City’s West Ashley municipal hub at Ashley Landing is one step closer to reality
by Matt Poust | Contributing Writer
The 35.5-acre Ashley Landing redevelopment project, which broke ground in May 2025, is steadily advancing through its first phase with major infrastructure improvements underway and new housing plans taking shape.
Originally envisioned in 2017, the project proposed a parking deck, municipal offices and a central green space. However, little progress was made over the following years. Under Mayor William Cogswell’s administration, the city reimagined the development with a renewed focus on creating a walkable, mixed-use destination that serves as a gateway to West Ashley while prioritizing the needs of nearby residents.
The revised master plan includes a central green plaza, nine acres of stormwater retention, outdoor dining, retail space, affordable housing and expanded public gathering areas.
Current construction efforts are centered on stormwater retention and drainage improvements that city leaders say are essential for future development across the site. At the same time, work continues toward relocating the existing Publix supermarket, which officials have identified as the project’s anchor tenant.
Progress is also being made on the residential component of the redevelopment. Charleston-based Woodfield Development and a joint venture partner finalized a $9.75 million purchase of a portion of the property on July 1 to construct Westbourne Ashley Landing, a 285-unit apartment community featuring studio and one- to three-bedroom rental units.
According to West Ashley Project Coordinator Eric Pohlman, both the Publix relocation and apartment construction remain on schedule as key components of the project’s first phase.
Once the new Publix is completed—currently slated for fall 2027—the city plans to shift its focus toward constructing the green plaza leg of the project. The public space will feature small retail shops, outdoor gathering areas and landscaped “parklets” designed to encourage pedestrian activity and community engagement.
Pohlman, who joined the project as planning efforts began in 2017, said seeing construction finally underway represents the realization of a vision the community has pursued for decades.
“It is fantastic and exciting that it is turning dirt and getting going,” Pohlman said. “It is something that the community has been asking for since 2000 with the Old Charles Towne District Master Plan. They wanted to see this plaza really reinvested in and made into a much more walkable urbanized area, and that’s what we’re getting out of this.”
Pohlman credited Mayor Cogswell and his administration with helping secure one of the project’s most significant milestones: reaching an agreement to relocate Publix, a move he said was instrumental in unlocking redevelopment opportunities across the site.
While acknowledging the lengthy planning process, Pohlman said the project has the potential to reshape how aging commercial centers are redeveloped throughout the Charleston region.
“Rather than putting in new tenants and a fresh coat of paint, you can re-envision these old plazas and really turn them into something that is a place-based generator of economy,” Pohlman said.
As construction continues, city leaders hope the Ashley Landing redevelopment will not only transform a long-underutilized property but also serve as a model for future redevelopment efforts across West Ashley.
