05/29/2026
Charleston is currently celebrating Preservation Month — which, in this city, carries roughly the same emotional intensity as college football season. And honestly? That obsession is a big part of why Charleston remains special.
The Preservation Society of Charleston — founded in 1920 after residents fought to stop the demolition of the Joseph Manigault House for a gas station — helped create one of the first historic preservation movements in the country. Nearly every cobblestone street, piazza, iron gate, and centuries-old facade we enjoy today exists because someone decades ago decided Charleston was worth protecting.
From a real estate perspective, preservation has always been Charleston’s balancing act: How do you protect what makes the city beautiful while still allowing it to function as a living, evolving place? The answer lies in the enormous amount of thought, restraint, and expertise required. That responsibility falls largely on the architects, preservationists, and members of the BAR and Preservation Society who spend countless hours navigating incredibly difficult decisions that impact the future of Charleston for generations. It’s easy to joke about approvals and regulations (and we will), but the reality is that much of what people love most about Charleston exists because these groups have worked tirelessly to preserve the city’s character, scale, and sense of place. On a scale of 9 to 10, we give them an 11.
The reality is that Charleston’s historic character is not just aesthetically valuable — it is economically valuable. The very thing people occasionally complain about is also what continues to make Charleston one of the most desirable real estate markets in the country. The architecture matters. The scale matters. The texture of the city matters. These hard-working folks help keep the pearl-clutching to a minimum.
And Preservation Month serves as a good reminder that Charleston did not accidentally become Charleston. People fought for it.
Cheers,
Kristie + The Smith Spencer Team
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