Old Beaufort building that’s ‘lived its life’ will be razed for cafe, arts studio
Bulldozing buildings is no routine matter in history-conscious Beaufort, which was founded in 1711. The Beaufort Historic District, the 304-acre area comprising the original town, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
But the city’s Historic District Review Board (HRB) had no problem Dec. 11 voting 5-0 to allow the demolition of a 69-year-old building at 1013 Charles Street.
The razing of the building will make way for construction of a new two-story structure that will house a art studio, cafe and apartments in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
“I think it’s a very nice design,” said Grady Woods, an HRB member. “I think it’s going to be a huge asset to that area.”
The cinder block building that will be torn down was constructed in 1955. It is structurally unsound and not considered a “contributing structure” to the Beaufort Historic District.
As a result, the usual objections that follow demolition requests, even for non-contributing structures, were absent.
After approving the demolition permit, the HRB immediately approved the design of a new two-story building that will replicate the footprint of the old structure with some modifications.
The mixed-use infill development is located in the historic Northwest Quadrant neighborhood. A cafe, art studio and retail are planned on the first floor. Three apartments are planned on the second floor.
Lisa Hunnicutt of LRT Enterprises originally planned to remodel the single-story building on the property and add a second story. But when the building was deemed structurally unsound, Hunnicutt later asked the HRB to approve its demolition and a plan to construct a new two-story structure.
The design of the new building will be similar to the remodel of the existing building that was initially planned, Hunnicutt said. “The aesthetic is very much what it was,” she said.
In July, the board approved the demolition of two 125-year-old cottages at 1607 and 1609 Duke Street to make way for new cottages. That move was opposed by historic preservation interests with the debate highlighting tension between protecting historic homes and increasing renovation costs in the Historic District, where new development and renovations get scrutinized.
But even the Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF), the not-for-profit that fights to preserve historic structures, did not object to the demolition of the Charles Street building.
“This is something you don’t hear us say very often,” HBF’s Maxine Lutz said.
The old building’s most recent use was an antique store. HRB Chairman Mike Sutton recalled his dad drinking beer there in the 1960s when it was a pool hall.
“It’s lived its life,” he said of the old building.
