City Offices Moving to West Ashley
by Matt Poust | Contributing Writer
More than 100 residents attended the first public meeting on Monday, Aug. 25, where City of Charleston Mayor William Cogswell introduced his plans to bring government offices to West Ashley. The plan includes two three-story office buildings totaling about 96,000 square feet on Ingram Road. Cost estimates varied during the meeting, ranging from $25 million to $40 million.
The site is located across Old Towne Road from the Ashley Landing shopping center (a.k.a. The Dead Pig), which is undergoing a $345 million redevelopment that is slated to add apartments, townhomes, retail, and restaurants. The city purchased the property from the Catholic Diocese of Charleston in May for $6.5 million. It previously housed a mid-century chapel, part of the former Charleston Home for Children orphanage, and an assisted living facility, both slated for demolition. Preservationists have urged the incorporation of elements of the chapel into the design, but city officials say the structure is in poor condition.
West Ashley makes up more than 40 percent of the city’s population and is home to many city employees. Cogswell says that initially, only about 100 staff will work in the first building, but the project is designed for future growth.
