Development & Opportunities

The Battery Extension is a proposed 8-mile-long coastal resilience project designed to protect the Charleston peninsula from flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise. The City's vision is to have the project serve as an extension of the existing Battery that has protected the southern tip of the Peninsula for centuries while serving as a public promenade and park for residents. The final design and final path of the structure have NOT been finalized.

Lowcountry Rapid Transit is a planned 21-mile bus rapid transit system connecting Ladson, North Charleston, and downtown Charleston. It will include dedicated lanes, modern stations, and transit-priority signals to improve speed and reliability. The system is intended to reduce congestion, expand access to jobs and services, and support regional growth, with construction expected to begin around 2027.

The Ashley River Crossing is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge linking West Ashley to the Charleston peninsula and is projected to be completed by summer 2027. Designed to close a major gap in the region’s walking and biking network, it will provide a safe, car-free connection across the river. The bridge is expected to integrate with surrounding trail systems and improve access to downtown and the medical district, encouraging alternative transportation and recreation.

The Lowcountry Lowline is a linear park and green infrastructure project that transforms an abandoned rail corridor into a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle pathway. Stretching roughly 1.7 miles down the center spine of the peninsula, this project represents a significant investment in Charleston’s future—enhancing mobility, resiliency, expanding public space, and strengthening connections between neighborhoods. The first phase of this project is estimated to be completed in June 2027.

This dense infill development represents multiple phases of large mixed-use development in the center of the peninsula that combine residential, office, and retail space with public realm improvements along the Lowline.

— Courier Square Phase 1 (complete) includes the Guild apartment building and Greystar’s corporate headquarters.  
— Courier Square Phase 2 (under construction) includes 300 new residential units, including The Peninsula (a senior living facility), and over 13,000 square feet of retail space.  
— Courier Square Phase 3 will feature a hotel, office, and residential units. The project received BAR conceptual approval in 2025 for four large buildings, expanded sidewalks, and a public plaza adjacent to the Lowline.
— Line & Low is a mixed-use development, the first phase of which has recently been completed with 277 rental units and multiple restaurants. Phase 2 is currently going through the design review process.  

Union Pier is a major waterfront redevelopment project on 70 acres in the historic district. Formerly a working port terminal, the site is planned to become a mixed-use district featuring a variety of housing types for residents of diverse incomes, civic, commercial, outdoor public gathering places, and opportunities for small and local businesses. The waterfront will be activated with public parks and open spaces, as well as restaurants, events, and other public and commercial uses that engage and serve the community. Plans for the property are still being developed.

In 2025, the Medical District Overlay Zone was approved to support the creation of an Innovation District centered around the Medical University of South Carolina. Overlay allows increased housing density, taller buildings, reduced parking requirements, and expanded development flexibility to accommodate future medical, research, residential, and mixed-use growth. The goal is to transform the area into a more connected and active urban neighborhood that supports healthcare, education, research, housing, and economic development.

Project 3500 is an ambitious City-led initiative designed to ensure Charleston remains a livable, welcoming community for people of all income levels. The project aims to deliver 3,500 permanently affordable housing units by 2032 using a data driven approach to site selection, design, and community integration. There are five large, publicly-owned sites scattered across the peninsula that have been identified.

The former site of two landfills, this nearly 200-acre property along the Cooper River has been considered a potential redevelopment site for decades. In 2021, the Laurel Island Planned Unit Development (PUD) was approved, allowing up to 4,260 residential units, with 10% designated as affordable housing, along with office, retail, and public open space. However, detailed development plans have yet to take shape, and its future is “to be determined.”

Magnolia Landing is a planned mixed-use development on the Charleston Neck along the Ashley River. It will transform a large former industrial site into a walkable community with housing, retail, offices, and public spaces. The project emphasizes waterfront access, green space, and improved connectivity, creating a new hub for residents and businesses while supporting economic growth in the area. The project is slated to have up to 4,000 multi-family units, 1.2 million square feet of commercial space, and 1,040 hotel rooms. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in February of 2025.