Liberty Hill residents urge North Charleston to designate 153‑year neighborhood as local historic district

Residents and community leaders urged the City Council of the City of North Charleston during public comment on March 20 to designate Liberty Hill as a local historic district with historic‑conservation, business and workforce zoning overlays.

The request, voiced by multiple speakers who identified themselves as Liberty Hill homeowners and descendants of the neighborhood’s founders, said overlays would protect the community’s “historic character,” limit incompatible new construction, and help preserve affordable housing and long‑term local ownership. “I stand before you as an advocate for our community, Liberty Hill, which was built 153 years ago,” said Audrey Lisbon, who identified herself as a descendant of early Liberty Hill residents.

The speakers said the community has organized rehabilitation and planning work and seeks city backing to codify protections. Craig F. Mitchell said Liberty Hill has completed rehabilitation work on 37 houses with roughly $500,000 in funding and…