Last week I was lucky to attend a function that hummed with expectation. Looking around the make-shift lecture hall within the pier facility, I noted the collection of people to be well informed residents, realtors, hospitality business men, museum representatives, shipping union heads, neighboring local government officials, preservationists, environmentalists,  [...]]]>

Existing Plan of Union Pier

Last week I was lucky to attend a function that hummed with expectation. Looking around the make-shift lecture hall within the pier facility, I noted the collection of people to be well informed residents, realtors, hospitality business men, museum representatives, shipping union heads, neighboring local government officials, preservationists, environmentalists,  the Charleston Mayor Joe Riley among others.

The presentation was made by Jack Robertson of Cooper Robertson & Partners.  Peter Rumell is the Developer Advisor.  Rawle Murdy is the Communication Outreach Representative.  Mr. Jack made an informative and exciting urban planning presentation in a North Eastern draw flavored with an Ivy League accent.  He was so passionate about idea that he frequently escaped the radius of the microphone and an A/V aid would have to chase Mr. Jack until he just unhooked the mic and gave it to Mr. Jack to hold.

Things noted that  Mr. Jack said:

This project is about: Traffic, Context, Scale, Valuable Land, A Reconnection to Water, A Historic Front Door, A New Terminal.

A key aspect is that pick-ups and drop-offs will occur withing Port Authority property.

Other important elements this considers are: Residential, Commercial, Hotel and Retail.

This site is surrounded by neighborhoods such as: The French Quarter, Helston Village, Mazyck Waggborough Garden and Ansonbough.

Main Streets and their Function within Charleston: King = Retail, Meeting Street = Hospitality, Market Street = Regional Arts, East Bay = Restaurants, Broad Street = Business & Government.

Streets Washington and Concord Street are being looked at as part of the drop-off and pick-up scenarios and they have more exploration to do to see the best solution.  Washington Street is a more straight forward solution while Concord presents an unique chance to create residential blocks around it.

The Port Authority is still in discussion with BMW, so it is unclear the time frame that this project  may be achieved.  (I am thinking this is a 15-20 plan.)

The Prize Key Element:  A Historic Front Door.  This is to be achieved by tearing down the warehouses along the river, restoring the street view to the river view.  The building most impacted with this restoration will be the Federal Customs House.  It will ultimately need a  dredging of the area in front of the  Customs House.

Unique smatterings of history,  which will most likely result in new books, museums (such as the African-American museum expansion) and tourism,  to be covered in this newly recaptured area are the stories of the private successful business owners and merchants who owned the slips along the river throughout history and the relationship with the African-American Mosquito Fleet who helped the big boats navigate and provide other essential services to those on the Ashley and Cooper River.

So that was my afternoon on February 9th.  It is going to be very exciting to watch this develop.  Hopefully, I can be a part of it.  Reopening vistas to the river and reclaiming the shore land will only enhance and expand residential offerings to the town. I believe it will make the downtown area more hospitable to both native and tourist alike steeped in Charlestonian history as always.

And a final note,  this project is a ONE SHIP PORT for origination and port-calls.  It needs to be able to handle the REAL luxury sized liners for a certain QUALITY of tourist who spends quality time in Charleston. They are the ones who will generate more business to the existing hospitality haunts when the ship needs to be turned around and restocked which allows the cruise ship patrons to explore, dine and overnight in Charleston whether they are waiting to embark or disembark or port-call visit.  I also believe that the City of Charleston and the Port Authority needs to keep the  weekend party boats, who party at a discount, to a minimum.

New Urban Plan of Union Pier in Charleston