Once on the outskirts of town, a building at the intersection of Calhoun is now part of the urban core
A photograph taken in 1953 captures the intersection of East Bay and Calhoun streets during the dawning days of Charleston’s urban development. The post-World War II era marked a pivotal point in the northward expansion of the city’s commercial and residential landscape—from the demolition of older buildings to the creation of new infrastructure, economic expansion boomed. Situated in the center of the photo frame, a four-story Charleston single house built in 1817 remains today, a testament to the city’s historic preservation efforts and a witness to extensive growth over the past two centuries. The 3,914-square-foot building at 342 East Bay Street, which most recently served as a law office, is currently for sale for $1.8 million. The office now neighbors recently completed condominiums and is a few blocks from the South Carolina Aquarium and the future International African American Museum—no longer on the outskirts of town, but in the urban core of the city.
