Livability

Split Zoning and 657 King Street
Advocacy
Split Zoning and 657 King Street
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.
June 16, 2025
Growth and Development
Livability
Protecting Charleston's Future by Advocating for Responsible Tourism
Advocacy
Protecting Charleston's Future by Advocating for Responsible Tourism
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.
June 23, 2025
Growth and Development
Livability
Tourism Management
Easement Education Series: Insurance for Property Owners
Preservation
Easement Education Series: Insurance for Property Owners
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.
June 20, 2025
Easements
Livability
HCF's History of Advocacy and the Future of Responsible Tourism
Advocacy
HCF's History of Advocacy and the Future of Responsible Tourism
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.
April 26, 2025
Dutch Dialogues
Flooding
Growth and Development
Livability
Sea Level Rise
Winslow's Word: April 2025
HCF News
Winslow's Word: April 2025
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.
April 26, 2025
Dutch Dialogues
Growth and Development
Livability
Charleston Does Not Need More Hotels
Advocacy
Charleston Does Not Need More Hotels
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.
April 15, 2025
Growth and Development
Livability
Tourism Management
Peninsula Plan
HCF goes to DC for Advocacy Week 2025
Advocacy
HCF goes to DC for Advocacy Week 2025
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.
March 31, 2025
Growth and Development
Livability
Peninsula Plan
Winslow's Word: December 2024
HCF News
Winslow's Word: December 2024
A word from Winslow Hastie, President & CEO, reflecting on HCF's work over 2024, and looking ahead to 2025. Browse HCF's 2024 Impact Report to dive deeper into our work in preservation, advocacy, and the two historic house museums this year.
December 12, 2024
Union Pier
Growth and Development
Flooding
Livability
Tourism Management
Wiping the Slate Clean: HCF Challenges Line St “Toilet Paper Tower”
Advocacy
Wiping the Slate Clean: HCF Challenges Line St “Toilet Paper Tower”
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.
December 12, 2024
Growth and Development
Livability
Union Pier Update: TIF Approved
Advocacy
Union Pier Update: TIF Approved
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.
November 7, 2024
Union Pier
Growth and Development
Livability
Winslow's Word: October 2024
HCF News
Winslow's Word: October 2024
An update from Winslow Hastie, October 2024: Hurricane season reminds us of the devastation they can cause, and while the Lowcountry has been spared so far, we remain cautious as the season continues. Meanwhile, at home, the controversial 295 Calhoun apartment project has received conceptual approval, despite concerns about its scale and fit within downtown Charleston's urban fabric and HCF debuts its new Development Map and website.
October 16, 2024
Growth and Development
Livability
Tourism Management
Winslow's Word
Winslow's Word: February 2023
HCF News
Winslow's Word: February 2023
February 1, 2023
Livability
Tourism Management
Winslow's Word
Historic Preservation Under Fire
Preservation
Historic Preservation Under Fire
February 13, 2020
Affordable Housing
Livability
Short Term Rental Enforcement Update
Advocacy
Short Term Rental Enforcement Update
November 7, 2018
Short Term Rentals
Livability
Short Term Rental Ordinance Takes Effect
Advocacy
Short Term Rental Ordinance Takes Effect
July 9, 2018
Short Term Rentals
Livability
Short-Term Rental Hurdles Still Remain
Advocacy
Short-Term Rental Hurdles Still Remain
April 11, 2018
Short Term Rentals
Livability
Short-Term Rental Update
Advocacy
Short-Term Rental Update
October 23, 2017
Short Term Rentals
Livability