Historic Properties

Is a great American city steeped in history. Many of its properties possess architectural and/or cultural significance. This can present unique challenges when these properties are bought and sold.

Historic properties in Charleston are significant for their unique architectural styles, such as the Charleston single house and the Greek Revival style, and for their cultural importance as tangible links to the city's past, which includes a history of wealth, commerce, and enslaved people. These buildings also showcase distinctive features like piazzas and vibrant pastel paint schemes, and their preservation has influenced national preservation movements. 

Architectural significance

Charleston Single House: A defining local style, this two-or-more-story house has a narrow end facing the street, with its main entrance opening onto a long side porch known as a piazza.

Piazzas: These covered porches are essential to the city's architectural identity, providing shade and facilitating cross-ventilation in a hot climate.

Architectural Styles: Beyond the single house, Charleston showcases diverse styles like Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival, which reflect the city's evolution through different periods of prosperity. Examples include the grand, columned Roper House and the Nathaniel Russell House with its famous staircase.

Color Palette: The iconic, bright pastel colors of homes like those on Rainbow Row originated in the 1930s as a revitalization effort and are now a cherished feature of the city. 

Cultural significance

History of Commerce and Wealth: Properties in areas like South of Broad and along Rainbow Row tell the story of Charleston's history as a commercial center and a hub of affluence.

Legacy of Enslavement: Many historic sites, such as the Nathaniel Russell House, also serve as a reminder of the enslaved people who lived and worked there, with efforts underway to uncover and share their stories through restoration and archives.

Community and Tradition: The preservation of these properties fosters a strong sense of community and pride in the city's shared heritage.

Influence on Preservation: Charleston's successful preservation efforts, including the establishment of the Old and Historic Charleston District ordinance, have served as a model for preservation movements in other cities across the United States. 

We are certified as Historic Property Specialists. We understand the history and value of historic preservation, are able to identify important architectural elements and styles, know the tools and incentives to achieve property preservation, as well as the government agencies involved.

Our goal is to educate our clients on the stewardship responsibilities and the available resources to successfully preserve these irreplaceable treasures so that they can be passed down to future generations.