Post & Courier: Historic Charleston Foundation Evolving to Meet Challenges

by Anne Blessing, Board Chair, and Winslow Hastie, HCF President & CEO, November 28, 2023

Anne Blessing, Board Chair

Last year, Historic Charleston Foundation celebrated 75 years of pioneering advocacy, preservation and education in the Lowcountry.Since its formation, the foundation has devoted itself to safeguarding this unique and remarkable city in myriad ways — from founding the nation’s first revolving fund in 1957 to launching a robust easement program to preventing the destruction of hundreds of properties in Charleston’s neighborhoods and more.Over decades, we have ensured that issues of suburban sprawl did not undermine the vitality of the city’s historic district or its unique character at the rural edges. Most recently, with our coalition partners we have successfully advocated for a better Union Pier redevelopment plan.In January, the Foundation began a strategic planning process based on three questions: What does the community need from us at this critical juncture? How must we focus our energy and resources going forward? And how must we deploy those strengths to protect our city and region most effectively in the face of massive growth and change?

June 7, 2023 public meeting regarding the future of Union Pier.

The answers are clear. Charleston faces unprecedented threats in the forms of increased flooding and storms, over-tourism in the fragile historic district, and outdated policies that fail to provide a positive vision for our region’s growth. Despite the increasing complexity of these challenges, HCF’s core purpose remains: to advocate for places, culture, and communities that are essential to the extraordinary character of Charleston and the Lowcountry. Please join us as we begin to implement the following initiatives:

• We will redouble our efforts to ensure that Charleston remains resilient, that new development reflects the character that has made us world-renowned, to advocate for sustainable urban planning principles, and to focus on resident-oriented tourism management. To achieve this, the foundation will hire additional experts to supplement the work of our overburdened city. Our advocacy initiatives will be guided by our goals of community engagement and partnering to find strategic solutions.
• The Foundation will deepen its focus on the fragile cultural fabric of neighborhoods. We will shift our revolving fund priorities to help preserve diverse historic neighborhoods through grant assistance and technical support. The new Common Cause Loan Fund provides financial support to multi-generational homeowners for exterior repairs and is an example of how we can help preserve not just one house, but neighborhoods, culture and community. Similarly, our anticipated Faith Fund will help black historic churches to remain on the peninsula through grant-writing assistance, low-interest loans and partnerships. We will also reignite our easement program to safeguard the character of significant historic resources, and we will actively target important interiors and side yards to preserve green space.

ICAA Juried Art Exhibit at ARH, 2023.

• The Aiken-Rhett House is a remarkable place to deeply understand the full story of the American South both before and after the Civil War. We will continue to research this undisturbed “primary source” and use this house as a laboratory for preservation and as a living, breathing classroom. The Aiken-Rhett House will become a dynamic cultural center serving as a platform for creativity through art exhibitions and the performing arts.

The scope of the Historic Charleston Foundation’s work has evolved from a downtown focus in 1947 to the broader region. The work on the peninsula continues, but the foundation’s efforts now stretch from Mosquito Beach to Johns Island, to Awendaw and beyond, including settlement communities such as Phillips and Beefield. Today, the foundation continues to seek new solutions for protecting these vital neighborhoods.

Winslow Hastie, President & CEO

Historic Charleston Foundation has remained successful for over 75 years by evolving to meet the needs of the time, and the needs of this current time are substantial. As we enter this next phase, we are well-poised to advance the priorities of our bold strategic plan. Guided by our mission statement to advocate for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture and community, join us as we work toward executing these ambitious goals.Anne Blessing is board chair of Historic Charleston Foundation. Winslow Hastie is the foundation’s CEO.SOURCE: Post & Courier, November 28, 2023