Massive downtown development ‘game changer’ if approved

Courier Square from Meeting Street (source: Evening Post Industries)

View from Columbus Street towards Greenway (source: Evening Post Industries)

Columbus and Line Street views (source: Evening Post Industries)

Elevation models (source: Evening Post Industries)

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Monday evening the Board of Architectural Review met on whether to approve the design of Courier Square.

It's a massive mixed-use development proposed at Meeting and Columbus Streets near the new Bi-Lo in downtown Charleston.

The board decided a few changes will need to be made before the project can go any further.

The proposal could be a game changer for that area.

Patrick Price works with the Prime South Group, a real-estate development company located in the heart of all of the development in the Upper King Street area.

Price said, "It's one of the best streets in my opinion in America,"

The Upper King area includes land at the corner of Meeting and Columbus Streets.

The intersection could soon be transformed into two buildings consisting of apartments, office and commercial space, and a parking deck.

"It's massive," said Price.

Development will happen in 6 phases with buildings inside the area boxed in by St. Phillips, Spring, Meeting and Line Streets.

The entire size of the proposed project is 12-acres. Price says a development of that size is unheard of in the crowded downtown area.

"To have that much square footage and the ability to do a master plan and to do it from scratch is really a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Price.

Price's company is not involved in the project. It's spearheaded by Evening Post Industries, the company that owns The Post and Courier newspaper.

Phase one is set to go behind the current building of the newspaper and a greenway built by the City of Charleston will separate the buildings, replacing the railroad tracks.

Price says the size of Courier Square makes it an undeniable gateway into downtown Charleston.

Renderings show the proposed buildings are much larger than others in the area.

Price said, "When people come in, they're going to see the building and I would imagine the city is going to be very particular about what goes there."

Tim Keane, the city planner for Charleston says they expect the design team to come back within 30 to 45 days with a revised plan.

Keane says Evening Post Industries is still hoping to start construction on phase one in the fall of 2014.