Synopsis: 2024 Advocacy Forum: Excellence in Waterfront Redevelopment

For almost two years, Historic Charleston Foundation and many others in the community have been hyper-focused on the redevelopment efforts of the nearly 70-acre Union Pier Terminal site. Throughout that time, HCF and our coalition partners have been consistent about our aspirations for Union Pier: visionary design to include waterfront access with memorable parks, generous civic spaces, properly scaled blocks and buildings that reflect Charleston’s historic neighborhoods, integrated resiliency measures, and an authentic mix of uses that will make it a vibrant district for all residents.

On May 13, the Foundation hosted a panel discussion on this very topic. We aimed to frame provocative questions to raise the level of discourse. What does excellent waterfront redevelopment look like? What does Charleston need and deserve from Union Pier? How can we ensure that an exciting vision becomes reality? Moderated by Vince Graham, founder of the I’On Group in Mount Pleasant and HCF Trustee, the panel included Charleston Mayor William Cogswell, architect and preservationist Christian Sottile, and Stefanos Polyzoides, co-founder of the firm Moule & Polyzoides and current Dean of the Notre Dame School of Architecture. The Forum began with a brief presentation by each panelist followed by a lively group discussion.

For a full transcript:HCF Advocacy Forum FULL

Some of the key takeaways from each presentation are as follows:

• Mayor William Cogswell: “As Mayor, I am committed to public engagement at this process…we have to do something that is befitting of Charleston”
  • Mayor Cogswell Slides
  • Mayor Cogwell provided context around ongoing plans and development in and around the peninsula including the proposed Ashley River Bike/Pedestrian Bridge, the West Ashley Greenway, the Lowline, WestEdge, the perimeter "battery," Union Pier and more.
  • Mayor Cogswell expressed the importance of establishing a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district to help underwrite the public aspects of this complex redevelopment project. The TIF, which could be used for parks and open space, resiliency infrastructure, streets and sidewalks, is supported by preservation organizations including HCF, PSC, the Ansonborough Neighborhood Association, and CCL as well as the Chamber of Commerce.
• Christian B. Sottile, AIA: “Mayor Riley used to say… ‘This city is a great painting and when we work on it, we’re adding brushstrokes to that painting.’ We better make sure that it's better than it was before.”
  • Sottile Slides
  • Christian Sottile emphasized central values he believes should be included in the redevelopment of Union Pier:
    • Incremental entrances and beautiful street frontages
    • A beautiful skyline with quality architecture and materials that match the cultural fabric of Charleston
    • People and function should be at the forefront of all designs
  • Charleston should be built from Charleston; the American College of the Building Arts is an incredible resource for our city.
• Stefanos Polyzoides, Dean of Notre Dame School of Architecture: “Cities have signatures and the landscape next to the cities have signatures. The architects have none. The architectural signature is an illusion…What matters really is the signature of the place.”
  • The homogenization of the world is one of the most significant problems that we have today. Each city, each place should be defined and identified by its unique architectural and natural environment.
  • A city should look at its own history in extraordinary depth when planning for its future and public space is critical. “The essence of your city is not only your buildings, but the space between buildings, the void between buildings and its landscape.”
  • Charleston is one of the most important sub-tropical cities in the United States, perhaps the world, and Union Pier has the potential to serve as an exemplary model for the world alongside other famous examples in Copenhagen, Paris and Porto.

The discussion: Watch the FB Livestream HERE

• Union Pier is not just a project, it is a piece of Charleston that has been subject to constant change for centuries – it should serve as a national model for excellent waterfront redevelopment.
• 94% of the 70-acre Union Pier site was developed on marsh or open water and currently, there is nearly 25 acres of decking that is not considered to be “developable.” Charleston should be creative and innovative to combat these challenges.
• Charleston should be inspired by beautiful cities including Lucca, Italy and Saint-Malo, France.
• Mayor Cogswell addressed that affordability is at a “crisis point”; Charleston’s area median income is 35% higher than the national average. It is a critical factor for any large-scale design for Charleston and the region.

Let’s be honest – the site has been studied again and again, there have been countless public meetings, and the concerns and desires of the community have been well communicated and documented. Now is the time to be visionary and aspirational about the potential for Union Pier let's remember that we’re in a much better place than we were a year ago - and the cruise terminal is going away! On March 19, the Post & Courier reported that Union Pier was going to be purchased by Charleston-based philanthropist and businessman, Ben Navarro, who intends to be a long-term “steward” of this property, and this purchase indicates a new era for this development.

HCF will continue to keep our sights high, remain vigilant and engaged, and will continue to approach this project with a watchful optimism and a renewed sense of inspiration and excitement for its future.

This isn’t just a momentary project; it is a multi-generational and should have an impact on the way waterfronts are developed around the world. As the most significant development on the peninsula in our lifetime, Union Pier should be more than simply “good enough” for Charleston, we should demand excellence for Charleston!

Watch the discussion portion, streamed live on Facebook, HERE.Read the HCF Advocacy Forum FULL TRANSCRIPT