Hi, It’s Bill from The ChuckTown Report,
The end of October is upon us which means Halloween 🎃, cooler weather 🤞🏻, and early voting 🇺🇸! This week we’re diving into the upcoming Citadel Mall redevelopment into the Epic Center, as well as a few things coming up around town that I am personally super excited for.
City of Charleston eyeing $14m land purchase (via Live5 News)
Tech Sector Boosts SC Economy by $52 Billion! (via CRBJ)
CARTA Offering Free Rides on Election Day (via Charleston County)
Early Voting Locations:
What I’m excited about coming up and happening in Charleston
Historic Charleston Foundation PreserVISIONist Soirée
Enjoy live music from The Midnight City Band, a silent auction, specialty cocktails and food with a backdrop of the Aiken-Rhett house all while benefiting the Historic Charleston Foundation. Meet me on the dance floor and say hello! MORE INFO
Paul F. Thompkins’ Varietopia: A 21st Century Variety Show
One of my favorite comedians, Paul F. Thompkins, is bringing his hilarious variety show to Charleston for its last tour stop. “Guests are always a surprise and surprises are guaranteed.” Past guests include Bob Odenkirk, Neil Patrick Harris, Weird Al Yankovic and so many more. You DO NOT want to miss this one. MORE INFO
The Citadel Mall Epic Center Redevelopment
On Oct 21st, the Design Review Board (DRB) met to discuss the transformation of the Citadel Mall into what will soon be called the Epic Center. Choices were definitely made in that name, but we’re here to talk about the project, not the name.
Let’s start with the facts and plans that were presented to the DRB. The full design presentation can be found on the city’s website HERE.
The project is shifting away from the traditional, inward-facing shopping mall into a more pedestrian-friendly and engaging environment.
The vision is “a new downtown Main Street” for West Ashley that everyone can enjoy.
The public areas will be designed with a variety of spaces including a central plaza, park, and a network of streets and wide pedestrian walkways.
The guidelines encourage regionally appropriate design elements and using primarily native plantings. Shade trees, pedestrian comfort, and the creation of a welcoming public area are a central theme to the landscape strategy.
The DRB, while giving a fairly positive overview of the project, did have a few points of discussion and some clarification needed prior to moving forward.
There was some concern raised about some uncertainty surrounding the project's adherence to the City's zoning ordinance, particularly in cases where future amendments might occur.
The DRB cited a lack of enough direct visual references to Charleston's architectural heritage within the design guidelines.
These are the next steps to anticipate as this project comes to life:
The applicant will clarify the zoning references and incorporate additional Charleston-specific architectural imagery into the design guidelines.
Individual development projects within the Citadel Mall redevelopment will be reviewed by both an internal design review board and the City of Charleston DRB, adhering to a three-step approval process.
Continued community engagement will be crucial to ensure the redevelopment meets the needs and desires of the West Ashley community.
In all, I feel this project will help elevate the growing West Ashley community and provide a positive, pedestrian friendly experience for all Charleston residents and visitors.
If you want to see the full design plans that here presented to the DRB, you can find them HERE.
4 bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms | 1742 Sqft | $360,000
Discover convenience at Wescott Plantation in this beautifully maintained 4-bed, 2.5-bath home. Features include a new roof, a first-floor primary suite, and a spacious backyard backing onto peaceful woods. Enjoy a two-car garage with built-in storage, updated flooring on the first floor, natural light throughout, a modern kitchen with newer stainless steel appliances, and generously sized upstairs bedrooms with ample storage. Access to The Farm at Wescott amenities including a gorgeous pool, park, amenities center, and boat storage. Convenient to shopping and dining, and zoned for award-winning Dorchester II School District.
QUESTION: How do I get my home featured in The ChuckTown Report?
ANSWER: Email Bill ([email protected]) or reply to this email! It’s that easy!
Happening this week
Oct 26: James Island Connector Run
Oct 26: Lewis Black, Chas Music Hall
Oct 31: Greensky Bluegrass, The Refinery
These charts are real-time data. Click for more information
If you spent any amount of time on Facebook over the past week, you most likely saw this headline from the Post and Courier:
Charleston home sales drop 2.5 times faster than US average. What happened?
This was true…partly. Yes, home sales dropped 10.9% over last September, which just means that July and August were a bit slower than normal. However, we are seeing a healthy rebound. Pending sales were up 10.1% over last year and the average sales price was up 7%.
Reply to this newsletter or email me at [email protected] and I’ll send you the graphs for your specific neighborhood…free…no strings attached.
