CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The City of Charleston decided on the future of the historic Dash Hall remnant through an agreement to approve its demolition with less than 90 days to still relocate and preserve the structure.
Preservationists argue that the Dash Hall remnant is the last remaining physical structure of Dash Hall, a historic, multi-generational, Black-owned dance and jazz hall in Charleston located at 148 Smith Street.
Built in the 1890s, historians say the entire hall, which was partially demolished in 1950, helped shape American jazz and many argue its legacy has long been overlooked and insufficiently recognized.
“This place has a lot of meaning as a place of refuge and a place of celebration for the Black community during that era, and so the building is more than its four walls,” Brian Turner, Preservation Society of Charleston president and CEO, says. “It was a place where people celebrated and enjoyed each other and helped actually invent a form of music that has changed America and changed the world.”
The City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review initially denied the request to demolish the Dash Hall remnant on August 28, 2025, but it has since been back on agendas throughout the year. The property owner, Ashley Hall Foundation, then subsequently appealed the decision with a goal to overturn the BAR’s decision to deny demolition…