Rendering Courtesy of Navy Yard Charleston
Navy Yard Charleston today announced it broke ground on the redevelopment of two historic storehouses. Projected to open in 2024, Storehouses 8 and 9 will be reopened as a series of restaurants, shops, offices, apartments and live/work units.
The project is part of the broader redevelopment of the former Naval Base led by Jamestown and local Charleston real estate developers Weaver Capital Partners and WECCO Development. The multi-phase redevelopment will transform a 79-acre portion of the campus into a mixed-use neighborhood. This next phase of the redevelopment, which is focused on Storehouse Row, also includes the partnership of Piedmont Private Equity.
“Great revitalizations take focus and forward-thinking partners, and we are seeing the results of both with Jamestown and the local development team,” said R. Keith Summey, Mayor of North Charleston. “Breathing life back into Storehouses 8 and 9 is a giant step forward in the community-first vision for redevelopment of the former Naval Base in North Charleston.”
Image Courtesy of Navy Yard Charleston
The 40,000-square-foot, two-story building known as Storehouse 8 will be restored and repurposed as a restaurant, event space, and offices. In an effort to preserve the history and character of the building, which was constructed in 1906 as naval administrative offices, the renovation will salvage architectural details, including the building's original hallways, trim, railings, flooring, slate roof, and copper soffits.
The adjacent Storehouse 9, a 67,000-square-foot, four-story building constructed in 1918 as naval administration offices and storage facility, will also be redeveloped as part of the next phase. The restoration and renovation of the building includes creating restaurants and shops on the ground floor, a rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the Cooper River, and 86 units with the flexibility to serve as live/work, including eight on the ground floor with a retail component, geared to makers and artisans.
In addition to restoring Storehouse 8 and 9, the next phase of the redevelopment also includes the construction of a new restaurant space to be known as Storehouse 8.5 within the plaza between the buildings. The plaza will be a community gathering place and includes an outdoor dining space, an event lawn, and game area.
Rendering Courtesy of Navy Yard Charleston
Since announcing the Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment, the development team has been focused on planning and design, as well as remediation and preservation projects throughout the property. The team also has partnered with a number of neighborhood organizations and community groups, including Charleston Promise Neighborhood and Historic Charleston Foundation. A neighborhood employment program reserving project-specific positions for local residents will be launched as part of the redevelopment of the Navy Hospital, expected to commence this year.
Beginning its operation as a working dry dock in 1901, the Navy Yard maintained a naval presence on the North Charleston waterfront for nearly a century. Since it was decommissioned in 1996, some of its historic buildings have remained in use for various purposes, while others have declined. Today, the site includes the former Navy Hospital, a neoclassical power plant, naval infirmary, and series of storehouses.
You can learn more about the project at navyyardcharleston.com.