Welcome to a New Way Forward for Union Pier
Welcome to a New Way Forward for Union Pier
A New Way Forward for Union Pier is driven by an extensive community engagement process and informed by site-specific environmental, cultural, urban design, and market analyses to enhance the quality of life for the future of Charleston.
A New Way Forward for Union Pier is driven by an extensive community engagement process and informed by site-specific environmental, cultural, urban design, and market analyses to enhance the quality of life for the future of Charleston.
Meet the Team
Meet the Team
We bring together a team of planning, design, landscape, engineering, engagement, and economy experts who deeply understand how to work in Charleston.
We bring together a team of planning, design, landscape, engineering, engagement, and economy experts who deeply understand how to work in Charleston.
We bring together a team of planning, design, landscape, engineering, engagement, and economy experts who deeply understand how to work in Charleston.
Lead Urban Design, Planning, & Landscape Architecture
Lead Urban Design, Planning, & Landscape Architecture
Landscape Architecture
& Cultural History
Landscape Architecture
& Cultural History
Economic Development
Strategy
Economic Development
Strategy
Community Engagement
Strategy
Community Engagement
Strategy
Project Facilitator & Advisor
Site Context
Site Context
About Union Pier
About Union Pier
Located on roughly 70 acres of fill and terminal piers built over water, Union Pier is currently owned and operated by the South Carolina State Ports Authority. Thanks to SC Ports' plan to sell the site, the land offers high potential for a transformative mixed-use site with public amenities, building off the successful legacy of Joe Riley Waterfront Park which sparked enthusiasm and interest in opening the shoreline for public use three decades ago.
Adjacent to the Cooper River, Union Pier was built on former marshland, filled over centuries as maritime commerce expanded on the site. Passenger travel, storage, shipbuilding, and international trade have all been part of this site’s history, including serving as a significant port where enslaved people first landed in North America.
Located on roughly 70 acres of fill and terminal piers built over water, Union Pier is currently owned and operated by the South Carolina State Ports Authority. Thanks to SC Ports' plan to sell the site, the land offers high potential for a transformative mixed-use site with public amenities, building off the successful legacy of Joe Riley Waterfront Park which sparked enthusiasm and interest in opening the shoreline for public use three decades ago.
Adjacent to the Cooper River, Union Pier was built on former marshland, filled over centuries as maritime commerce expanded on the site. Passenger travel, storage, shipbuilding, and international trade have all been part of this site’s history, including serving as a significant port where enslaved people first landed in North America.
Where is Union Pier?
Want to learn more about the history of Union Pier?
Want to learn more about the history of Union Pier?
Site History
Site History
Era 1
Since Time Immemorial
Indigenous Lands & Waters
Era 1
Since Time Immemorial
Indigenous Lands & Waters
Era 2
1670s-1780s
Fortification, Conflict & Colonial Port
Era 2
1670s-1780s
Fortification, Conflict & Colonial Port
Era 3
1780s-1860s
International Commerce & Industrial Slavery
Era 3
1780s-1860s
International Commerce & Industrial Slavery
Era 4
1860s-1900s
Civil War, Reconstruction & Industrial Revolution
Era 4
1860s-1900s
Civil War, Reconstruction & Industrial Revolution
Era 5
1900s-1950s
Progressive Era, Manufacturing & the Railroad
Era 5
1900s-1950s
Progressive Era, Manufacturing & the Railroad
Era 6
1950s-2000s
Post-War Era, State Ports Authority & Wharf Consolidation
Era 6
1950s-2000s
Post-War Era, State Ports Authority & Wharf Consolidation
Process
Process
Planning Process
Planning Process
To ensure the long-term success of the Union Pier redevelopment, our planning process is guided by these three pillars:
To ensure the long-term success of the Union Pier redevelopment, our planning process is guided by these three pillars:
To ensure the long-term success of the Union Pier redevelopment, our planning process is guided by these three pillars:
Workshop-Oriented
Approach
Integrated
Design
Holistic
Development
Workshop-Oriented
Approach
Integrated Design
Holistic Development
Workshop-Oriented
Approach
Integrated Design
Holistic Development
Union Pier planning will occur alongside and be informed by several city-led processes. Over the next year, our community will work together to shape a vision for the next chapter of Union Pier. At the same time, the City of Charleston will:
Amend their Comprehensive Plan to create a Waterfront Redevelopment Land Use District
Amend their Comprehensive Water Plan to include recommendations for Union Pier
Expand the scope of the Peninsula Plan to incorporate community priorities for the Peninsula waterfront.
Union Pier planning will occur alongside and be informed by several city-led processes. Over the next year, our community will work together to shape a vision for the next chapter of Union Pier. At the same time, the City of Charleston will:
Amend their Comprehensive Plan to create a Waterfront Redevelopment Land Use District
Amend their Comprehensive Water Plan to include recommendations for Union Pier
Expand the scope of the Peninsula Plan to incorporate community priorities for the Peninsula waterfront.
Our Union Pier team is working very closely with the City of Charleston to ensure that our planning processes happen in coordination and that the Union Pier plan reflects the outcome of the City's planning process.
We encourage everyone to engage with all of these processes to ensure the best outcome for the Union Pier site and our community.
Our Union Pier team is working very closely with the City of Charleston to ensure that our planning processes happen in coordination and that the Union Pier plan reflects the outcome of the City's planning process.
We encourage everyone to engage with all of these processes to ensure the best outcome for the Union Pier site and our community.
Engage
Engage
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Stakeholder Advisory Council
Stakeholder Advisory Council
The Stakeholder Advisory Committee guides our
community-led planning and engagement process …
The Stakeholder Advisory Committee guides our
community-led planning and engagement process …
The Stakeholder Advisory Committee guides our
community-led planning and engagement process …
Read More
Read More
Community Advisory Council
Community Advisory Council
Launched in January 2024, the Community Advisory Council gives voice to the many issues that are important …
Launched in January 2024, the Community Advisory Council gives voice to the many issues that are important …
Launched in January 2024, the Community Advisory Council gives voice to the many issues that are important …
Read More
Read More
Upcoming Meetings
Upcoming Meetings
Stay tuned for upcoming public meetings!
Get Involved
Get Involved
We want to hear from you.
Please share your ideas, questions, or concerns about the future of Union Pier here.
We want to hear from you.
Please share your ideas, questions, or concerns about the future of Union Pier here.
We want to hear from you.
Please share your ideas, questions, or concerns about the future of Union Pier here.
Resources
Resources
Resources
Resources
Past Public Meetings
Past Public Meetings
News Room
News Room
Image Credit: Duke University Libraries
Union Pier
A New Way Forward
Union Pier
A New Way Forward
A New Way Forward
for Union Pier
Welcome
Statement from SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern:
Two years ago, we announced our plan to sell Union Pier with a shared goal that a future buyer would redevelop the site, and we have engaged extensively with the community throughout that time.
We are now thrilled to have Ben Navarro as the local buyer of the site. It was important to us and to the city to have a local buyer who is both invested in the community and has a desire to develop something everyone is proud of. Ben calls Charleston home and actively invests in making our community a better place to live. We are confident that this path forward will enable city leaders and the community to work directly with a local buyer in shaping the future of Union Pier.
SC Ports will continue to focus on our core mission of keeping freight moving for the thousands of livelihoods, businesses and communities that depend on our port system.
Continue to Site
Welcome
Statement from SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern:
Two years ago, we announced our plan to sell Union Pier with a shared goal that a future buyer would redevelop the site, and we have engaged extensively with the community throughout that time.
We are now thrilled to have Ben Navarro as the local buyer of the site. It was important to us and to the city to have a local buyer who is both invested in the community and has a desire to develop something everyone is proud of. Ben calls Charleston home and actively invests in making our community a better place to live. We are confident that this path forward will enable city leaders and the community to work directly with a local buyer in shaping the future of Union Pier.
SC Ports will continue to focus on our core mission of keeping freight moving for the thousands of livelihoods, businesses and communities that depend on our port system.
Continue to Site
Welcome
Statement from SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern:
Two years ago, we announced our plan to sell Union Pier with a shared goal that a future buyer would redevelop the site, and we have engaged extensively with the community throughout that time.
We are now thrilled to have Ben Navarro as the local buyer of the site. It was important to us and to the city to have a local buyer who is both invested in the community and has a desire to develop something everyone is proud of. Ben calls Charleston home and actively invests in making our community a better place to live. We are confident that this path forward will enable city leaders and the community to work directly with a local buyer in shaping the future of Union Pier.
SC Ports will continue to focus on our core mission of keeping freight moving for the thousands of livelihoods, businesses and communities that depend on our port system.
Continue to Site