Granite Countertops in Charleston, SC

Today, Friday, Mar 10, 2023 in Cosgrove Bridge the tide is falling. Next low tide is 03:49 AM. Next high tide is 09:47 AM.

6.005.004.003.002.001.000.00-1.00MLLW (ft)-0.165.42-0.035.52-0.075.26-0.055.60.0705:0008:0011:0014:0017:0020:0023:0002:0005:0008:0011:0014:0017:0020:0023:0002:00Current Time

North Charleston, SC Tide Chart

NOAA Station:Cosgrove Bridge (8665101)

City of Charleston Officials said the proposed changes include a new entryway off Meeting Street and some notable changes along Market Street.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Historic, iconic and could be getting some major renovations soon.

The City of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review unanimously granted conceptual approval for proposed changes to the Charleston Place Hotel Wednesday afternoon.

City of Charleston Officials said the proposed changes include a new entryway off Meeting Street and some notable changes along Market Street.

The City of Charleston’s Director of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability Robert Summerfield said they are looking to change the way the hotel connects with the street. He said they want to open the shops up to the street, elevate the sidewalk, and add an outdoor plaza space- creating more of a street presence.

“I think that will be very interesting and cool for shoppers and folks that are traversing from meeting street over to king street and vice versa in the future,” Summerfield said.

Other proposed changes include replacing the canopies from green to black, adjusting the roofing, and replacing the King Street clock tower and glass roof- which was the only part of the proposed plans that board members wanted changed.

“About the King Street clock tower- at this point, after 30- some odd years- it now has a character of its own,” Jay White, a member of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review, said.

Barbara Moverman, who is visiting from out of town, said she liked the changes, but agreed with board members about the King Street Clock.

“I think the changes are good, I like the new look,” Moverman said. “The only thing is, I do like the clock. I think keep the clock, it’s a trademark and it’s a nice look.”

We reached out to The Charleston Place who provided us a statement:

Almost exactly a year ago, Beemok Hospitality Collection (BHC) transitioned The Charleston Place to a locally owned and managed independent hotel. We promised the community that we would make significant investments to this iconic landmark, and we continue to follow through on that commitment. In the past year, we have made several enhancements to the hotel including refreshing The Palmetto Cafe, Charleston Grill, Meeting at Market, Community Perk and The Boutique, as well as introducing new programming, activations, and signature experiences including holiday snowfall and our community-wide Easter Eggstravaganza. Throughout these touchpoints, our sole purpose is to create meaningful ways for our colleagues, communities and guests to connect and share extraordinary experiences.

As we look ahead to the next chapter of The Charleston Place, our long-term vision requires thoughtful planning and partnership with the City of Charleston as well as key stakeholders. While we have presented initial plans to reimagine nearly all spaces within the hotel over several phases, we are very early on in the process. We look forward to sharing these plans with the public once they are approved and we have a timeline for completion

Summerfield said the proposed plans have to undergo two more Board of Architectural Reviews before they are finalized, but he said he anticipates the process will go fast because it’s an existing building.

For more information about the proposed plans for the hotel, click here.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

WEST ASHLEY, S.C. (WCBD) – The future of historic preservation in West Ashley is up for discussion.

The topic was addressed during the City of Charleston’s West Ashley Revitalization Commission, or WARC, meeting on Wednesday.

“There’s been a number of demolition requests in the West Ashley area. Some of which have gone before the Design Review Board for board review of the demolition, others that are not within board purview,” explained Robert Summerfield, Charleston’s Director of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability.

According to Summerfield, these recent requests sparked Wednesday’s discussion. He said buildings 50 years or older are protected in West Ashley if they are located within a commercial corridor. All others run the risk of being torn down unless they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“There are buildings now that have reached an age that they are considered historic buildings and they are important to the fiber and the character of our neighborhoods,” said Charlie Smith.

Smith is a member of the WARC. He told News 2 he planned to propose a temporary, city-wide moratorium on the demolition of buildings 50+ years of age during the meeting. He wants to see permanent protections in place.

“Because if it takes another few years for those protections to be put in place then what are we going to lose between now and then?” questioned Smith.

Meanwhile, News 2 also spoke with Dr. Jay Wisner. He owns Peninsula Cosmetic & Family Dentistry on Savannah Highway, and the property adjacent to it. He’s been trying to get approval to tear down the neighboring home for years, but its age and location have protected it.

“It’s not safe, it’s been condemned by the fire marshal. It is a building that I’m afraid to walk into and I am not going to allow anybody to walk into it because I’ve been told, if there is an earthquake or any kind of seismic event, it would essentially be turned into a pile of bricks,” said Dr. Wisner.

Wisner said structural engineers told him the house was not able to be rehabbed unless it was demolished first. If given permission, he said he plans to salvage the brick and reconstruct the same building. Until then, it will remain unused.

Carve out a little time to find a memorable Holy City souvenir.

From settling in for a long lunch at Leon's Oyster Shop to strolling the colorful length of Rainbow Row, there's no shortage of ways to while away a weekend in Charleston, South Carolina. In between garden tours, historic home visits, and dinner reservations, you'll want to carve out a little time to experience the Holy City's shopping scene too. From family-owned garden boutiques to globally minded social-enterprise spots, these are our 15 favorite places to shop in Charleston.

Abide A While

Founded in 1957, the name of this family-owned nursery and garden boutique in Mount Pleasant speaks for itself: Plan to linger here over flowering annuals, seasonal containers, and an artful assortment of home goods and jewelry; abideawhile.com

Blue Bicycle Books

Jonathan Sanchez’s shop on King Street takes its bookstack seriously. If piled on top of each other, they claim, their collection of used, rare, and local books would reach 1,565 feet high (for comparison, the steeple of nearby St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church climbs just 265 feet). Pop in for a breezy beach novel or a Charleston-themed coffee table book to commemorate your travels; bluebicyclebooks.com

Candlefish

Shop hand-poured soy wax candles in scents pulled from their library of 100 fragrances—or make your own—in this King Street corner store, which also carries a selection of jewelry, home goods, and bath products; candlefish.com

Charleston Artist Collective

This gallery in Mt. Pleasant, a suburb of Charleston, highlights burgeoning and established local artists and offers a range of works at varying price points in the spirit of encouraging collectors of all ages and backgrounds. Each month, the group also gives a percentage of art sales to benefit a selected local charity partner; charleston.artistcollectives.org

Charleston City Market

More than 300 entrepreneurs peddle their wares at the historic market, but the real reason to shop here is the resident Gullah artisans, who honor and celebrate their West African heritage through the craft of weaving sweetgrass baskets. For many of them, basket weaving is a family tradition, a craft shared from generation to generation, and seen as being a gift from God; thecharlestoncitymarket.com

Croghan’s Jewel Box

Anchored on King Street for more than a century, this family-owned jewelry store is a special place to find a memorable souvenir. Peruse elegant objects for the home, like their crystal Charleston Camellia Bowl, as well as their heirloom-worthy collection of new and estate jewelry and silver, from sterling baby rattles to the Goldbug Collection, their in-house line of costume jewelry that celebrates Lowcountry icons, like palm fronds and boiled peanuts; croghansjewelbox.com

Fritz Porter

Housed in a reimagined former cigar factory, this design-minded collective celebrating all things home is a must for the interiors-obsessed set. Linger over beautifully decorated vendor vignettes and find oodles of inspiration for your own house; fritzporter.com

George C. Birlant and Co.

The family-owned antiques showroom on King and Clifford Streets celebrated 100 years in 2022 and is known for its collection of fine 18th and 19th English antiques, as well as reproductions. Beyond carrying antique furnishings, silver, and crystal, they’re also the exclusive maker of the iron Charleston Battery Bench, cast in the original mold first used towards the end of the 19th century and painted in Charleston Green, a shade so deep that it almost reads black; birlantantiquescharleston.com

HART

Rethink the traditional charm bracelet with local jewelry designer Hart Hagerty’s modern take on the family heirloom. Design your own one-of-a-kind charm necklace in the brand’s Upper King Street studio, where they also carry a fun assortment of ready-made baubles, like their signature silk tassel topknot earrings and matching beaded bracelet sets for parents and children; shophart.com

Ibu Movement

In a second story shop on King Street, Susan Hull Walker’s social enterprise is informed by her extensive international travels and the deep relationships she and her team have formed with women artisans in communities around the globe. In her otherworldly boutique, you’ll find an elevated collection of handmade goods, from cocktail napkins woven in Chiapas, Mexico, to gold-plated brass jewelry crafted in Colombia; ibumovement.com

LAKE

For sleepwear devotees who have only ever shopped online for the South’s favorite pajamas, a stop into their bright, airy King Street outpost is a must. Don’t miss the adorable selection of children’s toys and gifts upstairs; lakepajamas.com

Madison-Mathews

At this King Street boutique, shop local designer Caroline Chakeris’ cheery line of embroidered and block-printed apparel, made from breezy cottons and linens suited for looking stylish and pulled together even during the steamiest Carolina heatwave; madison-mathews.com

Out of Hand

You’ll find this eclectic shop on the charming main street of Mount Pleasant’s historic Old Village neighborhood. Stop in to browse a unique mix of clothing, natural and clean beauty brands, fresh flower bouquets, and specialty items for the home; shopoutofhand.com

The Tiny Tassel

Mimi Striplin’s Spring Street shop spills over with joyful color, from her breezy dresses to the tassel jewelry that started it all. Bring home her collection’s happy style with a subscription to The Tiny Tassel Earring Club, which sends you two pairs of earrings, including new releases, every month for a year; thetinytassel.com

WORTHWHILE

Tucked in a new location in an historic building on the corner of Magazine and Logan Streets downtown, the beloved lifestyle store turns 30 this year, and it’s easy to see why it’s had such staying power: Worthwhile has a thoughtful mix of pieces for home and closet curated from a host of independent, responsible makers from around the globe; shopworthwhile.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Readers of Southern Living magazine have given the Holy City another top ranking in its annual South’s Best Awards.

For the sixth year, the Charleston region ranked at the top of the awards, which recognize readers’ favorite destinations and experiences, covering everything from cities and small towns to restaurants and hotels.

The magazine noted Charleston’s “vibrant culinary scene, fantastic shops and boutiques, the coastal breezes blowing in over the Battery–it’s no shock that The Holy City stays at the top of this list year after year.”

Explore Charleston Board Chair and Bulldog Tours Founder John LaVerne said he is thankful for the “prestigious accolades.”

“The exposure from the award reinforces to travelers the attributes that make our region a premier destination, from our vibrant urban core to our beautiful island communities,” LaVerne said. “Being honored for the sixth year demonstrates our ability to remain relevant and to consistently provide high-quality, engaging and authentic visitor experiences in a highly-competitive industry.”

Greenville was the only other South Carolina town to rank this year. It came in at 7th place.

Savannah came in at second place and Asheville came in third place. Atlanta and Nashville rounded out the top five.

In addition to the honor for Charleston, Rodney Scott’s BBQ was named South’s Best BBQ Joint in South Carolina. The magazine notes that Scott has built a “multi-state whole hog empire” with locations in Alabama, Atlanta, and another on the way in Nashville.

“It all started in 2017 at the flagship on King Street in downtown Charleston, where Scott introduced city diners to the Pee Dee style of ‘burn barrel’ cooking he learned at his parents’ restaurant in the small South Carolina town of Hemingway,” the magazine’s website states.

It says Scott’s “tongue-tingling vinegar and red pepper sauce” is what made Scott a Southern barbecue star.

Readers voted Mount Pleasant-based Page’s Okra Grill as the Best Locally-Owned Restaurant in South Carolina. Southern Living says Page’s cemented itself “as a standout in a city full of destination-worthy dining.”

“The family-run restaurant offers an irresistible menu of elevated but familiar Southern stapes, like chicken fried steak, barbecue-filled egg rolls, and fried green tomatoes with roasted red pepper and peach jam,” the website states.

Since it sources much of its seafood locally, the magazine says that ordering seafood at Page’s is “always a good idea.”

Meanwhile, the cities of Folly Beach and Georgetown ranked among the South’s Best Tiny Towns.

Folly Beach is “the kind of place where the only footwear required is flip-flops and the only rule is to have a good time,” Southern Living says. It also mentions the Folly Beach Pier, which just reopened after extensive renovations.

For Georgetown, Southern Living cites the state’s Hammock Coast well-known “rich history, generous hospitality, and natural Lowcountry beauty.”

Georgetown, it says, “has plenty of all three.”

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.