Preservation Society of Charleston

08/26/2026

🚨Advocacy Update: The College of Charleston’s proposal to build a 1,000-bed dorm at 106 Coming St., the site of an 18th-century municipal burial ground, returns to the Board of Architectural Review-Large (BAR-L) for a special meeting on Monday, August 31 at 4:30 PM.

📣 Check our Stories for information on how to submit comments, or make your voice heard at the meeting.

Last month, BAR-L deferred the proposal and requested additional information about site conditions that could affect the project’s design, scale, and commemorative features.

Since then, no archaeological investigations have been completed, and key findings have not been made public. Decisions about the future of this site should be based on a complete public record of the burial ground and its significance.

Please join PSC in urging BAR-L to defer conceptual approval once again until the Board has the information necessary to fully evaluate this request.

📍 BAR-L Special Meeting
🗓 Monday, August 31
⏰ 4:30 PM
🏛 2 George Street, 1st Floor Public Meeting Room

08/14/2026

Carolopolis Spotlight: 698 Rutledge, 2025 Exterior Award winner

Positioned on the edge of Hampton Park, 698 Rutledge Avenue was built for the Botzis family in 1942 as a mixed-use building with apartments and commercial space. Occupied by the Hampton Pharmacy until 1978, the prominent corner entrance still features a terrazzo entry bearing their name today.

Designed by notable 20th century Charleston architect, Augustus Constantine, the building had sat vacant for many years until the current owners purchased the property. As part of the rehabilitation, the project team undertook major repairs, including the installation of a new roof, repair of termite-damaged framing, and stabilization of the brick veneer. Key architectural elements like decorative ironwork and the enclosed octagonal windows along Cleveland Street were restored.

The owners’ and project team’s commitment to the faithful preservation of the original form and character-defining features has reactivated this prominent corner and ensured that this building will support community enterprise for years to come.
Owners: Ben D’Allesandro, Nick D’Allesandro, Andrew D’Allesandro, and Suzanne Michel
Project team: AJ Architects; HHM Builders; Rosen & Associates, Inc.
❗The deadline to submit your 2026 Carolopolis Award nomination is quickly approaching! Don’t miss your chance to showcase a memorable project and celebrate the work that makes Charleston special. Nominations are due Monday, September 14, 2026.

08/07/2026

On July 30, preservationists from across the state gathered at the South Carolina State House to celebrate outstanding achievements in historic preservation. The S.C. Historic Preservation Awards provide an annual opportunity to recognize the people, projects, and organizations working to protect the places and stories that define our communities.

The PSC was proud to help nominate and support nominations for one of Charleston’s foremost experts in historic preservation and a recent citizen-led project to raise awareness for threatened historic buildings.

Restoration contractor Richard “Moby” Marks was recognized with the Governor’s Award, the program’s highest honor, for more than 40 years of work as a skilled craftsman, mentor, and advocate for Charleston’s historic buildings. Moby and his team have led some of Charleston’s most significant preservation and restoration projects, earning an extraordinary 22 Carolopolis Awards.

Save Our Structures Charleston (SOS Charleston) received a Preservation Service Award for its grassroots effort to identify and document more than 150 historic properties at risk due to deteriorated conditions. In 2025, PSC supported efforts to transform the survey into an interactive map that is now publicly accessible at SOSchs.com, helping educate the public and raise awareness of threatened vernacular architecture that is irreplaceable if lost to neglect, extreme weather, or illegal demolition.

As a testament to Charleston’s leadership in protecting historic places, seven of the 14 awards given at the 2026 award ceremony came home to the Lowcountry. Additional local honorees included Hutchinson House and 60 Meeting St. (both 2025 Carolopolis Award winners), as well as the Bennett Rice Mill facade, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, and the Footlight Players, all recognized for exceptional preservation work and long-term stewardship of historic resources.

📷: Moby Marks in conversation with Bob Vila at the PSC’s 2024 Cahill Lecture



📷: Fireproof Building before and after, courtesy of Richard Marks Restorations, 2019 Carolopolis Award winner

07/31/2026

Advocacy Update: The former headquarters for the historic YWCA of Greater Charleston was demolished on Thursday.

The unnecessary loss of the c. 1964 building at 106 Coming St. has been anticipated since the BAR-L granted the College of Charleston’s demolition request in 2025. The College plans to build a 7-story residence hall on this property, which is also the site of an 18th-century public burial ground documented as the final resting place for thousands.

But the university still faces several significant steps before work proceeds: The state Bureau of Coastal Management has placed strict conditions on additional documentation required before the burial ground can be disturbed, and any proposal to remove and relocate burials must be approved by City Council. Earlier this month, BAR-L deferred plans for the building design, indicating it was premature to consider efforts to commemorate the burial ground and build a dorm without knowing more about the history contained on the site.

What you can do: Now is the time to pay close attention to opportunities for additional public engagement. The PSC is part of the community-led Protect and Respect the Bodies coalition, and anyone interested in taking a more active role in advocacy at 106 Coming St. should connect with the coalition at protectrespectbodies.com.

07/28/2026

📍Revolutionary-era Historic Marker

Installed in late 2025, the historic marker at 9 Orange St. tells the story of a house owned by two Revolutionary Patriots. Abigail Minis, a widow with nine children, was a successful business woman from a prominent Ashkenazi Jewish family who settled in Savannah in 1733. During the American Revolution, she supplied Continental and French troops before fleeing to Charleston after Savannah fell to the British, making 9 Orange St. her home until the war's end. Another widow, Elizabeth Harvey, purchased the southern half of the property in 1769 and erected a now-lost house there, which the British used as a barracks while they occupied Charleston (1780-1782). Keating Simons, a plantation owner, Patriot officer, and aid-de-camp to Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”, purchased the property from Minis’ estate in 1797, and the property remained in the family until 1834.

Historic Research: Butler Preservation

07/25/2026

🍂 Thinking about fall?

🏡This October, PSC is celebrating 50 years of The Fall Tours with nearly 40 unique opportunities to explore Charleston’s rich history.

• Step inside private houses and gardens rarely open to the public.
• Choose from a variety of guided tours through South of Broad, or cross the Cooper River to explore the Old Village in Mount Pleasant.
• Discover exciting new tours in North Central and West Ashley.
• Commemorate America's 250th anniversary with special Revolutionary-era experiences.
• Enjoy returning favorites, including Behind the Big House, Exploring Charleston's Alleyways, Ironwork of Charleston, and Touring the Tombstones.

There’s never been a better time to discover the stories, architecture, and historic places that make extraordinary. But don’t wait — tickets are selling fast! Reserve your spot today for a Weekend House & Garden Tour, an Insider’s Tour, and a variety of other unforgettable experiences before they sell out.

Reminder: PSC members enjoy special discounts and can also volunteer to take part in the 50th anniversary of this tradition. Volunteers receive special perks throughout the entire month to use towards The Fall Tours.

07/10/2026

‼️Advocacy Update: Community voices made a difference at BAR.

At this week’s BAR-L meeting, the Board deferred all three major development proposals on the agenda and directed applicants to address key concerns related to context, compatibility, and design quality.

Aligned with PSC’s advocacy, the Board called for:
📍106 Coming St.
More complete archaeological investigations before any future design review of the proposed CofC dorm located on an 18th-century burial ground.

📍989 Morrison Drive
Revisions to the massing and architectural complexity of the proposed apartment building.

📍48 & 52 Line St.
A return to the design quality previously approved for the mixed-use project, including further study of height, scale, mass, and details.

Thank you to everyone who spoke up and submitted comments. This week’s outcome is a reminder that thoughtful public engagement can influence the review process and improve the future of development in .

PSC will remain actively engaged as these projects progress, particularly at 106 Coming St., where state-level permitting of archaeological investigation and memorialization planning are still underway. Community input will remain critical to ensure that any work is performed with the dignity and care this site deserves.

07/03/2026

Step into Charleston’s Revolutionary past with the Summer 2026 issue of PSC’s Preservation Progress magazine. Pick up your copy in The PSC Shop!

Released ahead of our nation’s 250th anniversary, this special edition explores Charleston’s colonial-era buildings. As tangible links to the American Revolution, these historic structures were home to influential Patriots and Loyalists whose actions helped shape the fight for independence and influence its outcome. Charleston’s built environment stands as an enduring testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of the artisans who created it. More than two centuries later, these historic buildings continue to exemplify the resilience, beauty, and lasting value of traditional building practices.

🗺️ In addition to the latest issue of Preservation Progress, PSC staff created a new self-guided walking tour through Bloomberg Connects featuring Revolutionary War-era historic markers. Walk the streets of Charleston using the app, or take the tour from the comfort of home. Printed maps are also available in The PSC Shop.

📖 Magazine design by Banks Creative

07/02/2026

The July 8 BAR-L agenda includes three projects representing issues that PSC confronts daily: Development on burial grounds, building in flood-prone areas, and reduction in the quality of large-scale new buildings. Read for more...

Board of Architectural Review – Large (BAR-L) Wednesday, July 8 | 4:30 PM 2 George St., 1st Floor Public Meeting RoomComment in-person or online Next week’s BAR-L agenda paints an honest portrait of the range of development pressures shaping Charleston today.  The Board will consider three maj...

07/01/2026

🎉 PSC’s 50th Fall Tours lineup is here!

Join the Preservation Society throughout October for exclusive access to Charleston’s historic residences, gardens, and neighborhoods through House & Garden Tours, specialty walking tours, and Insider’s Tours with local expert guides and dedicated volunteers.

This year’s lineup features South of Broad, Old Village – Mount Pleasant, new tours in North Central and West Ashley, Revolutionary-era experiences to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, and returning favorites like Behind the Big House, Exploring Charleston’s Alleyways, Beyond the Bricks, and Touring the Tombstones.

🎟️ Availability is limited, and tours typically sell out. Browse the full lineup at the link in our bio and secure your tickets today.