Charleston honored for preservation plan

Charleston's new preservation plan was considered both comprehensive and cutting-edge when it was passed a year ago, and now the city has an award to prove it.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented its Preservation Honor Award on Wednesday during its annual conference in Nashville, Tenn.

"In 1931, Charleston passed the nation's first historic preservation ordinance; and now, nearly 80 years later, Charleston has adopted a groundbreaking plan for moving preservation into the 21st century," the trust said.

The award is shared by the city, the Historic Charleston Foundation, which provided $75,000 seed money, and Page & Turnbull Inc., which developed the plan.

The Charleston Preservation Plan considers more than just buildings. It also addresses social, economic and cultural issues that affect preservation, disaster preparedness and archaeology. The plan also suggests ways to address sprawl, gentrification and affordable housing.

National Trust President Richard Moe said the plan was written at a critical juncture in the city's history. "Much of what we know about preservation we learned from Charleston," he said. "This visionary plan shows that Charleston can still teach us a great deal."

Charleston Preservation Architect Eddie Bello said the plan took a lot of work. "Charleston is very good at preserving old buildings, and there are recommendations in there that strengthen that, but this also looks much broader -- at new eras and architecture and areas off the peninsula that are important."

The city already is following the plan's recommendation to conduct character appraisals of neighborhoods that have a coherent look but that aren't necessarily historic. Those planning efforts, already done in Cannonborough, Elliottborough, Old Windermere and Byrnes Downs, could help protect those neighborhoods.

Fourteen other individuals, preservation groups and projects also won honor awards.