News

A look back at some of the most impactful work from 2025 across the Foundation's pillars: Preservation, Advocacy, Museums.

211 Rutledge Avenue (Fuel Cantina) went before BZA on December 16 to request a zoning variance, allowing a significant increase in density in the neighborhood and moving the historic structure already saved from demolition once. Why is this issue important? We break it down here.

HCF encouraged the public to submit a comment and engage with the future of 106 Coming Street by Friday, November 28, 2025.

City Council passed an amendment that allows Board of Architectural Review (BAR) purview when an applicant desires to have it within the Historic Materials Demolition District. That means that Upper Peninsula residents trying to preserve the historic character of their homes will have better tools to do so.

PRESS RELEASE: Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the 2024 Appropriations Acts to support its Common Cause Loan Fund.

While we support MUSC’s mission and recognize the potential benefits to our healthcare system, we must also protect Charleston’s unique character. Responsible development is key to preserving the charm and livability of our city. Read the latest update about the MUSC Overlay District.

In support of HCF's easement and covenant program, HCF was joined by Kemp Lewis, preservationist and dedicated homeowner, and Brittany LaVelle Tulla, Architectural Historian and Owner of BLV Preservation, for a program unpacking rehabilitation tax credits. Learn more about this underutilized resource with our takeaways and the session's presentation.

The days of summer are soon coming to an end, and while that may mean lower-humidity, don’t put your fans away yet. While many of you may travel away from the Lowcountry and stay busy with children who are out of school during the summer, our staff stays focused on the execution of HCF’s Strategic Plan in three key areas: Preservation, Advocacy, and Museums (P.A.M.)

In the summer of 2024, HCF teamed up with the Preservation Society of Charleston to research, develop, write, and present an Area Character Appraisal (ACA) for the North Central neighborhood on Charleston's peninsula. In a full-circle moment, co-author, Madelyn Reber, presented their work at BAR-Small.

Every year, Historic Charleston Foundation continues its robust internship program, welcoming undergraduate and graduate students to work with every department in the Foundation. Interns are especially important during the summer and our team is able to do some crucial work in between two very busy seasons. In addition, Courier Square Phase III went to the BAR for conceptual design approval.

One of the most important jobs in a Museum of any kind is the maintenance and care of its collection items. During the summer, Museum intern Julia Keadle worked with both historic house museums to update collection items and imagery. Read directly from Julia about her summer.

Preservation intern, Annave Allred, works with the preservation team to learn how to use GIS and how this tool can be used in a real-world application. Hear more from Annave, here.

Historic Charleston Foundation is fortunate to have dedicated, and brilliant students join our staff for internships in all departs, all year long. This summer, preservation intern Jackson Dent, MSHP Clemson University, and Annave Allred (ARTM, College of Charleston) continued an important preservation project more than 15 years in the making at the Aiken-Rhett House. Hear directly from the students about this work.

Courier Square Phase III heads to BAR-Large on July 9 for conceptual approval for the design of the public realm and buildings 1-4. The bigger the scale, the bigger the stakes. Historic Charleston Foundation will speak in person at the July 9 meeting with our feedback to advocate for the world-class architecture Charleston deserves.

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 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.