 hree properties in the Elliottborough neighborhood, north of Calhoun Street, recently have been saved through
Historic Charleston Foundation's Neighborhood Impact Initiative. Many of HCF's preservation initiatives over the
past decade have been focused on the hundreds of antebellum structures in the less affluent neighborhoods north
of Calhoun Street. By purchasing deserted properties threatened with demolition, restoring their historic character
and livability, and then selling them to families with ties to the neighborhood, HCF not only stabilizes the
neighborhood, but also secures the future of these historic structures.
The James Morrison House, c. 1850, one of three properties on St. Philip Street donated to HCF by the Post and
Courier Foundation, was restored and sold to a family with ties to the neighborhood in 2003. The house, at 236 St.
Philip Street, had been badly modified over time and vacant for a number of years. The property was restored
through a generous gift from the Post and Courier Foundation and an anonymous donor. When completed, it was
sold to homeowners with ties to the historic neighborhood. The Morrison House was sold with restrictive covenants
that will ensure the protection of its historic fabric, as are all buildings sold by HCF under the Neighborhood
Impact Initiative.
HCF has also undertaken the rehabilitation of 216 and 218 St. Philip Street, the other two properties donated by
the Post and Courier Foundation. 218 St. Philip Street is particularly significant as it is the site of the first
African-American bank in Charleston. The Peoples Federation Bank was founded in 1920 and served the community
throughout the ensuing decade. The bank was established along with several other commercial businesses in the
house, which was built in 1849 by John Hartz, a local grocer who also built the house at 216 St. Philip Street.
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