Work begins on Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment — what to know

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Work has begun on Navy Yard Charleston with the redevelopment of two historic storehouses in a project that looks to transform a portion of the former Charleston Naval Base into a mixed-use neighborhood.

Projected to open in 2024, Storehouses 8 and 9 will be reactivated as a series of restaurants, shops, offices apartments and live/work units, according to a news release from Jamestown, a real estate investment and management firm.

The project is part of the broader redevelopment of the former Naval base led by Jamestown and local Charleston real estate developers Weaver Capital Partners and WECCO Development, according to the release. The multi-phase redevelopment will transform a 79-acre portion of the campus into a mixed-use neighborhood. This next phase of the redevelopment, which is focused on Storehouse Row, also includes the partnership of Piedmont Private Equity.

“Great places are made over time, in collaboration with the communities they serve,” said Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, in the release. “We are advancing this redevelopment in stages and with careful attention to ensure we achieve preservation and innovation in equal measure. The reactivation of Storehouses 8 and 9 as a layered, mixed-used environment is emblematic of that mission and our broader vision for the property.”

The 40,000-square-foot, two-story building known as Storehouse 8 will be restored and repurposed as a restaurant, event space and offices, the release stated. In an effort to preserve the history and character of the building, which was constructed in 1906 as naval administrative offices, the renovation will salvage architectural details, including the building’s original hallways, trim, railings, flooring, slate roof and copper soffits.

“The restoration and reactivation of these Storehouses will bolster the area’s existing business community, which includes a wide range of designers and makers,” said Jay Weaver, founder and president of Weaver Capital Partners, in the release. “We want to amplify and nurture that creative community while introducing new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, businesses, artists, and residents.”

The adjacent Storehouse 9, a 67,000-square-foot, four-story building constructed in 1918 as naval administration offices and storage facility, will also be redeveloped as part of the next phase, according to the release. The restoration and renovation of the building includes creating restaurants and shops on the ground floor, a rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the Cooper River and 86 units with the flexibility to serve as live/work, including eight on the ground floor with a retail component, geared to makers and artisans.

In addition to restoring Storehouse 8 and 9, the next phase of the redevelopment also includes the construction of a new restaurant space to be known as Storehouse 8.5 within the plaza between the buildings, the release stated. The plaza will feature a community gathering place and include outdoor dining space, an event lawn and game area.

Since announcing the Navy Yard Charleston redevelopment, the development team has been focused on planning and design, as well as remediation and preservation projects throughout the property, according to the release. The team also has partnered with a number of neighborhood organizations and community groups, including Charleston Promise Neighborhood and Historic Charleston Foundation. A neighborhood employment program reserving project-specific positions for local residents will be launched as part of the redevelopment of the Navy Hospital, expected to commence this year.

Beginning its operation as a working dry dock in 1901, the Navy Yard maintained a naval presence on the North Charleston waterfront for nearly a century, according to the release. Since it was decommissioned in 1996, some of its historic buildings have remained in use for various purposes, while others have declined. Today, the site includes the former Navy Hospital, a neoclassical power plant, naval infirmary, and series of storehouses.

Nearly two dozen companies on the grounds employ thousands of people, including custom lighting designers, blacksmiths, underwater welders, brewer, and bakers, according to the release. Navy Yard Charleston joins a number of historic naval yards across the nation that have recently been reimagined and repurposed for modern use including the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Navy Yard, Philadelphia.