City Council approves rezoning at 15 Radcliffe Street after heated debate over parking garage and housing

City of Charleston City Council voted to rezone property near Radcliffe and Saint Philip Streets to General Business (GB) after lengthy public comment and debate that focused on whether the change would permit a privately owned parking garage or facilitate housing.

Residents from Radcliffe Borough and neighboring areas and multiple neighborhood association representatives urged the council to oppose a privately owned parking garage proposed for parcels near 15 Radcliffe Street. Elaine Doyle, president of the Radcliffe Borough Neighborhood Association, told the council the group opposed “a parking garage in our community,” and raised concerns about long-term maintenance costs and public-safety impacts.

Frank Brumley, the property owner whose parcels are the subject of the rezoning, told the council the City’s 2019 parking study is out of date and that the site’s context has changed: “It went with the study has outdated outdated. Excuse me. It needs to be considered along with street parking and parking garages.” He also said his architect had previously worked on city projects.

Council debate centered on competing priorities: Peninsula council members and neighborhood residents pressed concerns about increased traffic, the character of the neighborhood, and whether a privately owned garage would produce public benefits. Other council members argued that rezoning would align the parcel with surrounding properties, remove a zoning anomaly, and could enable affordable housing or other uses that would support downtown vibrancy.

Councilman Greg Gregory framed his opposition in terms of neighborhood voice and long-term planning, saying, “To hell with what the neighbors want. This is what the power brokers want,” and urging caution. Councilman Ross Appel and others responded that the rezoning corrects a zoning anomaly and does not by itself approve any particular project. Appel said rezoning could facilitate affordable housing and that many steps would still be required before a parking garage could be built.

Councilman John R. Seekings, who chairs the traffic and transportation committee, and other council members emphasized the need to consider the city’s longer-term parking and housing needs, and referenced the city’s 2019 comprehensive parking/transportation study and more recent development pressures.

The council considered and approved a motion to defer the item earlier in the meeting after a motion to defer gained a majority on a roll-call; later, after additional debate, the council moved forward with approval on second reading and then advanced the item to third reading; the transcript records the item moving forward and final votes for second and third reading described by voice vote as passing.

Council members and several speakers asked that, if the rezoning proceeds, the city and developer work together to explore affordable-housing options and to ensure design, stormwater and BAR (Board of Architectural Review) processes are followed. Council members noted that rezoning alone does not obviate future review steps: stormwater, BAR and detailed site approvals would still be required before any structure could be built.

Public input included at least 14 speakers during the citizens’ participation period and a written petition opposing the garage with over 200 signatures; the city clerk reported two letters of support for the Low Line project and one letter opposing the garage had been received and forwarded to council.

Speakers who addressed the Radcliffe/parking issue included neighborhood leaders Elaine Doyle (Radcliffe Borough Neighborhood Association), James Doyle (Radcliffe Borough Neighborhood Association vice president), multiple residents urging opposition, property owner Frank Brumley, and a range of council members including Greg Gregory, John Seekings, Ross Appel, Parker, Mitchell and others.