Brownfield to Be Reclaimed in North Charleston Redevelopment

摘要

The opening in the coastal city of North Charleston, South Carolina, in 1902 of the Charleston Naval Base sparked tremendous economic growth; the base's closure 94 years later yielded abandoned buildings, contaminated grounds, and more than 1,400 acres (567 ha) of unoccupied space. But it was this closure, ironically, that spurred the inception of what is now the largest redevelopment effort in the nation. The ambitious $1-billion Noisette redevelopment project encompasses 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) of North Charleston that is home to roughly 13,000 residents and includes a waterfront area along the Cooper River as well as wetlands within the sprawling Noisette Preserve. The Noisette Company, which is based in Charleston, developed the master plan for all of the acreage, although it is directly responsible only for redeveloping the 350 acres (142 ha) acquired from the former naval base.