The City of Charleston is continuing its planned community engagement efforts as part of Project 3500, Mayor William Cogswell’s initiative to deliver 3,500 affordable housing units by 2032. Friday’s Work-In-Progress presentation will be at Dock Street Theater.
This week’s design workshop marked an early step in a long-term planning process, bringing together architects and designers to begin exploring possibilities for future housing on the peninsula. The concepts shared during the workshop are preliminary and intended to generate ideas, not represent final designs.
“This effort is about creating housing that reflects Charleston and works for the people who call it home,” Cogswell said. “We are committed to a thoughtful process, and we look forward to hearing from residents in the weeks ahead.”
As part of the next phase of engagement, the City will:
- Distribute more than 500 comment cards at the Work-In-Progress Presentation
- Launch an online feedback form to collect input from residents across the city
- Bring preliminary design concepts directly into neighborhoods through a series of community meetings and pop-up events
These efforts are designed to ensure residents, particularly those most directly impacted, have multiple opportunities to provide input in ways that are accessible and convenient.
Project 3500 is structured to prioritize a build-first approach, minimizing disruption to current residents. By incorporating city-owned and partner properties into the planning process, the City is working to allow for phased redevelopment without displacement.
Environmental features and neighborhood assets will be carefully considered throughout the design process. No decisions have been made regarding specific site layouts, and all elements will be evaluated with community input before plans are finalized.
The week-long design workshop will conclude on March 20 with a public presentation at 5 p.m. at Dock Street Theater. Additional engagement opportunities will be announced soon.