Strategic Vision and Accomplishments
October 2025 - Date
The Westside Neighborhood approach to multi-pronged, incremental progress through collaboration and community engagement.
Westside residents are proud of and passionate about their community. Whether you are interested in storm resiliency, school district collaborations, or many of our other initiatives, there is a place for you to get involved and lead.
Please reach out with your ideas, or if you are a resident, nonprofit, or business owner interested in collaborating on Westside initiatives that drive positive, incremental progress.
See some of our active projects below.
Speak Up
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Be Heard
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Create Change
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Speak Up · Be Heard · Create Change ·
Projects and Initiatives
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3 New Crosswalks
Increased signage at schools
Road marking to decrease speed
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Traffic and Speed
Speed Feedback Sign Study on Ashley Completed Feb 2026
Traffic calming study approved for FY27 budget on Rutledge and Ashley
Request for conversion of Kennedy to one-way
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Parking
Parking Study Underway Because:
Lockwood/Hagood lot to be converted to housing
Hospitality employees in other neighborhoods parking in Westside
Single family homes being converted to 3-5 apartments
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CCSD Collaboration
Collaborating to on rezoning to ensure walkable, neighborhood schools that are diverse and inclusive for Westside children.
Renovation of Mitchell Playground
Rental of parking lots to decrease parking pressures in Westside
Adopt-A-School 2026-2027
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Green Heart Collaboration
Installation of new Native Garden
Collaboration on Signage
Improve student engagement
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Charleston Climate Coalition Collaboration
Two water garden installations April 2026
Education on Water Garden and community assistance
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Citadel Collaborations
Over 2,000 flyers for community programs and events distributed for Westside
Tree Planting Volunteers (future program)
Pedestrian Safety Research Volunteers
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Small Business Owner Opportunities
May all business owner meeting with Westside Neighborhood Association and the City of Charleston.
Marketing Data (Coming Soon)
Tourism Map and Small Business Directory (FY27 Budget Request)
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Livability Collaboration
Livability and WNA are collaborating on 42+ vacant properties (25% of vacant properties in Charleston City).
What does this look like: property inspections, verifying vacancy, reporting, reducing over growth, reducing accidental property fires, securing properties as requested or noted by the neighborhood residents, ongoing and consistent communication, attending Livability Review Board meetings, and ensuring STRs are legally facilitated.
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Historical Preservation
Partnering with the Preservation Society to advocate to protect what makes Charleston Charleston.
Collaboration to successfully stop the full demolition of a freedman’s cottage circa 1912.
Review signage to meet BAR standards
Joint site visits with BAR to all demo request houses in Westside.
Provide ample materials and resources to make BAR approval easier.
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Enviornmental Collaborations
Friends of Gadsden Creek and MARSH project initiated a landmark for Gadsden Green and Creek.
Both have operated for years in Westside advocating for our salt water march and Gadsden Creek.
Project 3500 advocacy for improved environmental resilience.
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Stormwater Improvement
Tracy St erosion from leaking pipe corrected
Kind St Erosion work order placed
Lockwood and Marriot manhole cover
Strom drains cleared with community/city partnerships (coming soon)
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City of Charleston Urban Forestry and Sustainability
14 Trees on King St
1 London Plane Shade Tree
Volunteer Team Training (Coming Soon)
ReLEAF
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Transportation Sales Tax
Upper Peninsula Neighborhoods meeting with Mayor Cogswell
Mayor Cogswell public Westside meeting presentation (Jan 2026)
Westside Request list submitted to City and County officials
Co-hosted TST Meeting with Public Works Director Eric Adams (March 2026)
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Citadel Events Collaboration
Collaborated on appropriate response to new bill to allow college campuses to use stadium as they wish without zoning being taken into account.
Meeting with Mayor Cogswell and Councilman D’Allesandro to present requests.
Mayor Cogswell negotiated to ensure all events must be approved by the City of Charleston special events committee.