CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Charleston leaders are moving forward with a series of land deals and zoning changes that could shape the future of housing on the eastern peninsula for decades, laying the groundwork for what officials estimate could eventually become between 2,500 and 3,500 new housing units.
The effort spans multiple properties, multiple government entities and millions of dollars in financing — and while no housing is being built yet, city leaders say these early steps are necessary to make large-scale affordable and workforce housing possible in one of the city’s fastest-changing areas.
A multi-site strategy
At the center of the plan is a coordinated approach to several major properties stretching from Morrison Drive to the area near the Medical University of South Carolina campus.
One piece involves land tied to the WestEdge development near the medical district. The city is working on a proposal that would allow it to take greater control of WestEdge-related assets currently held by the WestEdge Foundation, with the MUSC Foundation holding a financial interest…