Best Window Repair in Downtown Charleston, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Charleston said they’re zeroing in on increasing opportunities for residents, and one way they said they’re doing so is by building affordable housing options.

Charleston is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and this growth continues to drive up the cost of living for many.

Due to an increase in housing prices, the Housing Authority and the City of Charleston are working on not only bringing more affordable housing to you but also making sure it’s near you.

The 12 apartments at 275 Huger Street will soon be torn down and replaced with 85 affordable housing units.

City of Charleston Chief Policy Officer Logan McVey said less than 10% of city employees live within the city, meaning most of their workers commute every day from places like Summerville or Goose Creek.

McVey said they haven’t received much backlash from the community regarding the new development, and most issues brought to their attention were about traffic.

He said because of this, they’re focusing on transit-oriented developments that should help alleviate pressure on road systems, like the Huger Street project,

“The reason that people are moving there is because they can’t afford to move to the peninsula, which means that now Maybank Highway catches all those cars. 26 catches all those cars. So, when people talk about being opposed to growth and traffic, and I sit on 17 for an hour every morning coming into work, those people, part of what we have to do to help them is to get people closer to the places they work and that they’re going,” McVey said.

He said right now they’re in the process of finalizing stormwater, engineering, and design plans.

McVey said the Huger Street project is a perfect example of how they plan to use space they already have and turn it into something that benefits current residents.

He said the cost of these units will be up to the affordable housing committee, but it typically addresses people at 120% or below the area’s median income.

He said the current income for an individual is around $74,000.

The city’s technical review committee will meet Thursday at 9 a.m. to further discuss the project.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

There are dozens of art galleries in downtown Charleston, from longtime establishments to newer spaces full of varying creations and diverse media.

But if you head off the Peninsula, there are some pretty remarkable arts initiatives happening as well. Two of them happen to be galleries with free admission that also serve as community centers and event venues, with plenty going on all year long.

In Park Circle, you'll find the aptly named Park Circle Gallery, run by the city of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, and its accompanying event space and community center in the middle of the circle.

In Summerville, you'll discover the Public Works Art Center, a nonprofit organization that resides in the former town post office.

Here's more on those endeavors, what you'll see within their walls and how you can get involved with the community work they are doing.

Park Circle Gallery

Ann Simmons has been working with the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department since shortly after her graduation from the College of Charleston in 2006. Working her way up from an arts coordinator to deputy director, Simmons has been an integral fixture in promoting the Lowcountry's arts scene for nearly two decades.

She's one of the leaders behind the only art gallery in North Charleston, the Park Circle Gallery, where each month two different artists are featured on the gallery's walls — all regional or local artists selected from submitted applications. The space is free and open to the public.

"The purpose of the gallery isn't to make sales, it's to make the arts accessible to the community," said Simmons.

The current application period for July 2025 through June 2026 is open through the end of November, and artists can submit online at northcharlestonculturalartsdepartment.slideroom.com.

"We work way ahead," offered Simmons, adding, "We like to do things a little differently than others."

Before the space opened at 4820 Jenkins Ave., she helped coordinate the same type of dual artist setup in two designated corridors at the Charleston Area Convention Center, a meeting space adjacent to the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center.

"People were experiencing those artists' works whether they wanted to or not," said Simmons of the old space. "Because of that, we had to be careful and more mindful of what kind of art we accepted. Now, we have more freedom, though we lost some of that thru-traffic. We're a little more off the beaten path but in an arts-friendly part of North Charleston."

In addition to the gallery, a lot more community outreach is happening, from after-school arts enrichment programs with 12 North Charleston elementary schools to in-school residencies and performances at the more than 35 schools in the city to classes and events offered at the brand new Park Circle Community Building space, which is right by the largest inclusive playground in the world.

The Community Building is now playing host to a wide range of gatherings, from the Lowcountry Friends of Old-Timey Music's meetups to the Tango Club and Scottish Country Dancing's dance sessions. There's a popular Bob Ross painting class, too.

"It's something different every day," Simmons said.

There's also space included for a rotating quarterly artist-in-residence. The first to be featured was Shayn Green, a North Charleston native who used her time in the dedicated 270-square-foot studio to create a series called "Big Nose Baddies," which highlighted the beauty of African American facial features.

And there is, of course, the North Charleston Arts Fest, an annual multi-day program that spreads art across the city. Next year's festival is set for April 30-May 4.

"Because North Charleston is lacking in arts venues, that speaks to why the Arts Fest is the way it is, putting arts into unique spaces," said Simmons.

New next year will be the city's first mural festival, MELT (Murals, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Tradition). Simmons is helping to plan the event slated for next September, with goals for participating muralists to paint around seven or so building walls near Rebel Taqueria.

Public Works Art Center

In Summerville, Jana Riley is a founder and the current executive director of an arts nonprofit that sprung up due to some community members' tenacity — and a little help from the city.

"Public Works Art Center is a real underdog story," said Riley, who was raised in Summerville and is a graduate of Summerville High School and Gardner-Webb University.

Back in 2018, nine community members rallied for a downtown arts space, with the former town post office in mind.

"Right in the heart of the historic district, (it) was the perfect place for a cultural cornerstone of the community, but it was literally a million dollars," Riley said. "We had no real money to speak of, but we did have a lot of heart and gumption."

That won them the support of the Commissioners of Public Works, who owned the building at the time, in the form of a year of free rent. For all of 2019, funds were raised, including a one-time grant from the Town of Summerville. The building was renovated before opening in 2020, three weeks before COVID-19 hit the Lowcountry.

After closing for four months, Public Works Art Center reopened to spotlight local artists, hosting local classes and providing accessible art to the Summerville community. Individual donors — including monthly patrons paying $10 to $100 — grants and commissions from arts classes, camps and studio rent have kept the cultural hub running.

News

Part of Public Works Art Center's mission is to break down barriers to art for all. That's why it offers free admission and scholarships for classes and camps.

"There are myriad reasons why people may feel they are not welcome in art spaces, and we’ve put banners on the front of the building that say 'This is For You,'" said Riley. "We’ve worked to develop trust within many different communities to foster relationships that will allow people to feel safe to enter our doors and recognize that this is truly a space that welcomes them with open arms."

Once a year, there's an exhibition for which Riley and staff say "yes" to every piece submitted by all ages. It's called the Spark Community Exhibition, and its goal is to help people build their artistic resumes and get the chance to see their creation on a gallery's walls.

As with many other galleries, the exhibitions here are booked far in advance. In fact, the space's three galleries currently are being booked for 2027. Those stages also are home to open mic poetry readings, concerts and other events.

A range of classes are offered throughout the year, led by local teachers and booked by program director Emily Epling. These range from pottery to sculpture to painting and cake-decorating.

"One of the things that really fills my heart is when I meet people here who have reconnected with themselves through art, after sort of losing themselves taking care of others for years, even decades," Riley said. "More often than not, it’s women who have been focusing on being wives and mothers. I absolutely love seeing them just finding themselves again."

Charleston Scene

Among Riley's goals is to bring people together in creativity and community in an age of increasing isolation.

"More than ever, we need to be improving mental health through creative expression and consumption, listening to our neighbors and hearing new stories and developing or furthering our understanding of people different than us," she said. "We certainly don’t need to be alone. We need community, and art can bring us together."

Just placed on display, and up through January 2025, is an exhibit by Adrian Rhodes entitled "Every Good Intention." It examines generational trauma, inheritance and memory through the symbolism of scissors, which both create and destroy. Also up is Ken Hamilton's "Objects Are Smaller Than They Appear," a series of miniatures that invites a new perspective.

And aligned with Public Works Art Center's educational outreach programs is a student exhibition featuring burgeoning artists from all over the tri-county area.

Table of Contents

Natural-born teachers + mentors

If you want to stay in your home

If you're a mental health advocate

If you’re on a tight schedule

The artsy types

If you’re interested in healthcare

If you're an animal lover

If you want to be there for abuse victims

If you have a passion for supporting disabled community members

For the outdoorsy types

If you’re passionate about supporting local community groups

If you live + breathe Charleston

Self-proclaimed bibliophiles

For the social butterflies

For the handy individuals

If you want to help your neighbors in need

Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Charleston to support with your time. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or a healthcare enthusiast — there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you. Here are several ways to get involved in Charleston.