Civic Snapshot
Preservation Society of Charleston
72nd CAROLOPOLIS AWARDS HONOR 29 PRESERVATION PROJECTS
On Friday night, the Preservation Society of Charleston awarded 29 projects the prestigious Carolopolis award. This year’s recipients spanned the Low Country from downtown to West Ashley, Sullivan’s Island, Edisto Island, and Park Circle…the first-ever North Charleston recipient. “The geographic range of these projects reflect a cultural shift across the Lowcountry. More than ever, people throughout the Charleston region are seeing themselves as caretakers of a shared heritage. That is perhaps the most meaningful achievement of all.” - Brian Turner, President & CEO of the Preservation Society.
City of Charleston · City Council
Clemson Settlement on Historic Greenhouse Complex Moves Forward
Council discussed the legal settlement with Clemson University regarding the Design Review Board’s denial of demolition for a historic greenhouse complex. The executive session covered the site’s significance, Clemson’s commitment to preserve key structures, and the university’s in-kind contributions, including a West Ashley architectural inventory and historic marker. The settlement, which requires judicial approval, was approved by the council after the mayor recused himself from the discussion.
Charleston County Transportation
River Road on Johns Island to Close for the next few weekends
Over the next few weekends, crews will be doing work on a culvert at the intersection of Main Rd and River Rd on Johns Island. Due to this work, the stretch of River Rd from Main to Brownswood will be closed to through traffic beginning on Friday nights at 7 pm and reopening before 6 am on Monday morning. Please plan accordingly.
The Deep Dive
The Peninsula Promise Initiative
The Peninsula Promise is a K-12 initiative slated to begin in August 2026, aimed at updating educational programming and facility use on the Charleston Peninsula. The plan includes:
Early Learning: Establishing universal 3K and 4K at the Charleston Progressive Academy (CPA). For the 2026-2027 school year, two 4K classrooms will temporarily remain at Memminger Elementary and Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts Elementary to aid the transition. Preschool Intervention Classrooms on the peninsula will also move to CPA.
Middle School Realignment: Simmons-Pinckney Middle School will be relocated to the Julian Mitchell campus. Current Mitchell Elementary students will be rezoned to attend either Sanders-Clyde or Memminger, and the district is working with families to grant their first school preference where possible.
Burke High School Pathways:
Creation of the Linard McCloud Cultural Arts Collective, a partial magnet program at both Simmons-Pinckney and Burke offering expanded arts instruction.
A partnership with the American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) to teach preservation and construction trades.
A College of Charleston Scholars Academy that reserves 30 seats for Burke students to take Advanced Placement and dual credit courses.
Family Support: New Family Learning & Resource Centers will open at Burke High School and Mary Ford Early Learning & Family Center. In partnership with Trident Technical College, these hubs will offer GED support and workforce certifications for parents.
The CCSD Education Foundation
The district is establishing an independent 501(c)(3) organization called the CCSD Education Foundation. Its purpose is to secure philanthropic and corporate funding that the school district cannot directly access due to government restrictions. The Foundation's Phase 1 Board of Directors is appointed by the CCSD Board of Trustees. District leaders serve as non-voting ex-officio members to provide oversight while avoiding conflicts of interest.
Then the CHAOS Ensued
During the meeting, the Board of Trustees held a vote to appoint members to the Foundation's Phase 1 Board of Directors.
Nomination Dispute: A motion to appoint Dr. Brian McClure as the District 8 representative failed. District 8 Trustee Roberson stated that under Section 5.02 of the foundation's bylaws, she had the exclusive right to nominate the representative for her district.
Bylaws Clarification: The parliamentarian and legal counsel advised that Section 5.02 requires the appointee to reside in the district, but it does not give the district's trustee the exclusive right to make the nomination. Another trustee then nominated an alternate candidate for the District 8 seat.
Public Comment: During the meeting, community members and local clergy criticized the board's voting decisions. Speakers accused the board of retaliating against a Black female trustee and acting with racial bias.
Meeting Interruption and Relocation: The meeting was disrupted when an attendee shouted, "Your daddy's burning up in hell doing what you doing". The board recessed and relocated to the superintendent's secure conference room to continue the meeting.
Final Vote: Trustees Roberson, Temple, and Hollinshead initially declined to enter the secure room, though Temple and Hollinshead later joined. In the secure room, the board voted to approve the alternate candidate for the District 8 seat. Following the vote, Trustee Bailey made a statement asserting that her voting decisions were guided by prayer and the Holy Spirit, and she denied accusations of racial bias.
Real Estate Corner
Historic Home of the Week
12 Orange St - Built on land that was once an orange grove (hence the street name), this c.1770 Charleston Single in South of Broad features original heart of pine floors with a hand-painted dining room floor and 8 preserved historic fireplace mantels.
4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3973 sqft | $7,950,000
Home Of The Week
Reimagined home in Snee Farm
- 5 beds and 3.5 full baths across 3623 sq ft
- Underwent a full renovation in 2021
- No carpet
- Outdoor kitchen, paver patio and firepit
-$1,875,000
How’s The Market?
The Charleston market stayed active this past week, with 277 residential properties going under contract — including 223 single-family homes at a median list price of $500,000. Demand stretched across the price spectrum, from entry-level homes in North Charleston and Summerville to trophy island properties, including a Sullivan's Island home at $8.5M and two Isle of Palms listings at $3.5M and $4.6M. James Island continued to perform at a premium, with 8 homes under contract ranging from $600k to $1.3M and a median of $1.1M. Layered on top of all this activity is a rate environment that every buyer and seller should be paying attention to — the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage just hit 5.98%, its lowest level since September 2022 and nearly a full point lower than this time last year. For buyers, that means more purchasing power heading into spring. For sellers, it means a growing pool of qualified buyers and continued momentum on well-priced homes. If you've been waiting on the sidelines, the window is opening.
That’s A Wrap
Before you go: Here’s how I can help
1) Buying a Home - If you’re planning a move in the next 12-18 months, it’s never too early to start chatting.
2) Market Conditions - I can send you a quick snapshot of what’s going on in your neighborhood or area.
3) Request an Update - Share a lot or address, and I’ll research what’s being planned or built there
Just reply to this email and let me know how I can help and I’ll reply shortly.
Until Next Week,
-Bill Olson
Father, Husband, REALTOR®
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