the market, representing more than $1.2 billion in development. Westbourne further expands the firm’s long-standing presence in Charleston and underscores its continued investment in the region’s growth. 

The development team includes Housing Studio, Seamon Whiteside, Shah Interiors, S Wilkins Interiors, and SPX, with Carter and Carter serving as general contractor. Completion is anticipated in the third quarter of 2028.

Charleston continues to rank among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Southeast, driven by sustained population growth, employment expansion, and continued in-migration. As one of the region’s largest residential submarkets, West Ashley has become a focal point for new housing, retail, and infrastructure investment, making it a natural location for a project of Ashley Landing’s scale and significance. 

Upon completion, the 31-acre redevelopment will feature approximately 240,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and commercial space anchored by Publix, along with residential neighborhoods, public gathering areas, pedestrian connections, and nearly one acre of central green space. Designed as a walkable town center for West Ashley, Ashley Landing will create a new community hub that serves residents across the corridor while supporting the area’s continued growth.

For more information, visit www.woodfielddevelopment.com.

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About Woodfield Development

Woodfield Development is a premier developer and operator of Class A multifamily communities. Amongst its peer group, the Woodfield partnership has unmatched experience in multifamily development and asset management. Since its founding in 2005, Woodfield has completed 74 communities, has 16 communities under construction, and numerous developments in various stages of entitlement and design. Woodfield’s earliest developments were located predominantly in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, but the company has since expanded its footprint to include markets in the Northeast, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas.

From the first community to each thereafter, the singular goal is to deliver well-conceived, thoughtfully designed, market supported developments that hit each market’s sweet spot and create value for Woodfield’s investors and partners. Relying on local knowledge with experienced development partners, Woodfield sets the new high bar with each development it delivers. With a track record that stands above, Woodfield Development sets out to assemble the best team of designers, consultants, architects, general contractors, and capital sources – every development, every time.

Read more at woodfielddevelopment.com.

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By Mark A. Leon

The Charleston Peninsula Plan is the City’s new long-range vision for managing growth on the peninsula over the coming decades. It replaces and expands upon the 1999 Downtown Plan by addressing modern challenges such as housing affordability, climate resilience, mobility, economic development, and equitable growth. The planning process began in 2023 and is expected to culminate with City Council adoption following the release of a draft plan.

Let us take a look and breakdown the current plan that was published in 1999:

The 1999 Charleston Downtown Plan: Achieving Balance Through Strategic Growth, adopted by Charleston City Council in November 1999, was the city’s first comprehensive master plan focused exclusively on the downtown peninsula. Developed with input from more than 1,600 residents, business owners, institutions, and stakeholders, the plan sought to address growing development pressures while preserving the character and livability that make Charleston unique. 

Click HERE for original document.

Why the Plan Was Created

By the late 1990s, Charleston’s historic peninsula was experiencing rapid growth driven by:

• A booming tourism industry
• Expanding colleges and medical institutions
• Increased residential demand
• Economic revitalization and private investment
• Limited available land for new development

While these trends strengthened the city’s economy, they also created concerns about traffic congestion, housing affordability, neighborhood preservation, and quality of life. Rather than choosing between preservation and growth, the plan argued that both could coexist if growth was carefully managed.

Central Philosophy

The plan’s guiding premise was simple:

Growth is inevitable. The challenge is directing it to improve the city rather than diminish it.

Instead of stopping development, Charleston should strategically guide where and how new investment occurs to benefit residents, businesses, and visitors alike. 

Nine Guiding Principles

The Downtown Plan established nine principles that continue to influence planning today:

1. Nurture inclusive, vibrant neighborhoods
   • Protect established residential communities.
   • Encourage mixed-income housing.
   • Maintain neighborhood identity.
2. Pursue economic diversity
   • Support a balanced economy beyond tourism.
   • Encourage office employment, retail, cultural institutions, and neighborhood-serving businesses.
3. Foster sustainability
   • Promote environmentally responsible development.
   • Preserve natural resources.
   • Encourage efficient land use.
4. Reinforce the existing urban structure
   • Build upon Charleston’s traditional street grid.
   • Promote walkability and connected neighborhoods.
5. Respect the grain, scale, and mix of the peninsula’s urban fabric
   • Ensure new development fits existing block patterns.
   • Avoid oversized buildings incompatible with historic neighborhoods.
6. Ensure architectural integrity
   • Require high-quality architecture that complements Charleston’s historic character.
   • Strengthen urban design standards.
7. Encourage a balanced transportation network
   • Improve pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and automobile circulation.
   • Reduce dependence on cars where possible.
8. Use growth strategically
   • Direct higher-density development toward areas capable of accommodating it.
   • Protect the most sensitive historic neighborhoods.
9. Maintain downtown as the regional center of culture and commerce
   • Preserve Charleston’s role as the Lowcountry’s economic, governmental, educational, and cultural hub. 

Strategic Growth Areas

One of the plan’s most influential recommendations was to distinguish where growth should occur.

South of Calhoun Street

The plan recommended:

• Limited new development
• Strong historic preservation
• Protection of established neighborhoods
• Maintaining the area’s traditional scale and character

North of Calhoun Street

The plan encouraged:

• Greater redevelopment opportunities
• Mixed-use development
• Higher-density housing
• Office and employment growth
• Reinvestment in underutilized properties

This framework recognized that concentrating growth in appropriate locations could relieve pressure on Charleston’s most historic neighborhoods while stimulating investment where it was most needed. 

Transportation Vision

The plan acknowledged that increasing automobile traffic threatened downtown quality of life and recommended:

• Better public transit
• Improved bicycle infrastructure
• Expanded pedestrian-friendly streets
• Parking management
• More connected street networks
• Reduced dependence on single-occupancy vehicles

Many of these ideas foreshadowed today’s emphasis on multimodal transportation. 

Housing Goals

The Downtown Plan sought to:

• Expand housing opportunities for different income levels.
• Preserve residential neighborhoods.
• Encourage mixed-use development where appropriate.
• Maintain a stable year-round residential population.

The authors recognized that downtown should remain a place where people live—not simply a destination for tourists and commuters. 

Waterfront Vision

The plan also envisioned significant changes along Charleston’s waterfront, recommending that as industrial uses declined, redevelopment should:

• Improve public waterfront access
• Extend Charleston’s traditional urban street pattern to the water
• Create parks and public spaces
• Encourage compatible mixed-use development

These concepts later influenced projects such as the redevelopment planning for Union Pier and other waterfront areas. 

Public Participation

The planning process was unusually collaborative for its time. It included:

• More than 1,600 participants
• Neighborhood meetings
• Public workshops
• Open houses
• Farmers Market outreach
• Library exhibits
• Advisory committees representing residents, businesses, and institutions

City officials described it as a true community-driven vision for downtown Charleston. 

Lasting Legacy

More than 25 years later, the 1999 Downtown Plan remains one of Charleston’s most influential planning documents. It has guided decisions on:

• Historic preservation
• Land use
• Urban design
• Transportation
• Waterfront redevelopment
• Housing policy
• Economic development

The City’s current Charleston Peninsula Plan is intended to build upon the 1999 framework while expanding its focus beyond the historic lower peninsula to include the Upper Peninsula and the Neck. Today’s update addresses newer challenges such as climate resilience, flooding, housing affordability, equitable growth, and modern transportation, while retaining many of the original plan’s core principles of balancing preservation with strategic growth. 

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By Mark A. Leon

A 92-acre parcel within the rapidly growing Point Hope community has sold for approximately $24 million, marking another significant investment in what is expected to become one of the largest master-planned developments in South Carolina.

The property is part of the broader 9,000-acre Point Hope development on Charleston’s Cainhoy Peninsula, a project entitled for up to 18,000 residential units alongside commercial, retail, healthcare, educational and recreational uses. While the approved entitlement reaches 18,000 homes, project leaders have indicated the community will likely be built with approximately 11,000 to 12,000 homes over the next 15 to 20 years, depending on market demand.

The latest land acquisition underscores continued confidence in the Clements Ferry corridor, one of the fastest-growing areas in the Charleston region.

A Community Decades in the Making

Point Hope is designed as a mixed-use “live, work, learn and play” community connecting residential neighborhoods with schools, shopping, medical facilities, offices and parks.

Unlike many large-scale developments, conservation has been a major component of the master plan.

According to project materials:

• Approximately 60% of the property will remain permanently protected as marshes, wetlands, parks and open space.
• More than 4,500 acres of wetlands are preserved.
• A 650-acre nature sanctuary represents the largest conservation easement in the City of Charleston’s history.
• More than 80% of developable land lies outside FEMA’s 100-year floodplain.

Infrastructure is also being built in phases, with new roads, utilities and commercial centers accompanying residential construction over several decades.

Growth Already Underway

Although much of Point Hope remains undeveloped, the community has already begun taking shape.

Completed and ongoing development includes:

• Multiple residential neighborhoods including First Light and Hopewell.
• Three Philip Simmons public schools.
• A Publix-anchored retail center with restaurants, healthcare providers and neighborhood services.
• New multifamily communities.
• A Del Webb active-adult community planned for approximately 750 homes.
• Hundreds of acres of trails, parks and preserved natural areas.

Commercial marketing materials for Point Hope note that additional phases will include hotels, offices, medical facilities, childcare centers, additional retail development and higher-density residential neighborhoods surrounding the community’s future town center.

About the Developer

The overall Point Hope master-planned community is being developed by Point Hope Partners, a Charleston-based development team led by many of the same executives responsible for creating Daniel Island, widely considered one of the nation’s most successful master-planned communities.

The development is managed by DI Development Company, whose leadership has emphasized creating a community modeled after traditional Lowcountry towns rather than conventional suburban subdivisions.

Their vision includes:

• Walkable neighborhoods
• Mixed residential and commercial districts
• Extensive parks and trail systems
• Schools integrated into neighborhoods
• Retail and employment centers within walking and biking distance
• Long-term environmental preservation

Point Hope Partners says the project has undergone more than 20 years of planning and environmental review before major construction began.

Why It Matters

The Charleston region continues to experience rapid population growth while facing a persistent housing shortage.

With large-scale development opportunities becoming increasingly limited in Mount Pleasant and other established communities, Point Hope has emerged as one of the region’s most significant remaining expansion areas.

At full build-out, the development is expected to support thousands of jobs, generate millions in annual tax revenue and serve as a major residential and commercial hub for the northern Charleston peninsula. The latest $24 million land acquisition represents another milestone toward realizing one of the most ambitious development projects in the Lowcountry.