Tourism Management

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On October 29, 2019, Historic Charleston Foundation hosted its spring advocacy forum focused on Tourism Management.