Advocacy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Affectionately known in Charleston as the “Toilet Paper Tower” HCF receives a reply from the State Historic Preservation Office and the FCC regarding the tower's design.

Charleston City Council took a major step toward the transformative redevelopment of Union Pier, with final approval to establish a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. The work ahead may be challenging, but with the support of our community, this vision for Union Pier is finally within reach.