LOWCOUNTRY LOWLINE

FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE FRIENDS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY LOWLINE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARD THEIR GOAL OF TRANSFORMING A DERELICT RAIL SPUR LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON, SC INTO A LINEAR PARK. AT THE END OF 2017, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO CONSUMMATE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ITSELF, NORFOLK-SOUTHERN AND THE CITY OF CHARLESTON FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY.SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE WORKED TOWARD DEVELOPMENT OF A DESIGN AND TOWARD ESTABLISHING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY, ITS RESIDENTS, DEVELOPERS AND MERCHANTS TO MAKE THE VISION A REALITY.AS LITTLE AS A YEAR AGO, WE ENVISIONED AN 8 TO 12-FOOT WIDE PATH STRETCHING ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY. TODAY, WE GLIMPSE MUCH MORE: THE PROMISES WE SEE FAR EXCEED OUR EARLIER ASSESSMENTS.THE LOWLINE IS NOT A PATH. IT'S A SYSTEM.IT IS A GREEN NETWORK CONNECTING THE CHARLESTON REGION ENHANCING NEIGHBORHOODS AND RICHLY INCREASING THE VIBRANCY OF THIS GREAT CITY. ITS IMPACTS WILL RUN THE GAMUT: BETTER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, FLOOD CONTROL, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION, NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIVITY, RECREATION, ART, MUSIC ANDPERFORMANCE VENUES, AND MORE.IT CAN AND WILL MAKE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE THE CITY'S OVERALL LIVABILITY BETTER FOR EVERYONE. BUT ON AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL THE LOWLINE WILL HAVE A TRULY CATALYTIC EFFECT: ITS FINAL DESIGN WILL SPRING FROM THE INVOLVEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IT TOUCHES, THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE BIGGEST STAKE IN WHAT THE LOWLINE WILL BE; HOW IT WILL SERVE THEM, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. NOT CHARACTERIZED BY A SINGLE DESIGN CONCEPT COVERING ITS ENTIRETY, NORTH TO SOUTH, RATHER, EACH OF THE SIX DISTINCTIVE LOWLINE SECTIONS WILL REFLECT THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF ITS ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE DESIGN PROCESS WILL ENSURE THAT UNIQUENESS.EVEN AS WE WORK TOWARD FULFILLING THIS VISION, THE FRIENDS OF THE LOWLINE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND TOWARD PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS BY PRESSING TO FIND WAYS THEY CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AS THEIR OWN.