Charleston Livability

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Sandlapper's Journal

A distance view of several large homes with double porches as viewed from near a large live oak tree surrounded by shrubs.

Real Estate Market Report

2024 marked a year of stabilization and recalibration for Charleston’s real estate market. We witnessed a cooling from the pandemic-driven frenzy, with sales volumes finding a new equilibrium and inventory gradually recovering.

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An upward view of one tower of the Ravenel Bridge with lights shining on the tower and cables against a dark blue sky.

Bridges of Charleston County

These are the bridges that define Charleston, discovering the stories etched into their very foundations, and the profound impact they continue to have on the lives of those who call this charming city their home.

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A Charleston Single House on Meeting Street

The Charleston Single House

The Charleston Single House, unique to Charleston, SC, features a narrow, side-facing layout influenced by Caribbean architecture. Key design elements include side piazzas and central hallways. This style maximizes lot use, improves ventilation, and offers fire protection, reflecting historical and cultural adaptation.

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Large homes positioned close together along the seawall of The Battery with palmetto trees and other greenery around them. The view is from the small beach in front of The Battery with a small bit of water that is lightly reflecting the homes above it.

Homes on The Battery

The Battery, a seawall and promenade, defines Charleston’s southern boundary. It has a long history of construction, destruction, and expansion since the 1720s. The Battery consists of two sections: the High Battery and the Low Battery, each with different heights and eras. It is home to many historic and grand homes, as well as the public park White Point Garden.

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An aerial fisheye lens view of Riverfront Park in Charleston, with the park area and concert stage in the center, surrounded by coastal water views of the surrounding river along the bottom

Charleston Music Festivals

Charleston’s musical heartbeat isn’t confined to clubs. A dynamic festival scene explodes throughout the year, offering experiences as diverse as the city itself. From jazz-drenched Piccolo Spoleto to the boat-rocking High Water Fest, each festival pulses with unique rhythms, ensuring music lovers find their perfect Charleston soundtrack.

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Stamps and Coins of South Carolina

The postage stamps, ranging from the Charleston Sesquicentennial in 1930 to the Poinsettia Day stamp in 2013, vividly depict significant events, landmarks, and cultural elements that define South Carolina.

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An artist rendering of the proposed Lowcountry Lowline, showing a paved path beneath a freeway overpass bordered by plantings and lights, with a man on a bicycle with a dog

The Lowcountry Lowline

A transformative project through the center of the peninsula of Downtown Charleston is in the works – a linear park reconnecting neighborhoods, existing infrastructure, and the natural beauty of Charleston.

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A flooded street in downtown Charleston with stormwater flowing into a drain, with the steeple of St. Philips Church in the background

A Check on Tidal Street Flooding

Charleston combats tidal flooding by installing check valves in stormwater drains, effectively reducing street flooding during high tides. Early results are promising, and the city plans broader implementation.

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Satellite image of Hurricane Hugo making landfall at Charleston in September 1989

After Hugo: A Stronger Charleston

Charleston became stronger after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 by improving its building codes, ecosystems, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and economic diversity. Measures were taken to reduce the vulnerability and enhance the resilience of the Lowcountry to future storms.

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A wooden fence with the signage "West Ashley Greenway" with wild green shrubbery in the background.

The West Ashley Greenway

The West Ashley Greenway accommodates walkers, joggers, cyclists, and naturalists through more than ten miles of linear park, connecting a number of neighborhoods and business centers. Its path parallels that of Savannah Highway.

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An artist's rendering of the proposed Gateway Walk Park and Liberty Center, a bricked walkway with outdoor cafe and people walking among many native plantings and trees

Liberty Center

A proposed a plan to revamp the street level at 151 Meeting Street by activating its covered walkway flanked by stone pillars, which is already continuous with the city sidewalk beyond it.

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