News

HCF President & CEO Winslow Hastie weighs in on the Lowcountry's most pressing smart growth challenges — from the Point Hope development in Cainhoy to the proposed Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax. Read more about important issues including state concurrency legislation that ties large-scale development to infrastructure planning, development along the I-26 corridor, and more in this February's Winslow's Word.

Before shrimp and grits became synonymous with Charleston cuisine, a free Black entrepreneur named Charles C. Leslie was reshaping the city's entire seafood industry. Born poor in present-day Mt. Pleasant in the mid-1800s, Leslie built a wholesale seafood empire, championed species once dismissed as “trash fish,” and became one of Charleston's wealthiest Black businessmen — leaving a legacy written into the city's food culture, its historic architecture, and the scientific record. This is his story.

Join us in welcoming three new members to Historic Charleston Foundation's Board of Trustees: Kate Kronzer, Steve Strawn and Delores Whaley.

South Carolina is the fastest-growing state in the country, and Charleston is feeling the pressure. Traffic is worsening, drainage systems are strained, and massive new developments — like the 9,000-acre Cainhoy project — are on the horizon. Concurrency policies ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth, protecting historic neighborhoods, natural landscapes, and taxpayers from the hidden costs of unchecked development. Learn why Historic Charleston Foundation supports state legislation that would give Charleston the tools to grow responsibly.

With Valentine's Day upon us, it seems like the perfect time for historic preservation groups to start talking about dating… materials, that is. When you're looking at a Charleston building for the first (or hundredth) time, how do you know for sure it is historic?

On Thursday, January 29th, Historic Charleston Foundation attended a public hearing held by the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) at the Charleston Gaillard Center to discuss the future of several underutilized federal properties in the Southeast, including Charleston’s historic U.S. Custom House.

A historic Pitt Street Greek Revival home is now permanently protected through a preservation easement donated by David and Scottie Hoffman to Historic Charleston Foundation, ensuring decades of thoughtful stewardship endure for generations to come.

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) is on the agenda of the January 20 BZA-Z Meeting to request a zoning variance, allowing a significant increase in density in the neighborhood. 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.