The roughly 74-acre Union Pier site extending from Laurens Street to Waterfront Park lies at a critical juncture between the Cooper River and downtown. As one of the most significant redevelopment opportunities in Charleston’s history, this project, if approached with vision and care, can bring enormous value to our historic city. As one of the most highly anticipated land use plans of our generation, it is critical to get right.
The Union Pier redevelopment is a virtual blank slate for the City to partner with the State Ports Authority on innovative methods that not only minimize flood risk but dramatically improve overall resilience of the peninsula. Over the course of 2022 and 2023, the State Ports Authority has engaged California-based hotel developer Lowe to manage the rezoning and entitlement of the property for redevelopment. A successful project will utilize techniques like water storage, wetlands restoration, state-of-the-art stormwater management techniques, and use natural components and permeable surfaces to create a functional, sustainable development. The end goal should be for Charleston to set a new international standard for climate resilience and urban waterfront design.
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The proposed redevelopment of Union Pier will get its first major public meeting on Thursday, when the Planning Commission convenes a special informational session at the Main Library downtown. The first of three planned info-only meetings (meaning no votes will be taken), Thursday’s event will deal with resilience and stormwater management, one of the key […]
The turnout at our winter member meeting demonstrated the extraordinary community interest in the redevelopment proposal for Union Pier. More than 400 of you attended or watched online. The meeting was extremely timely as we have just learned that the Ports Authority has officially filed its rezoning application with the City (details forthcoming). This is […]
We want to let you know about TWO key opportunities to provide public input this week. UNION PIER OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Oct. 13., 3-7PM Sanders-Clyde Elementary 805 Morrison Drive (parking in gravel lot at corner of Cooper & East Bay) Info: unionpiersc.com Models and exhibits will showcase what could be built on Union Pier downtown, […]
UNION PIER OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Union Pier cruise passenger terminal 196 Concord St. (free parking in Lot B) Info: unionpiersc.com This Thursday, you have a chance to set foot on a piece of property downtown that has not been accessible to the public in nearly 100 years. […]
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 5:00 PM Public Hearing (in-person and via Zoom/conference call) Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun Street On Tuesday City Council will vote on the City Plan, Charleston’s 10-year Comprehensive Plan update. By and large City Staff has been highly responsive to PSC input on the draft. But there is a clear, glaring exception: the continued […]