CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – City of Charleston leaders are considering rezoning a lot near the South Carolina Aquarium as part of a future affordable housing plan.

Various downtown sites are under consideration for new housing including a city-owned property on the eastern end of the South Carolina Aquarium parking deck.

Sites under consideration stem from an outlined plan to add 3,500 affordable housing units by 2032. The plan falls in line with the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2025 to 2029 Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for 2026.

A 2019 to 2023 American Community Survey in the plan’s housing needs assessment records nearly more than 22,000 households are cost burdened. The survey finds that 14,600 renters and more than 8,000 homeowners paid more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

District Two City Councilman Kevin Shealy says creating housing opportunities is needed for the city’s essential workers.

“We have firefighters, police officers, young teachers, essential business people, hospitality workers,” Shealy says. “We need to make sure they can afford to live in the Charleston area and live where they work. It’s essential for our business, it’s essential for how our city operates.”

Aquarium visitors and people walking nearby may view the area as a potential spot for extra parking. A successful rezoning would be step one to adding units.

City Planning Commission leaders are considering rezoning the lot at the corner of Calhoun and Concord Streets from general business zoning to mixed-use workforce housing.

City planning manager Christopher Morgan says the city has been eyeing the lot for around the last 10 years. He says the city’s recent housing initiative is an opportunity to move forward on adding affordable housing options in the space.

“That will allow for a mix of housing types and, or also commercial aspects,” Morgan says. “It could be that there would be ground floor commercial uses and then ground floor residential uses.”

City leaders say potential housing designs in the city’s 2032 plan will ensure homes will keep the city’s aesthetic. Draft images include designs for spaces such as Charleston singles and cottages.

“We need to protect the way our character of our city is. We need to protect that character,” Shealy says. “These are going to be very attractive homes. Some of them are going to be your Charleston single homes that will be split up into triplexes, but it’s going to be a beautiful type of home that these people are going to be living and businesses will be operating in as well.”

The rezoning would go to the City Council for a public hearing on November 18 if commission leaders recommend approval. A final reading would take place in December if council leaders approve the change.

Morgan says design plans would be the next step if all goes well.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.