News

On May 14, 2025, the BAR-L approved a hotel at 657 King Street that exceeds allowed height in the split-zoned district on a portion of the property. Historic Charleston Foundation filed a legal appeal, arguing there’s no zoning uncertainty and the decision sets a harmful precedent.

Historic Charleston Foundation actively participates in the tourism business—but not at the expense of our residents. We enjoy celebrating Charleston’s unique history, culture, and architecture with our guests. Tourism, when managed properly, is fundamental to the sustained preservation of our city. However, when tourism runs rampant and unchecked, the consequences can lead to dire impacts on everyday livability for locals. It is critical to find an intentional balance between visitors and residents to enhance the quality of life for everyone. Moving towards a healthy balance between tourism and livability is the primary goal of HCF’s partnership with the City of Charleston, Bloomberg Associates and Explore Charleston—and was the topic of HCF’s Future of Responsible Tourism Forum on May 20th at the Charleston Museum.

HCF is grateful for Charleston's incredible community of preservation-minded property owners, many we have the pleasure of knowing through our easement and covenant program. To support property owners, the Foundation has developed a series of programs to provide more insight and connection to preservation professionals. The first session focused on insurance, with a panel of local insurance executives.

As we slink into summer, you can rest assured that HCF will remain vigilant and engaged on the issues that matter to you. Case in point, hopefully you have read the article and editorial on our recent appeal of an extremely problematic interpretation of zoning law that occurred at the BAR in May for a proposed hotel at 657 King Street.

With the help of primary sources, we are able to learn more about the resilient life of Dorcas Richardson (1821-887). Enslaved at the Aiken-Rhett House until the age of 44, Dorcas went on to become the author of her own story, dedicating her life to hundreds of orphaned children and leaving behind a legacy we continue to learn from.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Historic Charleston Foundation hosted the Future of Responsible Tourism Forum with Bloomberg Associates and the City of Charleston at The Charleston Museum's Arthur WIlcox Auditorium. Speakers included Charleston Mayor William Cogswell, Dr. Daniel Guttentag with the City of Charleston, and from Bloomberg Associates, George Fertitta, Gordon Ines and Kate D. Levin. This public event marked the kickoff for the City's new initiative in partnership with HCF and Bloomberg.

Each spring, Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) commemorates its 1947 founding by honoring extraordinary contributions in preserving Charleston’s irreplaceable historic built environment and cultural character through its Charter Day Awards. The Foundation’s annual Charter Day awards are divided into categories to recognize all facets of historic preservation, from stewardship to the hands and skills behind each project. We are honored to recognize the following award winners for 2025.

Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) is proud to announce a generous $1.25 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to complete the rehabilitation of the historic Pine Tree Hotel and adjacent Skeeta Beach Lounge for the newly formed Historical Mosquito Beach Foundation.

While the John Gough Linen Press is on loan to the DAR Museum in Washington DC, the Nathaniel Russell House Museum will have three models on display including a model of the Bennett Rice Mill following Hurricane Donna.

Tourism is a key part of the Charleston economy, and it certainly imparts many benefits for locals—no one is disputing that. However, we periodically need to take a pulse check and see how and where we need to improve, pivot, adjust. The Foundation has a long history of advocacy in this area.

It has taken me this long to process the sudden and tragic death of my dear friend Dale Morris earlier this month. Dale was one of those incredible colleagues that you meet and immediately connect with both professionally and personally—a very rare thing. I first met Dale when he came to town with the Dutch embassy in the spring of 2018.

HCF has been working for decades to strike a healthy balance between neighborhood vitality, residential livability, and responsible tourism. The latest challenge to this balancing act is the threat of new hotel proposals for properties not currently zoned for accommodation uses. For example, the proposal at the April 16th Planning Commission requests an extension of the Accommodations Overlay Zone to allow for a hotel at 529-537 Meeting Street – if allowed, this extension could create a detrimental precedent.

The Saving Grace Initiative continues to gain momentum, with a temporary roof installed at New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church to protect its historic structure, ongoing preservation efforts at St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church, and both churches actively engaging with the community through restoration work and upcoming events.

Historic Charleston Foundation led the charge during the 2025 National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week on Capitol Hill in early March, catch up with our Advocacy Team to learn more.

We are launching into the new year with several exciting new grants that are going to fuel our preservation work in the months ahead. Read the full update from President & CEO Winslow Hastie with exciting news from the Foundation.

Following the February 19 Planning Commission meeting, an amendment to the Land Use Districts was approved and will now move to the first reading at City Council. What does that mean for Union Pier? Catch up with Director of Advocacy, Lisa Jones.

Standing at 200 feet tall, and nearly 200 years old, St. Phillip's Church is truly an icon of Charleston. The National Historic Landmark has an enduring legacy of resilience, so when the city saw scaffolding surround its historic spire, our team took the opportunity to learn more and discovered an incredible example of stewardship and preservation.

HCF is excited to support, Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence, a new exhibit at the DAR Museum in Washington, DC, with a very special loan from the Nathaniel Russell House.

The upcoming Charleston Planning Commission will be meeting to amend the City Comprehensive Plan to rename the ‘Future Planning Area’ district and replace with ‘Urban Waterfront’ district.” What does that mean? We're here to break it down before the Feb 19, 2025 meeting.

From Director of Museums, Tracey Todd, learn more about the Nathaniel Russell House's recent feature on Walter Edgar's Journal, and how the house museums are preparing for 2025.