Last night, Charleston City Council took an important first step for the redevelopment of Union Pier, by passing first reading of a public financing proposal that sets the stage for important opportunities for further public engagement.
The Preservation Society is supporting the tax increment financing (TIF) plan for Union Pier for one reason, above all: Public investment gives Charlestonians skin in the game to realize a values-based development. When the project is built over the next 30 years, it must reflect the type of development we want to hand to the next generation. Public financing tools give us greater leverage to insist on a civic-focused outcome.
The PSC has been speaking out publicly and gathering community input about Union Pier since 2021. It would be a huge missed opportunity for Union Pier to become a disconnected private enclave, especially along the Cooper River waterfront. The status quo, a fenced-off industrial site, is obviously no better.
But Union Pier is also a very challenging site. It is not only vulnerable to sea level rise, it has a legacy of toxic industrial uses, and effectively lacks infrastructure for public-serving uses.
Public financing tools, like TIFs, are critical for ensuring success. As funds are spent, the community will have opportunities to advocate for additional public benefit. We are particularly mindful of the need to center planning principles of resilient and human-scaled design.
In the coming months, there will be a public hearing and additional discussions by City Council about the nuts and bolts of the TIF.
Should the TIF be established, the PSC would maintain its watchdog role to ensure revenues, as they are considered by City Council, are well-targeted to meet public needs. We intend to keep Union Pier a core advocacy priority.
We will also be pressing the city to wisely use its regulatory tools to enhance the public realm. A rezoning will still be necessary to facilitate future development of the site. With the Union Pier TIF, the City of Charleston will have additional options to scale back market-motivated ambitions to overdevelop the site and enhance its accessibility.
We welcome your feedback and pledge to keep you apprised on critical milestones in Union Pier’s public process as the discussion continues on this important project.
Thank you for your continued support,
Brian R. Turner
President & CEO
Preservation Society of Charleston