More hotels, an 80-acre park, and 30% off Spoleto Tickets!

City of Charleston · Design Review Board
Upper Peninsula mixed-use project clears conceptual hurdle with major restudy conditions
A development team proposed two one-story retail buildings fronting Meeting Street and a 328-unit five-story residential building at the rear of the former Pepsi-Cola bottling site at 1450 Meeting Street, receiving conceptual approval with extensive conditions. The board raised concerns about the suburban feel of single-story retail on a wide street, the monotonous fiber-cement-heavy residential facade, and the lack of massing relief along Lemon Street where the building presents as a sheer five-story wall on a narrow street. A key condition requires studying a masonry screen wall along the full eastern property boundary to provide privacy between the private residential amenities and the adjacent historic cemeteries, and the team was strongly encouraged to engage directly with the congregations of the Brith Shalom Beth Israel and Emanuel AME Church cemeteries.

City of North Charleston · Board of Zoning Appeals
BZA denies side setback reduction for 55-unit Navy Yard townhouse project
DRB Group's proposed Navyyard Townhomes at 1835 Marine Avenue sought to reduce the required 10-ft side setback to 5 ft along Truxton Avenue to accommodate 12 townhouse units in Buildings 3 and 4, arguing that adherence to the setback would eliminate roughly 22% of the development's units. Staff recommended denial, finding the remaining development was still feasible and that footprint modifications could bring the buildings into compliance. The board voted to deny the variance, with members noting that design changes rather than a zoning exception were the appropriate path forward.

City of Charleston - Board of Architectural Review - Large
Historic 1869 Building Approved for Relocation and Partial Demolition
The board unanimously approved the relocation of 589 ½ King St, a circa-1869 commercial structure 30 feet northward on King Street and the removal of a 24-foot rear section to facilitate the rehabilitation of the adjacent Reed Brothers building. The Preservation Society of Charleston expressed support for the project and requested salvage of historic materials from the demolished portion. Staff found the move consistent with historic Sanborn map fabric patterns and supported the partial demolition, noting the rear addition contained minimal historic fabric. The approval advances a phased preservation project intended to restore activity to a key block of King Street.

City of Charleston - Board of Architectural Review - Large
Adaptive Reuse of 1918 Warehouse Advances to Preliminary Approval
The board granted preliminary approval for the adaptive reuse of a circa-1918 warehouse at 280 Meeting Street, which includes a new third-story penthouse addition and a separate rear townhouse structure. The applicant responded to conceptual-stage comments by reducing and re-profiling the cornice, switching to lighter-colored aluminum panels with reveals for the penthouse, adding windows to the blank south elevation, and redesigning the ground-floor storefront entry. Board members praised the refinements as significant improvements and were comfortable leaving final panel spacing decisions to the applicant. Final review will be conducted by staff.

James Island PSD · Ways and Means Committee
Fire Station 4 Must Be Replaced, Not Renovated
Design consultants presented two rebuild options costing $7.4 million to $9.4 million (including soft costs). The current station sits in a flood zone with structural problems (movable walls). Both options feature 5-foot elevated living areas, drive-through apparatus bays, 4 bunks, and similar amenities to the newly-built station. Commissioners preferred a Hilton Head-inspired option with exterior ramps. Timeline: RFQ for design team summer 2026.

City of Charleston · Board of Architectural Review – Large
Conceptual approval for a parking garage + student housing at Radcliffe & St. Phillips
The board granted conceptual approval for a mixed-use proposal at the corner of Radcliffe Street and St. Phillips Street, including a parking structure paired with student housing uses. Members debated how the massing and facade treatment would read from surrounding streets and emphasized the need for strong architectural detailing to avoid a “blank garage” look. The applicant was directed to refine elevations and materials before returning for final review.

City of Charleston · Board of Architectural Review – Large
Preliminary approval for an adaptive reuse hotel at 131 Columbus Street
BAR-L granted preliminary approval for a proposal to convert and renovate the property at 131 Columbus Street into a hotel use, with board discussion centering on how the exterior alterations would preserve the building’s character while meeting hospitality needs. Members emphasized careful handling of visible facade changes, window/door details, and site circulation impacts. The applicant is expected to return with refined plans and material details for subsequent approvals.

Charleston County · Greenbelt Advisory Board
80-Acre Regional Park Approved for East County
The board approved $4 million in green belt funds for Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission to acquire 80 acres for a regional recreation site near Highway 17 North and the Surf Soccer facility. The project will include trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and canoe/kayak launches, with the county separately funding a pool and splash pad on adjacent acreage. A second appraisal confirmed the land valuation at $50,000 per acre, and the project is expected to close within months.

Charleston County · Greenbelt Advisory Board
Johns Island Conservation with Integrated Affordable Housing
The board conditionally approved $3.63 million in rural green belt funds to acquire 97.1 acres of Humbert Woods Nature Preserve on Johns Island, with a separate 5.8-acre parcel reserved for Habitat for Humanity's Sweetgrass Preserve affordable housing development (estimated 10 homes). The $700,000 reduction from the original request reflects the affordable housing subdivision; final appraisals expected to confirm the $50,000-per-acre valuation. Closure and transfer to Habitat for management targeted for July 2026, contingent on appraisal confirmation.

7 Lowndes St - 100-year-old South of Broad home was renovated in 2021 by architect Mary Mac Wilson. The home features high ceilings, original hardwood floors, multiple fireplaces and a dining room with Gucci wallpaper.

6 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 3654 sqft | $5,850,000

SEE ALL PHOTOS AND DETAILS

This week’s deal of the week sits right in the heart of downtown Charleston, tucked inside the Catfiddle Street enclave.

- Fully Updated
- 3 bed | 3 bath
- In the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood
- Loft overlooking the living room
-$1,250,000

CHECK IT OUT HERE

340 residential properties went under contract this past week across the Charleston metro, and the data tells a clear story: buyers are active, but they're being selective.

The big picture: 266 single family homes went under contract at a median list price of $500k and $263/sqft. The median days on market of 28 tells us well-priced homes are still moving at a solid clip, but gone are the days of weekend contracts on everything with a roof.

Where the money is moving: Mount Pleasant continues to flex as the luxury leader with 17 of its 28 contracts over $1M and a median price of $1.25M. The Peninsula isn't far behind at a $1.3M median, with 7 of 13 homes selling south of the Crosstown. Daniel Island posted 5 contracts, all north of $1.3M, reinforcing its position as one of the region's premier markets.

The value play: If you're a buyer hunting for relative affordability, North Charleston ($345k median) and the Summerville/Ladson corridor ($395k median, $204/sqft) remain your best bets. Hanahan, Goose Creek, and Moncks Corner offered 69 contracts at a $379k median. Just know that sub-$250k inventory is nearly extinct: only 5 single-family homes went under contract below that mark across the entire metro.

Island life: 41 island homes went under contract. James Island led the pack with 21 (median $650k), while Johns Island's median jumped to $845k. Seabrook, Wild Dunes, and Daniel Island skewed heavily toward luxury with nothing under $825k.

Condos and townhomes added another 70 contracts, offering the widest price spread from under $200k to $2.2M. This is where entry-level buyers are finding their footing.

What does this mean for you?

Buyers: Inventory is there, but the best-priced homes are still going fast (28-day median means many moved quicker). If you're waiting for a crash, this data says you'll be waiting a while. Get pre-approved and get strategic.

Sellers: Pricing matters more than ever. Buyers have enough options to skip overpriced listings. The homes going under contract this week were priced right for their market. If your home has been sitting, this is your sign to have an honest pricing conversation.

👇 Click the market stats below to explore all areas and see what's moving in your neighborhood.

If something in today's issue sparked a question, just reply. Seriously. I read every response.

Specifically, I'm good at three things:

1) Address research - Got a lot, a street, or a neighborhood you're curious about? Send me the address and I'll dig into what's planned or permitted there. This is genuinely my favorite thing to do.

2) Your neighborhood numbers - If you want a quick snapshot of what's selling (and what's sitting) near you, I'll put one together. No pitch, just data.

3) Buying conversations - If a move is somewhere on your radar in the next year or two, I'm a good early sounding board. No pressure, no hustle.

So hit reply and let me know what you're thinking about.

Until next week,
Bill Olson
Father, Husband, REALTOR®, Civic Storyteller

Know someone who’d love this?
If this helped you feel a little more “in the know” about Charleston, would you forward it to one person who might like it too?
Or send them here to sign up: chucktownreport.com/subscribe

Got a tip?
Hit reply and tell me:

A lot of what I cover starts with reader questions, so don’t be shy.

Want to leave a quick testimonial?
If ChuckTown Report has helped you understand something happening around Charleston, I’d love to hear it:
👉 Share Feedback