Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Downtown Charleston, SC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A six-story housing community is coming to one of the most-used streets in downtown Charleston.

Henderson Park and Landmark Properties purchased about 1.2 acres at 500 East Bay St. for $16.5 million to build the Mark Charleston, which will feature 99 units and 335 beds.

Ben Chase, a senior broker with Cowell Banker Commercial Atlantic and spokesperson for the buyer and seller of the property, said the Mark Charleston will be open to students as well as young adults, people in the food and beverage industry and working-class individuals.

“These projects look to be live-work-play projects,” Chase said. “Hopefully, people will be living and working and playing in the surrounding area where there can be less traffic, and not on the road with their cars all day.”

A historic building at 77 Washington St. sits around the corner from the development site and was built in the late 1850s. Washington Street was home to several other historic buildings as well, and this is one of the last.

“As Charleston evolves, we have to be prepared for really smart growth,” Chase said.

He said this will be an opportunity to preserve its history and Charleston’s integrity by relocating and repurposing its bones, while accommodating the locals and newcomers as best as possible.

This purchase has been in the works for three years, and as the College of Charleston continues to grow, this will provide new areas for students to live as well.

“It presents an opportunity to spread these students out instead of having them in a large dense area and in the residential neighborhoods, which we all know there’s a good bit of pushback on,” Chase said.

But he says this is on purpose to avoid having one designated student hub in one residential area, plus because it won’t be entirely students.

“It’s good to spread everything out. It just keeps everything more civil. I believe that this location provides all of that and more,” he said.

The construction is said to be starting soon, with them “shovel-ready.” The project is expected to be completed for the 2027-2028 school year.

CHARLESTON , S.C. (WCIV) — A long-awaited new park has officially opened in the heart of downtown Charleston, transforming what was once a parking lot into a near acre of lush green space, fountains, and community gathering areas. American Gardens, located between King and Meeting Streets, is now open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free to the public.

Built by the Beemok Hospitality Group in partnership with the City of Charleston and the Gibbes Museum of Art, the $11 million project adds significant green space to one of the most heavily visited areas of the historic district.

From Parking Lot to Urban Oasis

Eric Mann, General Manager of American Gardens with Beemok Hospitality Group, says the inspiration for the park began years ago.

“The story is very beautiful,” Mann explained. “This space has been up for sale for quite a while, and it just so happened that a journalist wrote an article back in 2022 stating that this was the last opportunity for green space in between King and Meeting Street in the busiest area of town. Mr. Navarro caught wind of that and thought it was a wonderful idea. A couple years later we started construction, and this was a parking lot back in January and February, and it's now this beautiful park that is open to the public.”

The park features 68 crepe myrtles, more than 100 magnolia trees, eight live oaks, and two custom four-tiered fountains. Every element, down to the pavers, was custom-built for this project.

“It’s incredibly intentional. The whole vision was to create a warm, welcoming environment and allow people to relax and enjoy it as they see fit," Mann said.

A Tribute to the American Dream

Founder Ben Navarro envisioned the park as a tribute to opportunity and possibility.

“Mr. Navarro believes very strongly in the American dream. This park is a tribute to that. One of my favorite quotes from the plaque behind me is that you plant a garden for tomorrow. This is an expression of what is possible with the American dream and what we can do with our lives," Mann said.

The name American Gardens symbolizes hope, unity, and community connection, values the space is designed to reflect.

A Public Park with Year-Round Programming

Although privately built and maintained, American Gardens operates as a public park, giving it flexibility in programming and activities.

“One of the most interesting parts about this park is that it is a public park,” Mann said. “We are privately owned, so we have the privilege of getting to really do whatever we’d like in the space, and that is first and foremost creating a beautiful, open, and welcoming space for the public. We have regularly scheduled programming year-round. The whole mission is to bring our community together and create a safe space, a place of respite.”

Programming will range from live performances and story time, to private events and community gatherings. Mann encourages locals to stay connected.

“What really makes a space successful, especially a park in downtown Charleston, is the programming,” he said. “Follow us on social media at American Garden CHS, check our programming schedule on AmericanGardenCHS.com, and really get involved.”

Holiday Events and Activations

The park opens just in time for the holiday season, and BHG is bringing many of its well-known Charleston Place holiday traditions into the new space.

“BHC loves our Christmas activities in December. While we have a lot of incredible décor and events at the Charleston Place, we thought that some of that could move down to American Gardens as well, to increase foot traffic and create beautiful holiday traditions here," Mann shared.

American Gardens will officially kick off the holiday season on Friday Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, complete with live music, drinks and local vendors.

From Nov. 28 through Dec. 24, American Gardens will feature:

View the full list of happenings at American Gardens here.

A New Gathering Place for Charleston

American Gardens offers both symbolic and literal new ground for Charleston, replacing a paved lot with intentional green space in a dense urban area. The park invites locals and tourists alike to pause, connect, and enjoy nature in the center of the city.

“We would love to see people come and create beautiful experiences, events, and activations in the park,” Mann said.

American Gardens is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free to all.

CHARLESTON — Holiday shoppers can save on parking downtown as the city announced the return of its park and shop pass.

Valid through Dec. 31, the pass is good for two hours of free parking at four downtown garages, according to a city press release.

“Parking downtown can be such a pain,” said Callie Lamb, owner at Sweeter Than Fiction, a romance-and-Taylor Swift-themed bookstore on King Street. “This is a great initiative to bring locals, who tend to avoid King Street, as well as visitors downtown.”

Lamb said she is expecting big crowds over the holiday season, and will have lots of giveaways and specials on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29.

“With parking often being a hassle, the free parking offer makes it easier for people to shop locally, and it's also an incentive to spend more time supporting our downtown businesses,” said Catie Majors, director of communications at Old Whaling Co., which sells handcrafted soaps and bath products. “It’s a win-win for both shoppers and retailers, especially during the busy holiday season.”

City spokeswoman Bay Sheehan said city officials are always looking for ways to support local businesses.

“With online shopping growing and big retailers offering fast shipping and major discounts, we want to remove barriers and encourage people to choose local,” Sheehan said. “This initiative helps keep more dollars in our community, supports our business owners during their busiest season, and ensures that shopping downtown remains an enjoyable and accessible experience.”

The parking pass is valid at theses participating garages:

Here’s how it works:

Print or download a mobile version of the city’s voucher, which can be found on the City’s website at www.charleston-sc.gov/788/Business-Services.

Upon entering one of the participating garages, grab a parking ticket at the machine as you normally would.

When exiting, insert the ticket into the payment machine, then scan the city pass’s QR code at the reader located in the upper right-hand corner of the machine.

Pay any remaining balance due beyond the two hours.

The Holiday Park and Shop Pass is not valid during special event rates.

Share your holiday spirit with the community at some of the seasonal festivities around town.

Skate with Santa at Mount Pleasant's synthetic ice skating rink, have a wholesome evening at Wild Dunes' Holiday Festival or walk through Park Circle's winter wonderland at Holy City Christmas.

Then, escape the Black Friday madness at Firefly's Black Flyday Weekend and make time for the annual Light the Lake.

THURSDAY (NOV. 27)

Ice Skating on the Point

Skate your way into the holidays this season and live out your perfect Hallmark ice rink stories at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina's synthetic ice rink. The new wintertime tradition runs Thursdays through Sundays starting this Thursday, Nov. 27 and will be up throughout the holidays until mid-January at the Resort's Outlook Pavilion, 20 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant. Skaters can sign up for one-hour-sessions to skate the eco-friendly rink. There will also be special holiday-themed activities, including gingerbread house crafting stations and kid-friendly inflatables, as well as a Skate with Santa night. Families can also rent fire pits, s'mores kits and gondolas for a magical experience along the harbor. The event is open to both resort residents and the public. An hour session is $18 per person, and the add-on packages are $40-$65. For tickets and more info, visit tinyurl.com/526d47um.

FRIDAY (NOV. 28)

The Holiday Festival

'Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to get those festive cheers started than at Wild Dunes' Holiday Festival from 5-7 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 28. The holidays officially start at the Osprey Terrace and Ballroom at the Sweetgrass Inn, 5757 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms. Partake in a Lowcountry oyster roast, decorate gingerbread houses or ornaments, let the little ones write their letters to Santa and more. This magical event will crown the season with Santa Claus himself lighting the Christmas tree at sundown. General admission is $75 for adults, $37 for children ages 4-12 and free for ages 3-years-old and younger. For tickets and event directions, go to tinyurl.com/4y2j6pvp.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY (NOV. 28-29)

Black Flyday Weekend

Avoid all of the Black Friday stresses and chill out at Firefly's Black Flyday Weekend. Hosted at Firefly Distillery, 4201 Spruill Ave., North Charleston, guests are welcome to relax into the chaotic weekend with events going from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29. Enjoy some festive half-off deals at the Distillery this Friday while sampling bites from Daddy's food truck and live tunes courtesy of Derek Cribb.

Then, catch your college games on Saturday while sipping on Firefly cocktails, enjoy an authentic Lowcountry Boil from Taste of Satira and live music from Brandon Simmons. Throughout both days the venue will also be hosting their beloved local vendors market, featuring a healthy mix of retro finds and artisan crafts. The event is totally free and open to the public and pets. For more info, check out tinyurl.com/yc3zp862.

SUNDAY (NOV. 30)

Light the Lake

Take part in the 10th annual Light the Lake event at Colonial Lake, Broad Street, Charleston from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. Mayor William Cogswell will preside over the tradition of lighting and illuminating the Christmas tree in the center of the lake.

The updated Colonial Lake park will be decorated to the brim with twinkling lights and holiday décor. This event will open with a slew of local food trucks along with crafts and family activity stations for all ages to enjoy. There will also be live music and performers scattered throughout the park. This tree lighting is free and open to the public. For more information on the Light the Lake event, visit tinyurl.com/y53kyht7.

UNTIL DEC. 21

Holy City Christmas

Park Circle is popping off their holiday season by turning one of their beloved breweries into a winter wonderland. Holy City Brewing, located at 1021 Aragon Ave., North Charleston, will be hosting an immersive walkthrough experience for all the good boys and girls to explore Santa's home and toy workshop from 6-9 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, starting on Friday, Nov. 28 until Dec. 21. There will be seasonal favorite characters, including Santa and his elves, complimentary treats and desserts as well as a festive train ride experience to get you in the holiday spirit. General admission is $30 per person and VIP Access is $45, including exclusive walkthrough experiences and more. For more details on Holy City's holiday escapades, visit tinyurl.com/mswse4uz.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A vacant 1850s train repair depot on Line Street in downtown Charleston is being converted into loft apartments.

It’s part of a larger project called Line & Low, a mixed-use development that will add 277 apartment units to the neighborhood.

Lifestyle Communities is working with the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Board of Architectural Review to restore the depot’s industrial features. In addition, they’re constructing new housing next to the historic building.

“As an easement holder, we work directly with the building owners and project teams to ensure that projects that impact our easements are undertaken sensitively,” said Anna-Catherine Alexander, director of advocacy initiatives for the Preservation Society of Charleston.

Alexander said the restored depot will renew public interaction and help ease Charleston’s housing shortage.

Line & Low will provide 277 apartment units, with 252 in the main new-construction building. There will also be 20 train-shed lofts and five Charleston single homes. The main building features five different facades made from more than 1,100 precast panels.

The old train depot, known as the “Car Shop,” was built in 1857 and is considered an antebellum industrial building. The windows and doors have brick arches, and large timbers on the second floor are held together with iron bolts.

The project took several years to plan because developers wanted to restore historic structures and incorporate them in new construction. Kendal Russell-Jones, vice president of development and acquisitions for Lifestyle Communities, said the finishes will emphasize the building’s industrial history, with exposed brick and handcrafted wood ceilings.

“Lifestyle Communities’ mission is rooted in our belief that human connection is the foundation of a happy and fulfilling life,” Russell-Jones said. “We aspire to redefine modern apartment living with experiential communities that bring people together through shared spaces, thoughtful amenities, and opportunities to connect and thrive. After several years of new construction and historic preservation work, LC is thrilled to open our doors to residents and offer the experience of living in a historic train shed loft or vintage Charleston single house.”

New resident Maddy Discoll said finding housing in Charleston has been difficult.

“Recently, I just moved places; it was really hard to find housing, so to be able to do anything to kind of help would be important,” Discoll said.

Kerri Driscoll of West Palm Beach said repurposing meaningful older buildings helps preserve the city’s history.

The Preservation Society hopes returning the historic building to a more public use will encourage people to learn about the building’s architecture and history in the area.

Units in the main new building are expected to be available in late January, according to the Line & Low website. The train-shed lofts and Charleston single homes will follow. All units are scheduled to be completed by summer 2026.

The train-shed restaurant space is available for lease now. Check out for details.