How-to: Comments needed as 280 Meeting St. demolition heads for BAR
The building today retains its historic form with exciting rehabilitation potential for adaptive reuse. Source: PSC Staff Photo
280 MEETING ST.
BAR-L MEETING
Wed., Oct. 8 at 4:30 P.M.
2 George St.,1st floor public meeting room
The PSC is calling on our membership to oppose the request to demolish 280 Meeting St. on next week’s BAR-L agenda.
The online comment deadline is Tues., Oct. 7 at 12:00 P.M., and in-person comments can be made at the BAR-L meeting on Wed., Oct. 8 at 4:30 P.M.
Board members need to hear from the community why this building is important to protect, and how you craft your comment matters! Keep reading for a PSC primer on crafting effective BAR comments.
PSC’s Guide to Effective BAR Comments
When evaluating a demolition request, the Board CAN consider:
✅ The building’s history and cultural importance
✅ Its architectural style and features
✅ Its contribution to the character of the surrounding area
✅ Its physical condition
When evaluating a demolition request, the Board CAN’T consider:
🚫 The future of the local businesses currently operating in the building
🚫 Proposed redevelopment plans
🚫 Economic hardship or financial feasibility
🚫 Traffic, noise, flooding, or other quality of life concerns
While there is strong desire to advocate for the local businesses currently operating at 280 Meeting St. and against incompatible redevelopment, the Board cannot consider the existing businesses or future plans for the site in evaluating this demolition request. Focus your comments on the building itself: architecture, history, and cultural importance.
Prompts to consider:
– What makes this building architecturally unique?
– How does its design speak to the character of the area?
– What about its history intrigues or inspires you?
– Why is it culturally important?
The Architectural, Cultural, and Historical Significance of 280 Meeting St.
Constructed in 1918 with a brick storefront added in 1951, 280 Meeting St. chronicles the progression of Modern architecture in Charleston from the early- to mid-20th century with minimal ornamentation, clean lines, and expansive openings. Evidence of previous large-scale windows can still be seen on the two-story portion and could be reopened as part of a rehabilitation project. Apart from this reversible alteration, this building retains its historic form and character-defining features and is structurally sound.
This building is culturally important as a hub for early-20th century industry and retail as well as performing arts and social gatherings and tells the story of Charleston’s ethic of adaptive reuse. 280 Meeting St. can and should be given new life to serve future generations of Charlestonians, while maintaining the character of the district and avoiding needless, wasteful demolition.
The PSC’s annual Carolopolis Awards tell the story of the transformative power of adaptive reuse across the region, demonstrating what is possible when the right team comes together to tackle a complex project. The PSC is optimistic that 280 Meeting St. will one day be a preservation success story and that BAR members, too, will see the value in this irreplaceable building.
Images below: Carolopolis-winning adaptive reuse projects include the Starlight Motor Inn (2023), King BBQ (2024), and Yonges Island Post Office (2020)
