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Navy Yard’s Hospital District Receives National Historic Designation

Article from http://ht.ly/30TIX 

Navy Yard’s Hospital District Receives National Historic Designation

October 28, 2010

by Sir Geoffrey

The Noisette Company is pleased to announce that the Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The area consisting of the former Naval Hospital and surrounding buildings is the third area at the Navy Yard at Noisette to receive the designation.  Previously, the Officer’s Housing Historic District and the Naval Shipyard Historic District were added to the register.  Coleman Snow Consulting, who recently completed the rehabilitation of Building NH-55 located in the Hospital District, initiated and sponsored the nomination process.

Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.  National Register Listing provides recognition by the Federal government that a historic property is significant to the Nation, State, or local community.  This recognition is important for increasing public awareness of the value of historic properties and will continue to spur preservation efforts at the Navy Yard.  Additionally, this listing honors and pays tribute to the military and civilian workers of the former Charleston Naval Complex.

The Hospital District is one of the more picturesque areas of the Navy Yard. Many mature oak trees line the roadways and spacious lot parcels provide a unique feel to an area that borders a more industrial urban area.  The Hospital District provides an area where density levels will remain lower than adjacent districts, thereby complying with the master plan for the overall area. The North Charleston Noisette Community Master Plan stresses the importance of a mix of uses and density levels.  The plan also states the importance that each member of the community understands the unique history and heritage of their community.  The National Register listing will ensure the history of the military presence is not forgotten.   There are approximately 20 existing buildings of varying size which over the years have seen multiple uses but were primarily used for medical support services and medical officer’s housing.  Multiple historic buildings have already undergone rehabilitation and several more are pending.  (NH-55 as home of Coleman Snow, NH-68 as the Lowcountry Innovation Center)

The official designation also provides financial incentives for property owners who wish to purchase available buildings and rehabilitate them for either commercial or residential use.  The Hospital District (also known as the West Yard) has welcomed multiple such owners over the last year and recently placed another building under contract.  Additional opportunities are still available and information can be found here.  Building NH-45 was the primary hospital building located in the center of the district.  This building is configured with 8 buildings or wings connected together with a common hallway and a gracious courtyard in the center.  This building is approximately 150,000 s.f. and plans for its rehabilitation are currently in process.

We are excited to be a part of this designation and recognize its great significance for the community, the City of North Charleston and the region.  Special thanks to Sidebottom Preservation and Coleman Snow Consulting for their help in the process.

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