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Calhoun Street-East/Cooper River Waterfront

Author: Winslow Hastie
Publisher: Historic Charleston Foundation
Date: 10/20/2009
Contact E-mail: w.hastie@historiccharelston.org

POSITION STATEMENT

To: Members of the Charleston Planning Commission
Yvonne Fortenberry, Director, Dept. of Planning,
Preservation & Sustainability
Eddie Bello, Preservation Officer, Dept. of Planning,
Preservation & Sustainability

From: Winslow Hastie, Director of Preservation & Museums

Date: October 20, 2009

Re: Special Area Plan: Calhoun Street-East/Cooper River Waterfront

As stated previously, Historic Charleston Foundation supports the adoption of the Calhoun Street-East/Cooper River Waterfront Special Area Plan. There is certainly a
need for a special planning study of this area of the city, and we wholeheartedly support its redevelopment “over time with a vibrant mix of hotel, office and mixed income
residential uses supported by ground-level and waterfront retail,” as stated in the plan’s Executive Summary. In fact, the Preservation Plan designates most of the
study area a “transitional zone” which indicates “an opportunity to create or strengthen character through strategic redevelopment.” There is no doubt that the city needs to promote an enhanced linkage between Marion Square and the waterfront.

We have been particularly pleased with the city’s responses to our concerns that were outlined in a previous position statement dated July 13, 2009. Through a series of
proposed amendments by the Department of Planning, Preservation & Sustainability, the majority of our concerns have been addressed. One of our biggest concerns was
that this plan did not reference the city’s 2008 Preservation Plan, however, that will be corrected in the revised plan document.

Historic Charleston is in support of extending the Accommodations Overlay Zone to incorporate parcels closer to the waterfront. While this has been a controversial aspect of the Plan, we believe that significant changes have occurred in this area over the last two decades to justify the presence of hotel services, including the construction of the Aquarium, Liberty Square, the Fort Sumter Visitor Center, the Maritime Center, Fountain Walk, and the addition of several bus lines.

While we are happy to see the proposed development site near the Maritime Center reduced in height by two stories, we still have concerns about a building of this size so
close to the water’s edge. Historically, Charleston has always been fiercely protective of its waterfront and promoting visual access to the water. While we strongly support the plan’s concept of providing significant public and visual access between Concord Park and the riverfront, we are not convinced that this justifies such a large building at this important location. However, this height issue cannot be adequately analyzed until a detailed, concrete plan for this particular parcel is proposed.

Since this plan was last presented to the Planning Commission, the State Ports Authority has initiated their Union Pier Cruise Terminal Master Plan process. It is our position that the Calhoun Street-East Plan must at least acknowledge the changes that are sure to take place just to the south of the study area, and the plan should especially consider how this large redevelopment will impact traffic and transportation needs. The concept of balancing north-south traffic between East Bay and Washington Street may make sense, but additional traffic studies will need to analyze this in more detail. The Washington/Concord route serves as a crucial “release valve” for congestion on East
Bay Street and we need to make sure—with the significant redevelopment that will take place along the Cooper River waterfront (including Union Pier in its totality)—that the
city takes all of these various plans into account in its transportation planning decisions. An integrated approach to addressing transportation (including transit options) must be taken so that the study area for this plan and Union Pier are considered in a holistic fashion.

We support the Calhoun Street-East/Cooper River Waterfront Plan’s approval by the Planning Commission; however, we do hope that the above comments will be taken into consideration as the current plan is amended.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments, and please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or need for clarification.

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