Charleston’s New Design District Takes Shape

The Kravet showroom at the newly opened Charleston Design District

By Caroline Bourque

In recent months, a number of trade brands have flown South for the winter to debut brick-and-mortar showrooms at South Carolina’s new Charleston Design District. Located along the Cooper River on the site of the city’s former navy yard, the district is a key component of a massive redevelopment effort led by Jamestown. Of the 85 acres in play, the company plans to carve out 150,000 square feet for trade showrooms, with the goal of creating a regional hub for designers in the Southeast. Jamestown has a proven track record when it comes to such projects. The design-focused developer is the force behind Brooklyn’s Industry City, the Boston Design Center, and as of last spring, the Design Center of the Americas in Southeast Florida. When it came to Charleston, Jamestown president Michael Phillips says the navy yard was a particular draw due to its existing tenants—brands like Urban Electric, Robert Long Lighting and Fritz Porter, which helped to establish a solid pipeline of luxury interiors enthusiasts long before the design district came to be. With the addition of brands like Kravet, Stark, Holland & Sherry, and Schumacher, Phillips hopes to maximize the appeal. “There are a lot of great contributors to the design ecosystem that we’re joining together by creating the district,” he says.