The Eastside Community’s historic 135-feet smokestacks are at the center of a debate over their preservation.
Charleston City Council officials are considering an estimated $3 million preservation plan to save the smokestacks, which are currently located in downtown Charleston at the St. Julian Devine Community Center.
There was initially a push to remove the smokestacks from city officials due to safety concerns. Some experts warn the smokestacks are at risk of falling on homes during natural disasters like a hurricane or earthquake.
President of the Eastside Community Development Corporation, Latonya Gamble, said the smokestacks are “an important part of our history, it has some African American history, it has some industrial history. It has a beautiful skyline and it gives our neighborhood character.”
The Charleston City Council will soon vote on a supposed $200,000 preservation contract with an engineering firm to create a plan to preserve the historic smokestacks.
A majority of the preservation funds are expected to come from fundraising, with the rest of the funds being taken from a fund reserved and property taxes.