About the Plan
In 1997, the City of Charleston held a workshop for residents, businesses, and institutions in the area along Spring and Cannon Streets, which resulted in the Spring Cannon Corridor Plan that was adopted by City Council in 1998.
Spring and Cannon Streets connect the Crosstown and the Ashley River Bridges to Upper King Street, passing through the neighborhoods of Cannonborough and Elliotborough. In 1997, the City of Charleston held a workshop for residents, businesses, and institutions in the area along Spring and Cannon Streets. The Spring Cannon Corridor Plan resulted from these workshops, and was adopted by City Council in 1998. Soon after the plan’s adoption, the Medical University of South Carolina conducted a master plan and incorporated the results of the Spring Cannon Corridor Plan.
Plan Recommendations
- Concentrate commercial uses along Spring and Cannon Streets, with higher intensity commercial occurring west of President Street
- Create a new "Gateway Park" at the entrance to the Peninsula from the Ashley River Bridges. This park should be designed to connect the Ashley River Walk and Brittlebank Park with the Medical Complex and the neighborhoods
- Establish strong links between neighborhoods and nearby park facilities with pedestrian and bicycle connections
- Modify the traffic system so that commuters prefer to drive around the neighborhoods rather than directly through them
- Transform the Crosstown from a congested thoroughfare into a scenic boulevard
- Create a system of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings so that people can safely walk in the area
Spring Cannon Streetscape Project
Beginning in 1998, the area around Spring and Cannon Streets was placed in a tax increment finance district - meaning that a portion of the taxes collected from this area were designated to fund improvements there. This money was set aside and is being used to plan and create a new streetscape for Spring and Cannon Streets, including:
- Improved items such as:
- Crosswalks
- Pavement
- Re-establishment of two-way traffic on each street
- Sidewalks
- Street trees
- New pedestrian lighting
Funding & Design
Funding has been allocated, design of the new streetscaping has been completed, and work is expected to begin in 2014.