Preservation South Carolina

Since the South Carolina legislature passed the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act in 2013, we have seen over 2,200 buildings reap the benefits, $96M in tax credits and life brought back into abandoned historic buildings. In July 2024, legislature passed both an expansion and extension of the Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act. The new law amends the Act by: - Extending the credit through December 31, 2035 (it was previously set to expire on December 31, 2025) - Increasing the income tax credit cap to $700,000 per building site (previously, the cap was $500,000 per building site) This tax credit will continue to encourage development and investment in communities across the state.

Was your historic building damaged by Hurricane Helene? ?? The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has created a damage assessment report form, linked below, to help their office and FEMA gauge the impact on historic properties.

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History is currently accepting proposals for the 2025 South Carolina Annual Historic Preservation Conference (April 25, 2025). Learn more, and submit a proposal, by visiting the link below! ?

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a public-private partnership between FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, is supporting response and recovery efforts of South Carolina’s arts & culture sector – and the public- following Hurricane Helene. Learn more at the link below.

We were delighted to contribute to a Charleston Library Society event featuring a panel of esteemed preservationists and forward-thinkers, highlighting the uplifting narrative of Taveau Church's restoration. In late June, 2023, and with the full support of the congregation, its ministers, and the Taveau Legacy Committee, we purchased historic Taveau from the UMC Conference.? Taveau is a remarkable survivor of a rural black church with rich history. For over 125 years Taveau was an active place of worship and gathering space. This multi-year restoration project will return the historic church to usefulness as a local community space that is befitting of Taveau’s history and cultural legacy.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a one-of-a-kind program that offers support to congregations preserving historic and architecturally significant houses of worship. Please join us in congratulating Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church of Bluffton, SC, on being selected as a grant award recipient. This historically significant church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1853 and purchased by nine African American freedmen in 1874. To this day, Campbell Chapel AME serves as a vital community hub, providing opportunities for spiritual growth, youth development, and outreach initiatives. View the full list of awardees at the link below!

We are pleased to announce the commencement of Taveau Church's next significant phase: stewardship planning. Since our purchase of the church in June 2023 from the UMC, we have raised $600,000 towards its emergency stabilization. Having completed that work, we are are now eager to engage community residents, in partnership with The Asiko Group, to determine the best use of Taveau, prioritizing its future planning and sustainability. This phase received funding from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Preservation News! St. Simons Episcopal Church, built in 1900 and located in Peak, SC, receives $250,000 for restoration from the 2024 SC State Budget. Learn more about the church at the link below ?

Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has published an annual list of?America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places?to raise awareness about the threats facing some of our nation's greatest treasures. The list, which has identified?more than 350 sites to date, has proven so successful in galvanizing preservation efforts that only a handful of sites have been lost.?Click on the link below to learn more, and to submit a nomination! Deadline is October 8, 2024

Last week, Hurricane Helene caused unimaginable damage. The storm led to the deaths?of?over?100?people and devastated communities across five states. Our thoughts are with our colleagues and partners in the affected areas. Recovery from this storm will be long and challenging, requiring resources, skills, and time. As communities begin to assess the path forward, we share a suite of disaster recovery toolkits in the hope that they might be useful. Explore the resources: https://ow.ly/iiuS50TAj4S