Peninsula Plan

The 1999 Downtown Plan has guided transportation, land use, preservation, and development decisions over the past 26 years. While Charleston has evolved significantly since its adoption, many of its core principles remain relevant today. This update presents an important opportunity to reaffirm that foundation while addressing the challenges and opportunities shaping Charleston’s future. As the Peninsula Plan process moves forward, HCF will be advocating for a vision that promotes connectivity, resilience, livability, and thoughtful growth throughout the peninsula. While the planning process is just beginning, we believe there are several key issues that deserve particular attention as the City develops its framework for the next generation of transportation, land use, housing, and infrastructure investments.

On Monday, May 18, 2026, Historic Charleston Foundation hosted its spring advocacy forum titled Charleston’s Future: Stitching Together Growth and Opportunities Forum with panelists: Andrea Ostrodka, ACIP, Christian Sottile, AIA, Jared Bramblett, and moderator Scott Parker. As part of the evening’s program, attendees were introduced to a newly unveiled video that offers a visual overview of major infrastructure and development projects planned for the Charleston peninsula.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

City Council approves an amendment to the 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 for you.

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.

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.