Union Pier Site Tour

I recently attended a public open house at Union Pier organized by the College of Charleston. If you don’t know about the Union Pier redevelopment project, check it out at unionpiersc.com. The South Carolina Ports Authority owns 70 acres of fill and terminal piers built over water in the Charleston Harbor that they plan to sell. What will be built there is for Charleston residents to decide.

The unique site offers high potential for a transformative mixed-use site with public amenities, but the project was met with great opposition from the local community upon first proposal. Concerns of building height, flooding, lack of greenspace, expensive infrastructure to maintain and density were all voiced. Now the developer is trying to navigate a path forward that allows for urban development while protecting the environment, historical landmarks and the inimitable culture of Charleston.

Archaeologists are very interested in what could surface during construction. Why? The site feels very industrial - it’s currently all concrete and warehouses. But beneath all that desolate hardscape are at least 4 areas of major historical significance that create interest and concern: 

Mosquito Fleet Landing Site - the Gullah community fished from this site starting in the 1800s and would like access to the water to continue passing down their fishing traditions

Bennett Rice Mill Facade - this historic architectural relic from Charleston’s rice cultivation economy needs to be spared and incorporated into the design

The Hard - a shellring ceremonial ground currently covered by asphalt should be unearthed and preserved

Public Landing & Fish Market - the history of the wharves and Charleston’s earliest commerce should be preserved

What would archaeologists likely find onsite? Relics of Jonathan Lucas’s rice mill and the revolutionary ponds he used to separate rice husk and bran. Buried artifacts from the suspected shellring that indigenous people used as a ceremonial site. Remnants from the cotton and slave trade as well as other commerce that took place on the site.

The tour also touched on future zoning changes, since this project has brought up unprecedented concerns. The City of Charleston is creating a “Waterfront Land Use” zoning category in response to this development. Laws restricting development along the waterfront were rescinded in the 1800s opening up the riverfront for business and commerce, and the City needs to establish new zoning regulations to protect the area.

Which brings up environmental concerns. Because there weren’t restrictions, the existing piers are built far over the water, disrupting the delicate ecosystem of the Cooper River. One aspect under consideration is to eliminate the farthest piers and bring the structure closer to the land to give the water back to nature. Another environmental concern mentioned was tree canopy. Charleston considers 50% tree canopy coverage to be ideal. Unlike James Island’s Riverland Terrace neighborhood, which is one of the coolest, heat resilient areas in the city due to its foliage and shade, Union pier has no tree canopy and is therefore one of the hottest places in Charleston. Can this be overcome?

What do you think Union Pier should look like? Take the opportunity to have your opinions heard by posting in  the community engagement section of unionpiersc.com