In 1973 a group of preservation activists saved Quarters P. They fought to prevent its demolition. A company planned to build luxury condos. The activists called the area Charleston’s French Quarter. This name stuck. Few remember the circumstances of its creation. The story is fascinating.
Quarters P is a historic district in Charleston South Carolina. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added in September 1973. The area’s name highlights French merchants. They once lived and worked there. The name was a key part of the preservation campaign.
The area was originally a block of warehouses. They were built in the late nineteenth century. They stored vegetables and liquor. Wholesale commerce dominated East Bay Street. This changed in the 1950s and 1960s. Businesses moved to larger facilities north of the Cooper River. The Baier Corporation wanted to demolish these buildings. They planned a seventy-story condo tower.
Local residents protested. They circulated petitions. They filed lawsuits. They argued the buildings were over 100 years old. The buildings had great aesthetic and historical value. They could be used productively. Preservation advocates lobbied City Council. They wanted to reduce the maximum allowable height of buildings.
Robert P Stockton researched the endangered structures. Most were late nineteenth-century warehouses. Buildings near Lodge Alley were from the early 1800s. One building was rebuilt after a 1938 tornado. The activists proposed an alternative. They would use the existing warehouse structures. This idea was similar to adaptive reuse projects in other cities.
Despite protests a demolition permit was issued. A compromise was reached. A group of citizens paid $10000. They agreed to drop lawsuits. The Baier Corporation sold the property. The Save Charleston Foundation was incorporated. They raised $1.26 million. They purchased the property.
The 1973 campaign saved fourteen buildings. It prevented a ninety-foot condo tower. The Save Charleston Foundation had a plan. They wanted to adapt the buildings for mixed commercial use. This included retail shops restaurants and a motel. The Lodge Alley Inn opened in 1983. The property was sold in 1998. It’s now privately-owned timeshare units.
Quarters P’s story shows the power of preservation. It highlights the importance of local activism. The name itself is a testament to the area’s unique history. The story of Quarters P is an important one. It is a story of struggle and ultimately of success. It is a story well worth remembering.