HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION

PRESERVATION SERVICES - HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION (HCF) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. FOUNDED IN 1947 BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED LOCAL CITIZENS, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES ITS IMPORTANT ROLE IN MANAGING GROWTH IN CHARLESTON AND PRESERVING THE CITY'S HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND NEIGHBORHOODS. HCF IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PRESERVATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.THE FOUNDATION CREATED THE NATION'S FIRST REVOLVING FUND FOR NEIGHBORHOODS, SAVING AND PROTECTING OVER 140 HISTORIC STRUCTURES, AND STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF REVITALIZING ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS RATHER THAN JUST INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS. ITS ANSONBOROUGH PROJECT IS CREDITED WITH INSPIRING COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. THE FOUNDATION'S NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE IS AN ARM OF THE REVOLVING FUND. ESTABLISHED IN 1995, THE GOAL IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR THE PRESERVATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS BY CREATING COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES AND REHABILITATING DETERIORATED HISTORIC PROPERTIES, WHILE ALSO PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS. IN 2014, HCF PROVIDED FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THE ROMNEY URBAN GARDEN, A JOINT PROJECT WITH NEW ISRAEL REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH WHICH OWNED AN ABANDONED LOT IN THE NORTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE COMMUNITY GARDEN CONTINUES TO FLOURISH AS THE SITE OF COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INCLUDE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, POETRY READINGS AND PIZZA PARTIES, WITH PIZZA AND PIES MADE IN THE GARDEN'S OVEN. THE COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE CONCEPT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT HCF EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO ESTABLISH A BOOK NOOK READING AREA AND POLLINATOR GARDEN IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. THE FOUNDATION'S NEWEST INITIATIVE UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE, THE COMMON CAUSE LOAN FUND, IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HCF AND A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY NON-PROFIT, THE CHARLESTON REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THE COMMON CAUSE LOAN FUND PROVIDES LOANS OF UP TO $60,000 FOR EXTERIOR REPAIRS TO HISTORIC HOUSES FOR INCOME QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS. THESE LEGACY HOMEOWNERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF CHARLESTON AND THESE NEEDED REPAIRS HELP FAMILIES TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THEIR HOMES. POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS ARE BELOW THE 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME THRESHOLD. HCF REACHED ITS GOAL OF COMPLETING 6 NEW PROJECTS IN 2023 WITH HOMEOWNERS RECEIVING FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND LEGAL ADVICE PRIOR TO THE LOAN'S CLOSING. THROUGH THE REVOLVING FUND, HCF HAS PURCHASED A HISTORIC GAS STATION AT 80 ASHLEY AVENUE THAT WAS AT RISK OF DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT. WE HAVE COMPLETED STABILIZATION WORK AND PLAN TO RE-SELL THE PROPERTY, WITH RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, TO A PRESERVATION MINDED BUYER FOR AN APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL USE.HCF IS ALSO KNOWN AS AN INNOVATOR IN HISTORIC EASEMENT AND COVENANT PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION HOLDS APPROXIMATELY 380 EASEMENTS AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, WHICH PROTECT HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY AND OUTLYING AREAS AS WELL AS OVER 2000 ACRES OF OPEN LAND OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE. PROPERTIES PROTECTED BY EASEMENTS AND COVENANTS HELD BY HCF ARE AS DIVERSE AS THE MAGNIFICENT C.1772 WILLIAM GIBBES HOUSE IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON TO THE C.1939 AULDBRASS NEAR BEAUFORT, SC, THE ONLY PLANTATION DESIGNED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. THROUGH ITS DEDICATED EASEMENTS MANAGER, THE FOUNDATION PERFORMS ANNUAL INSPECTIONS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL OUTREACH TO ALL OUR EASEMENT AND COVENANT PROPERTY OWNERS, HELPING WITH APPROPRIATE CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES FOR ISSUES RANGING FROM BRICK RE-POINTING TO WINDOW RESTORATION TO THE CLEANING OF ARCHITECTURAL STONE. THE FOUNDATION ACTIVELY ADVOCATES AND CONTINUALLY MONITORS ISSUES OF PRESERVATION, URBAN PLANNING, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, LIVABILITY, AND DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY OF CHARLESTON AND IS A STAUNCH DEFENDER OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS. THE PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT MAKES SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROVIDES INPUT AT COUNTY AND CITY COUNCIL, ZONING, PLANNING, AND DESIGN REVIEW HEARINGS. STAFF ALSO MEETS REGULARLY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, AND ARCHITECTS TO REVIEW THEIR PROPOSED PROJECTS. SPECIAL PROJECTS INCLUDE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATIONS, AND ASSISTING THE CITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUND PUBLIC POLICIES. RESPONDING TO THE SIGNIFICANT DEMOGRAPHIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC CHANGES IN CHARLESTON OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, HCF CONSTANTLY WORKS WITH THE CITY TO RE-ALIGN OUR LAND USE PLANNING PRACTICES TO ADDRESS THESE CHANGES. IN A MAJOR ACTIVITY FOR THE YEAR, HCF WORKED SUCCESSFULLY IN 2023 TO OPPOSE GROSSLY INAPPROPRIATE PLANS TO REDEVELOP THE UNION PIER TERMINAL, A HISTORICALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT PARCEL OF OVER 65 ACRES IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON ADJACENT TO TWO HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH OUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND FORUMS, DEVELOPING A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, AND BEING A PIVOTAL PARTNER AMONG A PRESERVATION COALITION, THE PLAN WITH THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPER WAS WITHDRAWN, AND THE SC PORTS AUTHORITY (SPA) RECONSIDERED THE PROPOSAL TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE A PLAN MORE CONDUCIVE AND BENEFICIAL TO CHARLESTON AND ITS RESIDENTS. AS PART OF OUR OUTREACH TO PROTECT HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES ITS PROACTIVE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT COMMUNITIES. WITH HCF SUPPORT, THE HISTORIC PHILLIPS COMMUNITY, A 150-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY WAS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS SC'S FIRST TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTY, BOTH SERVING TO PROTECT THE AREA FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. FURTHER, IN 2023, WE LOBBIED HEAVILY AGAINST CHARLESTON COUNTY PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO ITS HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE. THE CHANGES WOULD STRIP THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION'S ABILITY TO RULE ON SITE DESIGN ISSUES IN DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICTS. THE COUNTY COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST THE CHANGE WHILE SEEKING TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN SAFEGUARDS, WHICH HCF IS FOCUSED ON WITH ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS.THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO WORK WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS TO INCORPORATE THE HCF-PRODUCED TANGLED ROOTS DOCUMENTARY FILMS INTO THE CURRICULUMS OF AREA SCHOOLS. IN 2023 THE FOUNDATION SCREENED AN HCF-COMMISSIONED PREQUEL TO THE SERIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE REPRESENTED IN THE FILMS, AND EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES. THE PREQUEL PRESENTS A MORE COMPLETE BACKSTORY ABOUT THE GENERAL HISTORY OF JOHNS ISLAND, SC LEADING UP TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. TANGLED ROOTS PROVIDES POWERFUL STORIES FROM CHARLESTON'S JOHN ISLAND COMMUNITY WHICH ARE INTIMATE, AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL, REFLECTIONS OF RURAL ECONOMIES AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY. WITH ACCELERATED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHARLESTON, POPULATION GROWTH, AND RISING HOUSING COSTS, THE FOUNDATION HAS PRIORITIZED HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AS A SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY ISSUE THAT IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING RESIDENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE. HCF CONTINUES ITS WORK WITH THE PALMETTO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, AN INITIATIVE STARTED IN 2018 BY HCF WITH THE CITY OF CHARLESTON. ONE OF THE MANY WAYS HCF SEEKS TO PROTECT CHARLESTON'S ARCHITECTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL INTEGRITY IS THROUGH SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION. THE MARGARETTA CHILDS ARCHIVES INCLUDE HISTORIC BUILDING DOCUMENTATION, PHOTOS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT ARE USEFUL TO THOSE RESEARCHING PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT CHARLESTON. THE ONLINE CATALOGUE CONTAINS RECORDS FOR 2,329 BOOKS IN THE FOUNDATION'S LIBRARY AND 7,202 ITEMS FROM THE ARCHIVES, MAKING THE FOUNDATION'S ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS - AS PART OF HCF'S MISSION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE FOUNDATION HOLDS ITS ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF HOUSES AND GARDENS. EACH MARCH AND APRIL THE MONTHLONG FESTIVAL ALLOWS VISITORS TO LEARN ABOUT AND VISIT THE CITY'S FINEST HISTORIC PRIVATE HOUSES AND GARDENS, AS WELL AS ATTEND WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS, AND OTHER CULTURAL AND SOCIAL EVENTS. DAILY MORNING HISTORY WALKS ARE HELD AS WELL AS SPECIALTY TOURS EDUCATING GUESTS ABOUT THE HISTORY, PRESERVATION, AND ADVOCACY ISSUES AROUND THE CITY. FOR 2023 THE FOUNDATION WAS ABLE TO HOST OVER 5,000 GUESTS AT 100 INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AND ENABLED ACCESS TO 85 PRIVATE HISTORIC HOMES AND GARDENS TO BETTER HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFITS AND ATTRACTION OF PRESERVED SPACES. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS ADULT EDUCATION IN THE ART & ARCHITECTURE STUDY SERIES FOR 2022-2023, THE TWELFTH YEAR OF PROVIDING PARTICIPANTS WITH IN-DEPTH STUDIES OF CHARLESTON'S CULTURAL HERITAGE. THIS YEAR'S SERIES OF PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS AND HOW THEY ARE THE CRUCIAL SEEDS FROM WHICH ALL CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH GROWS. ONCE AGAIN, WE HOSTED LECTURES BY SEVERAL EXPERTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS AND EMBARKED ON A MAGNIFICENT LOWCOUNTRY EXCURSION TO THE BEAUTIFUL MEPKIN ABBEY ON THE UPPER COOPER RIVER. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO EMPHASIZE ITS CURRICULUM-BASED FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES. WITH CONTINUED LOGISTICAL AND BUDGETARY ISSUES, STUDENT VISITATION FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS WAS SEVERELY OBSTRUCTED, BUT HCF CONTINUES TO HOST BOTH ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS ON HOSTING UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVEL STUDENTS IN THE FIELD OF HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION, HIGHLIGHTING BOTH MUSEUM HOUSES AS LIVING LABORATORIES. WE ARE FOCUSING ON REIMAGINING OUR EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND CONDUCTED SEVERAL FIELD TRIPS IN 2023 WITH PLANS FOR CONTINUED GROWTH.HCF LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A NEW DIGITAL PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT TITLED "HARBORSIDE HISTORY" IN 2022 AND CONTINUED INTO 2023. THIS VIDEO SERIES WAS ACCOMPANIED EACH MONTH BY A BLOG, AND BOTH ARE FEATURED ON HCF'S WEBSITE, ITS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND MOST MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THIS DIGITAL INITIATIVE WAS LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2022 TO COINCIDE WITH HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY.HCF ALSO HOSTED PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN 2023, SPECIFICALLY A MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM WITH ALL SIX CANDIDATES OF THE MAYORAL RACE FOR THE CITY OF CHARLESTON. THE INTENT OF THE FORUM WAS TO BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO HEAR EACH OF THE CANDIDATES DISCUSS THEIR VISION FOR OUR CITY'S OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES THROUGH THE LENS OF PRESERVATION, LIVABILITY, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE. THIS IS A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF THE FOUNDATIONS ROLE AS A PROMINENT CONVENER OF VOICES AND EFFORTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHARLESTON REGION.