🏠 Shaping CHS’ future through historic preservation

Since the 1960s, the Historic Charleston Foundation has become a national model for historic preservation. | Photo provided by the Historic Charleston Foundation

Historic preservation for a better future — that’s the goal of the Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF), a preservation advocacy organization that helps guide and educate homeowners with the goal of preserving historic properties and curbing displacement.

History of the organization:

The ground-breaking program was founded by Francis Edmunds, an innovator and champion of historic preservation in Charleston, a new idea during the twentieth century.

Edmunds and others established the Revolving Fund in the late ‘50s with the purchasing and selling of historic homes with protective restrictions. Those properties became and continue to become part of the Easement and Covenant Program, which protects nearly 400 properties around Charleston.

Did you see the red 75th flags flying downtown earlier this year? Nearly every private property with one of those flags is either an easement or covenant property with historic protections.

Present day:

As the program has grown, it has continued to evolve and adapt to economic and financial changes in the Lowcountry. The Revolving Fund became an overarching umbrella for two main initiatives: the Edmunds Endangered Property Fund (that continues the original work with covenant properties) and the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative to help achieve the same goals with a different strategy.

Preservation funds are increasingly hard to come by, leading to the displacement of some of Charleston’s generational homeowners. The cost of maintenance for older homes, particularly in traditionally underserved communities, can limit the homeowner’s ability to remain in their home.

The Common Cause Loan Fund was established by HCF and the Charleston Redevelopment Corporation (CRC) and funded by The 1772 Foundation in response to the growing problem. The program is seeking additional funding and donations from community members like you to complete projects that assist those in need with the resources to stay in their homes.*

HOW THE PROGRAM HELPS

This content was created in partnership with the Historic Charleston Foundation and written by Michaela Leung.*

Use the links below to share this with someone who loves learning about our city (and its preservation).

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

Hanahan Library Book Club | Tue., Sep. 20 | 4-5 p.m. | Hanahan Library, 1216 Old Murray Ct., Hanahan | Free | BCLS welcomes customers to return to the Hanahan Library Book Club to discuss “All Systems Red” by Martha Wells — new members and walk-ins welcome. 📚
Mapping Charleston’s Black Burial Grounds | Tue., Sep. 20 | 7-8:15 p.m. | Church of the Holy Cross Parish Hall, 299 Seven Farms Dr., Daniel Island | Free | This community-led, open-source mapping project will create a comprehensive inventory of Black burial grounds in the city of Charleston.

Wednesday

Awendaw Green Barn Jam | Wed., Sep. 21 | 5:50-10 p.m. | Sewee Outpost, 4853 N. Hwy. 17, Awendaw | $10, cash only | Join Awendaw Green every Wednesday at the Barn Jam, an outdoor concert event featuring five different artists performing original music. 🎵
Fall Garden Strolls and Wine Tasting | Wed., Sep. 21 | 5-7 p.m. | Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd. | $25-$30 | Spend the evening at Middleton Place exploring America’s oldest landscaped gardens with a glass of wine in hand. 🍷
SWEAT Fitness Series with Athleta | Wed., Sep. 21 | 6-7 p.m. | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, 1218 Belk Dr., Mount Pleasant | Free | Join a free workout class at The Oaks every Wednesday in September + October — this week features Power Flow Yoga with Kimberly Markin. 💪

Thursday

12th Annual Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Business & Community Expo | Thu., Sep. 22 | 1-6 p.m. | Omar Shrine Convention Center, 176 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant | Free | The largest networking event in Mount Pleasant is set to take place this Thursday — enjoy interactive booths, demonstrations, and food from vendors like Nothing Bundt Cakes and The Motley Chew.
Brewery Bingo Night w/ RikiQuito Food Truck | Thu., Sep. 22 | 5-8 p.m. | Snafu Brewing Company, 3280 Industry Dr., North Charleston | Free | Bring your appetite and your game face for another Brewery Bingo Night at Snafu. 🍴

Plan Ahead

Pink Promenade Catwalk + Cocktails | Sat., Oct. 8 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Oaks, 1218 Belk Dr., Mount Pleasant (across from Barnes & Noble) | $35 | This fashion show is a special fundraiser benefiting the Roper St. Francis Foundation Breast Cancer Program, including live music, brunch nibbles, cocktails + more. 🎀 *

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

Cheese the day: Get free queso at Moe’s today 👀

What better way to celebrate National Queso Day than with free queso from Moe’s Southwest Grill? | Photo provided by Moe’s Southwest Grill

Today is National Queso Day — and we’ve got the best queso scenario to celebrate.

Get a free side of queso — today only — when you visit any Moe’s Southwest Grill Charleston locations.

Here’s how:

Visit a restaurant: No purchase necessary
Order online: With $6+ entree purchase

Bonus: Customers have a chance to win Moe’s recently-unveiled Queso Day t-shirt in a local restaurant or via Instagram.*

FREE QUESO? YES, CHEESE

Weather

89º | Partly cloudy | 11% chance of rain

Sunrise + sunset

Rise: 7:06 a.m.
Set: 7:21 p.m.

Tide

Low: 10:28 a.m. + 11:18 p.m.
High: 4:26 a.m. + 4:55 p.m.

Closed

Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen is no longer in business at 90 Folly Rd. Blvd. The Southern restaurant shared that it is working with employees to find new opportunities after closing its doors yesterday — also noting that new plans are on the horizon. View the announcement.

Community

Calling all Dorchester County residents: The next Community Outreach Series Lunch and Learn will be held on Wed., Sept. 28. Swing by this event to learn about the elections process, register to vote, and meet Voter Registration and Elections Office staff. Secure your spot. 🗳️

Real Estate

The former Bi-Lo supermarket on Boone Hill Road in Summerville recently sold for approximately $2.9 million. The buyer? Dorchester County. Plans for the site include a Health and Human Services campus, with offices for various organizations like the Dept. of Health and Environmental Control. 🏢 (The Post and Courier)

Sports

Good news, RiverDogs fans: The team kicked off the best-of-three Carolina League Championship Series with a win against the Lynchburg Hillcats on Sunday night. This puts the team one victory away from a championship for the second year in a row. ⚾ (WCSC)

Number

$90,000. That’s how much the Lowcountry Food Bank Walk to Fight Hunger raised to combat food insecurity. The 5K was held this past Sunday + allowed 375 supporters of the local organization to learn about areas experiencing food insecurities. 💰 (WCSC)

Cause

Baker & Brewer is partnering with local nonprofit Share Our Suzy (SOS) Lowcountry in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Beginning Sat., Oct. 1, the restaurant will release a limited-edition beer, “Life Savers,” and plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the nonprofit at the end of the month. 🍺

Charlestonian

You’ve probably heard of the Charleston Time Machine podcast, but what do you know about the local historian who started the podcast five years ago? Learn about Dr. Nic Butler’s background + how the Charleston Time Machine came to be. 🎙️ (WCBD)

List

Dig into Eater Carolinas’ list of the 9 Newest Brunch Spots in Charleston, September 2022 to explore emerging brunch dishes like the biscuit towers at Babas on Meeting + the burrata toast with prosciutto from Indaco. 🥞 (Eater Carolinas)

Eat

Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: CHStoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up. 🍽️ *

Travel

Going on vacation this fall and need to learn a new language fast? With Babbel, you could be speaking a new language in as little as three weeks. Bonus: Get 55% off your subscription for a limited time. 🌎*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

City

Happy birthday to...

American Theater celebrates its 80th birthday in Charleston, SC.

We love exploring the messages on the theater’s exterior sign. | Screenshot via @pphgevents

The American Theater. 🎉

Yesterday, this iconic local venue celebrated its 80th birthday, though it doesn’t look a day over 20, right?

First open on King Street on Sept. 19, 1942, the theater was named in honor of our country’s servicemen and women. Read a detailed account of its history here.

Today, the venue features 8,000 sqft. of event space, a bar + lounge, a lobby and concessions area, and a cinema with stadium seating. You’ll often find weddings, dinner receptions, corporate retreats, or business seminars here, and you can’t miss the fun messages on the exterior sign.

Check it out for yourself at 446 King St.

THE WRAP

	Today’s issue was written by Alexandra. Editor’s pick: If you’ve been following along, you’ve probably heard me talk — or write, I guess — about how much I enjoy spending an evening at a RiverDogs game. The energy is always great, and there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house. Sunday night’s win was super exciting and I’m looking forward to watching the team compete in championship games two + three (if necessary) tonight and tomorrow. Not sure if it’s too soon, but the RiverDogs released the 132-game schedule for 2023 and I’m already taking notes. Check it out. ⚾ Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Dive into The Market Street Drainage Improvement Project, here.
Read More

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alexandra Garian, Tatum Jacaruso, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Stephanie Zapiecki | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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