Urbanism Archives – Charleston Livability

New Mixed Use Building May Squeeze Onto Upper King Street

September 26, 2020May 15, 2019 by Bryan McElveen

Rendering of proposed building at 725 King Street by Neil Stevenson Architects

Recognizing the importance and benefits of weaving affordable residential housing into the evolving urban landscape, a proposal to the Board of Architectural Review would have a mixed use building squeeze into the vacant lot at 725 King Street. With less than 33 street-facing feet to work with, the proposed building has an efficient design to accommodate both commercial and residential …

Higher Density on the Charleston Eastside

September 26, 2020January 9, 2019 by Bryan McElveen

An aerial site map of 655 East Bay Street in Charleston, SC

A new infill development will soon be taking shape on the eastern edge of the Eastside borough on the historic Charleston peninsula. In a neighborhood composed mostly of Charleston Single Houses dating to the late 1800s, a dense, cohesive core of mixed uses has traditionally been lacking. In addition to a number of sporadically placed corner stores, restaurants, and venues …

Should Second Sunday on King Street be Every Day?

September 26, 2020March 7, 2018 by Bryan McElveen

People enjoying Second Sunday on King Street

The popularity of Second Sunday on King Street has illuminated a fundamental need: for the street to be a place in itself, not just a means to move traffic.

Visions of a Lorelei Project

September 26, 2020June 28, 2016 by Bryan McElveen

As developers swoop into the upper peninsula to save us from our own growing pains, every few years we see a new master planned community to complement and embrace the historic fabric of Charleston. The latest iteration is a planned development of the uninhabited Laurel Island along the banks of the Cooper River. A 160 acre island that once served …

Revitalizing Huger Street

September 26, 2020February 11, 2015 by Bryan McElveen

Marking the boundary between historic Charleston and the Upper Peninsula district, Huger Street has served as a secondary roadway connecting Morrison Drive, Meeting Street, King Street, and into the Hampton Park Terrace neighborhood. However, the importance and prominence of Huger Street in Charleston’s infrastructure has never been more important. Traffic on the street began to increase with the opening of the …

Designing the Upper Peninsula

September 26, 2020August 5, 2014 by Bryan McElveen

Charleston’s intentions for The Upper Peninsula Initiative are to direct population growth towards the city center in an effort to mitigate sprawl. Of the eight strategies implemented in the EcoDistricts framework, Urban Form & Pattern has the most apparent and enduring influence. The arrangement of building densities, their heights and architectural styles, as well as the natural environment and transportation infrastructures are all paramount …

A Livable Upper Peninsula

September 26, 2020June 3, 2014 by Bryan McElveen

Venture north along the east side of the Charleston upper peninsula, and you will see the charm and history of the port city taper into an disjointed patchwork of abandoned industrial sites, public housing, and a sprinkling of trendy restaurants. The area is the obvious next frontier for growth in Charleston, and City Hall wants to make sure development occurs in a thoughtful way. Enter …

A New Life for The Cigar Factory

September 26, 2020May 12, 2014 by Bryan McElveen

The iconic structure on East Bay and Columbus Streets in Charleston’s Upper Peninsula has for decades been affectionately known as The Cigar Factory, and has been the subject of much speculation in recent years over its redevelopment. Following a few tumultuous years and changing hands a number of times, The Cigar Factory finally has an actionable blueprint and perhaps more …