Work begins on Lowcountry Land Trust HQ and Center for Conservation in Charleston

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Work has begun on what’s being called a significant milestone in the history of the Lowcountry Land Trust.

The Lowcountry Center for Conservation, the Lowcountry Land Trust’s new headquarters, will be located adjacent to the new Old Towne Creek County Park, according to a news release. The center will serve as the focal point for its core mission of land conservation by providing a dedicated space for local conservation and community partners to collaborate and to house its education and outreach initiatives.

The inspiration behind the project stems from the vision of Emily Ravenel Farrow, an equestrian, historian and conservationist who cherished her 55-acre suburban oasis known as Ashem Farm, the release stated. Farrow’s foresight led her to place Ashem Farm into conservation easements with Historic Charleston Foundation, ensuring the protection of the West Ashley property’s historic structures and preventing subdivision, voluntarily diminishing its market value.

She entrusted Lowcountry Land Trust with her vision of Ashem Farm becoming the organization’s permanent home, showcasing its natural beauty and serving as an ambassador site for conservation, the release stated. Inspired by Farrow’s vision and with her wholehearted approval, Lowcountry Land Trust proposed the long-term ownership and stewardship of Ashem Farm by Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC).

In September 2011, the Land Trust successfully finalized the sale of the property to CCRPC, retaining the right to later acquire four acres of Ashem Farm for its own use, which it did in 2017, the release stated. The remaining 51 acres will serve as the future Old Towne Creek County Park.

“Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission has always enjoyed a great partnership with Lowcountry Land Trust throughout the years,” said Kevin Bowie, executive director of CCPRC, in the release. “Now, we will be great neighbors located on one of our area’s most beautiful green spaces, future home to Old Towne Creek County Park and Lowcountry Center of Conservation.”

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A decade later, Charleston has changed even more than what Farrow imagined, and Lowcountry Land Trust’s long-awaited new home is designed to meet the needs of the future, the release stated. The Lowcountry Center for Conservation will be the hub from which the Land Trust launches its education and outreach programs and convenes conservation and community partners.

Contractors are Omni Partners for project management, Reggie Gibson Architects, Willis Hagood Construction, GEL for site engineering, Live Oak for engineering consulting, and Surculus landscape architecture.

“The groundbreaking of the Lowcountry Center for Conservation represents a pivotal moment for our organization and the partnerships that make local conservation deals successful,” said Ashley Demosthenes, president and CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust, in the release. “This new headquarters will not only honor the legacy of Mrs. Emily Ravenel Farrow but also provide a space for us to expand our conservation efforts and engage with the community in meaningful ways.”