Redevelopment of Charleston Naval Complex moves forward in North Charleston

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The North Charleston City Council recently approved contract agreements for the 50-acre riverfront development known as Battery Park.

A partnership consisting of Jamestown, Weaver Capital Partners, and WECCO Development will assist the city in transforming the former Charleston Naval Complex into a vibrant, mixed-use district and regional destination, according to a news release.

The development, which is aligned to the City’s “Battery Park Master Plan,” will include over 1,400 residential units and a mix of commercial uses that support local and regional economic growth, the release stated. It is designed to improve quality of life of area residents, foster more equitable and sustainable economic development, advance community health and wellness, encourage social cohesion, and build community.

The development plans for Battery Park will establish a series of residential, retail, office, entertainment spaces, and parks along the waterfront and include the construction of a new pavilion with a market hall, event space, and an active green fronting the water, the release stated. Within the 50-acre site, approximately 23 acres will become public spaces, parks, and streets.

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“Battery Park is an investment in — and commitment to — the future of North Charleston,” said Jay Weaver, founder and president of Weaver Capital Partners, in the release. “The project will be a catalyst for community, providing access to the waterfront and greenspaces while creating opportunities for area residents, businesses, artists, and restaurants. This is a vision many years in the making, and we are honored to partner with the city to bring it to life.”

As part of the agreement, the development team will target 15 percent Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises contractor participation during the construction phase, establish a local apprenticeship program, and reserve 17 percent of the residential units as workforce housing for people earning less than 120% of the area’s median income.

“Our promise to the people of North Charleston is simple: Battery Park will embrace the rich culture and history of the city while creating a Central Business District that will be a focal point of new possibilities,” said Lucile Cogswell, president of WECCO Development, in the release. “Battery Park will be a defining destination offering experiences rooted in and inspired by the best that the Lowcountry has to offer.”

The vision was outlined in the City of North Charleston’s “Battery Park Master Plan,” a culmination of decades of planning and community engagement, the release stated. The City issued a Request for Qualifications for a master developer for the site in January 2023. In total, seven development teams responded to the request and the city selected the partnership of Jamestown, Weaver Capital Partners, and WECCO Development in May as the most qualified, experienced, and capable to fulfill the City’s vision. The development agreement was finalized by way of the City Council vote on Dec. 14, 2023.

The development team selected for Battery Park is also developing a nearby site known as Navy Yard Charleston, which is projected to encompass approximately 3.5 million square feet of commercial and residential space and over 2,600 residential units across 85 acres, also part of the former naval base, the release stated. The project includes the adaptive reuse of the historic brick “storehouse row” buildings, the base’s former power plant, and the Naval Hospital.