Your Voice, Your Village.
The Harleston Village Association (HVA) is dedicated to safeguarding the quality of life in our beloved neighborhood.
By joining HVA, you become part of a strong, unified voice that advocates for the well-being and interests of Harleston Village. Stay informed about local issues, participate in meaningful discussions, and help shape the future of our community.
Together, we can ensure that Harleston Village remains a vibrant and thriving place to live.
Our Priorities,
Now and Next
Now: 2026
- Better City Storm Response & Maintenance
The updated City storm response plan, expected since March 2025, remains pending, with no meaningful progress since the December 2025 meeting with the Mayor's Chief of Staff and Councilmember Seekings. HVA requested improved preventive maintenance for storm inlets and piping, which resulted in a City commitment for six additional pre-storm cleanings annually in Harleston Village. HVA also seeks a faster operational storm response (including timely barricade deployment, consistent enforcement, and better post-storm communication), but the City has not yet provided an update or allocated the resources for this strategy.
Bennett/Gadsden Street Permanent Pump station, 2026 - Requested funding for 2026. Received high priority status for conceptual design and funding to be confirmed. Timing unknown.
Other infrastructure projects remain pending with no status updates: Calhoun Check Valve, and Long Lake management.
Near-term: 2027
- Kneewall on Lockwood, Completion, 2027 - Status Update: All necessary permits have been secured. Progress was previously delayed by the need to identify the owner of property situated beneath Ashley waters; this has now been resolved.
Timeline: Construction is slated to commence in the latter half of 2026, with full project completion anticipated in 2027.
Neighborhood Benefits: This initiative will specifically address and decrease the frequency of "sunny day" flooding events currently affecting Lockwood Drive in Harleston Village.
Long-term: 2028+
Calhoun Street Drainage Improvements - Mitigating flooding on Calhoun Street by storing and discharging water to the Ashley River remains a critical Harleston Village priority. Flooding here routinely blocks emergency access and damages property. The issue will worsen with the MUSC expansion, 295 Calhoun development, and the Lowcountry Rapid Transit terminus. Funding depends on a $225 million transportation sales tax referendum in November. HVA successfully worked with Councilmember Mike Seekings and County Councilmember Robert Wehrman for its inclusion; final project scope and funding will be determined once the Battery Extension funding is secured
What you can do
Amplify the voice of the HVA board and flooding/resilience committee. Let the elected officials know the importance of improved storm response and improved routine maintenance to Harleston Village, one of the most frequently flooded neighborhoods in the city of Charleston.
Urge prioritization and quick action on installation of the permit pump station on Gadsden-Bennett intersection
Advocate to city officials for the advancement of the overdue Kneewall project and insist on increased transparency and regular progress reports regarding its status.
Advocate for the Calhoun Street drainage improvements and passage of the 2026 TST tax referendum on November 4, 2026. It is a one-in-25-year opportunity for Harleston Village!
Chronology of Committee Actions Taken
Efforts by members of the committee to engage with city officials to learn about the projects and gather status information is an ongoing effort. Below is a quick chronology of actions taken over the past 12 months.
March 2025 - Ongoing: Coordinated continually with Councilmember Mike Seekings regarding improved storm response, inlet maintenance, and the inclusion of Calhoun Street drainage improvements on the Transportation Sales Tax (TST) referendum project list. (A primary concern remains entering the 2026 storm season without a clearly improved City operational storm response plan.)
Summer 2025: The City funded and prioritized a permanent pump station at Bennett–Gadsden, though timing remains pending (confirmed by budget presentation and a neighborhood consortium resolution in October 2025).
July 2025 - May 2026: Following reports and inspections, blocked Ashley Avenue inlets appeared to have been cleared and/or repaired.
October - November 2025: Advocated during TST City Council Hearings, emphasizing that Calhoun Street drainage deficiencies affect the broader drainage basin and much of Harleston Village.
December 2025: Met with Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Liz Dieck, to discuss storm response concerns. No updates since.
January 5, 2025: Community meeting with County Councilmember Robert Wehrman, County Engineering Staff and Mike Seekings, City Councilmember on proposed TST projects resolution by HVA for support of Cowans Street drainage improvements.
February - March 2026: Held multiple discussions with the City’s Chief Resilience Officer regarding the Battery Extension, Knee wall project (projected completion: 2027), and related resiliency initiatives.
March 2026: Secured a commitment from the City for six additional pre-storm inlet cleanings annually.
May 3, 2026: HVA published a guest editorial in The Post and Courier advocating for a balance between long-term resiliency projects and immediate neighborhood flooding needs.
May 7, 2026: Flood response concerns were publicly raised with Councilmember Mike Seekings at the HVA neighborhood meeting.
May 2026: Met with the Union Pier development team regarding neighborhood flood modeling and potential mitigation applications.
Charleston County Releases April 14, 2026 "Public Input" Report -Calhoun Street Improvements Noted
Dear Neighbor,
Charleston County's draft Transportation Sales Tax list includes the Calhoun Street Corridor drainage improvements. That's a win. Now we need to lock it in.
April 14 Public Input Report Released -
Charleston County has released the latest round of public input in a report on the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax website. 10% of the Q2 respondents expressed coordinated support for the Calhoun Street Corridor project, citing flood mitigation and safe neighborhood access as the primary benefits.
Excerpt from the report:
Project List as of April 2026
Why this matters for Harleston Village? The congestion, 27,000 vehicles per day, and routine flooding on Calhoun Street directly impacts our neighborhood. It limits access to properties and emergency services, and commuting traffic overflow generates wakes increasing damage. These conditions will only worsen with planned development, the location of the Low Country Rapid Transit terminus location (target late 2027), planned MUSC expansion and growth of West Edge, over the next decade.
What Next? Staff-led outreach runs through March 25. In April, County Council refines the list. In May, they finalize and give first reading to the referendum ordinance to be held in November. This funding cycle comes around once every 25 years. Don't let it pass without your voice! |
New News!
Upcoming Events in Harleston Village
A lot going on, ... mark you calendars!
Highlighting Family-Friendly Movie Night, Moultrie Playground, 41 Ashley Avenue, 8PM,
HVA Hearts & Hand volunteer at the Fisher House
On Monday, April 13th, a group of neighbors representing the Harleston Village Association Hearts & Hands, made dinner for the guests at the Fisher House on Wentworth St. Learn more about the event and other opportunities at the button below.
Stay-tune for the latest news here on the website or social medial
Membership - Join Today!
Membership Options
We offer two ways to get involved in the Harleston Village community:
- Resident Membership, $55, is open to households in the neighborhood. Residents are invited to all meetings, events, and socials, with full access to the newsletter and one vote per household. Membership can begin at any time and renews annually.
- Business Membership, $285, is designed for local businesses—including shops, restaurants, hotels, offices, and places of worship—located within Harleston Village. Business Members are encouraged to participate in neighborhood life by attending meetings, socials, and community events.
Committees
Committee Chair: Joshua Hughes
The programs committee is responsible for planning and coordinating board meetings, membership meetings, and securing meeting venues. The Vice President shall serve as the chair of this committee.
Committee Chair: Meghan Friday
The Membership and Publicity Committee is responsible for maintaining an accurate and up-to-date membership roster, expanding the Association’s membership, and encouraging member participation in activities and initiatives. It also manages all communications and outreach efforts, including keeping members informed about neighborhood developments and city actions through the website, social media, and email updates. The committee oversees the publication of newsletters, external communications such as press releases, and timely information for the news media. Additionally, it promotes the Association’s role, raises awareness of its impact, and highlights the benefits of membership to strengthen engagement and community involvement.
Committee Chair: Wiley Becker
The land use committee mission is to preserve architectural integrity and enhance quality of life in our historic district. It reviews applications to the Board of Architectural Review and Board of Zoning Appeals, providing neighborhood input. The committee also evaluates zoning, planning, and ordinance amendments from the Planning Commission, offering informed feedback. Collaborating with preservation organizations and consulting with affected neighbors, it ensures well-rounded contributions to city decisions.
Committee Chair: Chuck Duffy
The livability committee keeps the board informed of all matters affecting the overall livability of Harleston Village residents, including crime, traffic, safety, noise, special events, and the production of motion pictures or television shows. The chair shall represent the neighborhood’s interests in maintaining or improving quality of life at public forums or any other relevant meetings.
Committee Chair: Ashley Hughes
The parks committee is responsible for keeping the Board informed of all matters related to the parks within the neighborhood. The Chair will represent the neighborhood’s consensus at public meetings of the Colonial Commons Committee and other public meetings related to parks.
Committee Chair: Susan Lyons
The resilience committee shall play a vital role in safeguarding Harleston Village against the impacts of flooding and climate change. It will closely monitor key initiatives, including the Low Battery redesign, the potential Calhoun-West Drainage project, and ongoing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studies. By staying informed and engaged, this committee works to protect the neighborhood from saltwater intrusion driven by storm surges and tides, as well as freshwater flooding related to inadequate drainage.
Harleston Village dates back to 1672, making it one of Charleston's oldest neighborhoods.
Building a resilient Charleston
Water Plan
Charleston's Water Plan is a comprehensive strategy for managing, conserving, and sustainably utilizing water resources to meet current and future needs.
TIDEye
TIDEeye is a coastal monitoring and decision-making tool that provides real-time data and insights on tides, currents, and environmental conditions.
Flooding and Sea Level Rise Strategy Update
The City of Charleston's Flooding and Sea Level Rise Strategy Update outlines comprehensive measures to address current and future flood risks, emphasizing infrastructure improvements, policy changes, and community engagement to enhance resilience against sea level rise.
Overall Charleston is one of the least densely populated major cities in America, half as dense as New Orleans and four times less dense than Norfolk. As Charleston continues to grow, appropriate development in flood safe areas, can help justify infrastructural investment in flood prone ones, increasing the tax base and driving up the cost benefit ratio.
Colonial Lake refresh
Colonial Lake Revitalization
Colonial Lake is a cherished public space in the heart of Harleston Village and a gem of Charleston’s parks system, requiring ongoing maintenance and horticultural care to remain vibrant for residents and visitors. The Charleston Parks Conservancy urges the community to support its upkeep through donations, volunteering, and other forms of involvement to preserve this urban oasis for future generations.
Zoning code rewrite
Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
Charleston’s zoning code rewrite could significantly shape Harleston Village by updating building height, design standards, and allowable uses. These changes may affect the neighborhood’s traditional scale, traffic patterns, walkability, historic preservation, green spaces, and overall community life.
