CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Demolition of a home formerly owned by master Blacksmith Philip Simmons has been denied but now officials say preserving the building will be costly.
The building at 30 Blake Street was owned by Simmons, a legendary craftsman famous for his iron work. The City of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review decided to deny the request for demolition in a meeting Thursday evening due to the home’s historical and cultural value.
“We heard a lot last night about how important this building is to the African American community and beyond the architecture of the building, you have to take the history and the culture of the building into consideration as well,” said Frankie Pinto, the Board of Architectural Review small administrator…