Charleston council backs rapid-housing concept, accepts housing-impact analysis and updates waterfront plan

Charleston City Council on March 11 approved a package of community-development actions that combine a rapid-housing concept with the previously planned Tecklenburg/Hope Center programming, accepted a housing impact analysis for use of accommodation-tax revenue on affordable housing, and authorized an update to the comprehensive plan to include Union Pier.

Council members approved a motion to support combining the rapid-housing component with the Hope/Tech Center program relocated from Connington (Covington) Avenue to a city-owned site next to the City Operations building, with the caveat that the project team seek buy-in and financial participation from neighboring municipalities and counties. Mayor William S. Cogswell told council he will meet with neighboring jurisdictions to seek that buy-in, saying he would "report back to council on what the feedback is, and hopefully, we won't have to come up with a plan B."

The council discussion and votes followed a Community Development Committee presentation that described the shift in siting from the original Covington Avenue location and framed the combined concept as a way to add a rapid-housing component to the city's existing Hope Center programming. Committee members emphasized that the combined approach remains conceptual and that details on site plans, financing and operations must be worked out with partners. Councilwoman Parker asked for more specifics on site layouts and legal considerations; council members agreed to advance the concept while staff pursues interjurisdictional support.

In related actions, council accepted the accommodation-tax housing impact analysis, which staff said incorporated data from the consolidated plan and other planning documents and was required to allow use of accommodation-tax revenue for affordable housing. The council also voted to update the comprehensive plan guidance for the Waterfront Redevelopment District to include the Union Pier site.

Council members repeatedly stressed that the rapid-housing concept depends on contributions beyond the city. Councilman Mitchell, whose district includes the original Covington Avenue site, warned that if neighboring municipalities decline to participate, the city would need to revisit Covington Avenue or other site options. No detailed commitment of funds by other jurisdictions was recorded in the meeting.

Votes at the meeting approved the concept and the two planning items. The record shows the council advanced item 2a (rapid-housing/Tecklenburg concept) with one abstention noted during the vote; the accommodation-tax housing impact analysis and the comprehensive-plan amendment were both approved by council vote.

Background: staff described the Tecklenburg/Hope Center program as a nonresidential, daytime-focused facility whose earlier design did not include overnight beds; the combined concept envisions locating that programming on an alternate city-owned site with capacity to accommodate a rapid-housing component if partners and funding are secured.

Looking ahead, staff will return with site plans, financing details and the results of outreach to neighboring jurisdictions before council is asked to adopt final project agreements or funding commitments.