Start your Monday with these must-reads.

Happy April, Charleston. We can’t believe another month of 2018 is already in the books. In case you’re new here (welcome 👋), or if the past few weeks flew by too quickly for you to read every CHStoday newsletter, we’re revisiting last month’s most popular stories.

1️⃣ An alternative to driving on the peninsula // A closer look at the new downtown bike plan + the way it aims to make Charleston a more bikeable city.

What you said:
“Sorry to say it but the biking in this area is disgraceful and UNSAFE! ‘Beach to Battery’ is a joke. Putting up signs and a new path along the Sullivan’s Island bridge does not make a bikeway. Absolutely ridiculous!” –Emilie

2️⃣ New West Ashley, who dis? // What will the revitalization of West Ashley really look like? We talk about some of the steps that have already been taken + what’s next on the docket.

What you said:
“We moved here in 2013 and slowly I have been rearranging my family’s life so that we never actually have to leave WA. 😆. This plan brings us closer to that reality.” –Katie

3️⃣ What’s higher than our tide? // … Our home prices. It’s no secret that housing affordability is a growing issue here in Charleston. We look at why costs are going up – and the reason it’s not so easy to bring them back down.

What you said:
“I fear between the increasing cost, lack of home availability and traffic I will have to move– or, at the least, post a ‘closed for business’ sign on I-26, lol.” –CeCe

4️⃣ Coachella? More like Coach-hella far away. // Our top picks, (within reasonable road-trip distance), for this music festival season– from High Water to 420 Fest.

What you said:
“I didn’t know what a wook was before reading, but when I saw the definition I was like, ‘yes, this is exactly what I imagine seeing at music festivals.’” –Mike

5️⃣ 27 million square feet of office space // You’ll never have a case of the Mondays if you’re working inside one of Charleston’s coworking spaces.

What you said:
“If you find yourself on upper King Street you may even run into the women businesses in CoHort 9!” –Harbor Entrepreneur Center

Can’t get enough CHStoday? We can’t blame ya. Here are a few bonus picks for you to check out:

• Low Line, high hopes // How repurposing old train tracks could unify neighborhoods + completely transform downtown.
• Who’s a Good Boy? // We’ve fetched a list of local businesses to t-r-e-a-t your pet.
• The Crosstown’s connection to the Civil Rights Movement // Traffic along the Septima P. Clark Parkway may perpetually be at a standstill, but the woman it’s named after actually played a major role in moving our country forward.
• Saving Cents // Show off your money-saving skills– or start forming better spending habits– by participating in our Saving Cents series, in partnership with South State Bank.

When CHStoday first launched (Feb. 15, 2018 🎂), we had less than 5,000 subscribers. Now, less than three months later, there are more than 22,000 of you.

Our goal is to make Charleston a more informed + engaged community– but we can’t do it without you guys.

Every time you read our newsletter, share it with a friend, or respond with your input, you’re making CHStoday better + stronger. So, thank you. 🙌

–Jen, Multimedia Producer