A highly controversial College of Charleston housing proposal is now moving forward despite strong community pushback. The plan involves a downtown property with a much older purpose: a municipal burial ground for some of the city’s most vulnerable people.
The planned Coming Street Commons residence hall at 106 Coming Street has become a sensitive debate about student housing, historical preservation, and how much information the public can see before the project advances.
The latest scrutiny follows an October 6 Charleston City Paper report about access to ground-penetrating radar information. The outlet reported the proposed 1,000-student capacity and described concerns surrounding a planned release of survey findings.
What was here before the parking lots
In its own campus-project overview, the college acknowledges the land’s use as a former potter’s field. People buried there included the poor, orphaned children, enslaved people, yellow-fever victims, and travelers.
The property later became associated with the YWCA. The college acquired the site in January 2025, following earlier approval for high-density student housing.
Its current project website describes archaeological documentation and commemoration as central parts of development. The college says the final design remains contingent on archaeological findings, public input, and state preservation requirements.
The university says additional on-campus housing can reduce pressure on surrounding neighborhoods. Its project FAQs, dated September 5, 2025, say several alternative sites were considered and describe the selected property as the viable option offering the required density and scale.
The same FAQs outline a process for archaeological documentation and reinterment of any remains encountered. They are dated background information, so residents should check newer project notices for changes to the process.
The issue reaches beyond a proposed building: how should a growing college provide housing while preserving the history beneath an already-developed part of Charleston?
A public gathering is approaching
The college’s community-council page lists a commemorative gathering at 106 Coming Street on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The program includes reflection, prayer, music, and remembrance.
That official listing is the place to check event details and subsequent meeting updates. The project website also provides a mailing-list option for people following the development.
Follow GlobalFlare’s Charleston coverage for more local news.
