Star Gospel Mission to build new affordable housing
A rendering of Star Gospel Mission’s new housing, viewed from Nassau Street, on the northeast side of the property.
Star Gospel Mission is in the preliminary stages of adding 24 additional affordable housing units on 0.7 acres of its property.
The project is part of the highly anticipated development plans for phase three of Courier Square.
Currently, the Mission provides transitional housing to men in its program within two four-unit buildings along Nassau Street. The new housing will allow the Mission to serve more men as they gain economic stability and independence.
Star Gospel Mission is on the front lines of the affordable housing crisis, said the Rev. Dr. Marion Platt, the Mission’s executive director.
“Right now, there’s no bridge between having a good job and living at the Mission… to finding an affordable place to live,” he explained.
The housing crisis affects working families as well as the previously-homeless men who live at the Mission. People who work in downtown service jobs can’t afford to live nearby, Dr. Platt said. The Mission works to keep those families in their homes as well.
The vision for the Charleston community
The Mission’s participation on the Courier Square project comes thanks to its long-standing partnership with Evening Post Industries, which owns the property between King Street, Line Street, Columbus Street and the Lowline.
“This Courier Square project is something that every person in Charleston can enjoy, and the inclusion of those who need affordable, or workforce, low income — or even extremely low income — housing is meaningful, and it adds significant value to this project,” Dr. Platt said.
In March, Evening Post Industries hosted a charette between the designers of the project, chief stakeholders and the community.
“Dr. Platt with Star Gospel Mission has been a wonderful participant as we've prepared for the charette and has been very engaged with us as we've worked this,” said Christian Sottile, principal for architecture firm, Sottile and Sottile. “We always find the collaborative process brings better ideas forward.”
Ron Owens, president of Evening Post Industries, said the project shows how Charleston leads by example in implementing best-in-class practices from across the country.
“We’re looking forward to how we solve affordable housing issues in a creative way, “ Mr. Owens said.
A portion of the plans designed by LS3P shows the potential placement of the new housing units.
The proposed new buildings
The Mission’s plan, designed by LS3P, includes one larger building that would face Nassau Street and three smaller buildings along the edges of the property.
The largest of the new buildings would include 15 units: one on the ground floor and seven units each on the second and third floors. A new one-way driveway would loop under the building and create covered parking spots for the residents.
The three smaller buildings would create three units each, one on each floor. All 15 of the new housing units are designed to be between 450 to 595 square feet.
The new design includes an outdoor recreation and activity area.
The Mission is currently meeting with city of Charleston officials to bring the architectural renderings to fruition, Dr. Platt said.
