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Charleston Feature - McLeod Plantation faces an uncertain future

By
Real Estate Agent with Carolina One Real Estate

What Would Mr. Willie Do?

College, Friends of McLeod lay out competing visions for historic site

By Charlie Morrison

Staff Writer

            In late September the trustees of the Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) made the decision to sell one of their most historically important assets, and one of the most historically important assets on James Island, McLeod Plantation, to the College of Charleston Foundation (CCF). The sale of the property and its 36.9 acres at a price of $4 million is subject to a 90-day due diligence period, currently being undertaken by CCF representatives. The due diligence period will allow the CCF one last chance to investigate the property before they finalize the deal and move ahead with their plans for the property. The plans themselves, however, are the subject of much controversy. 

McLeod Plantation

            The late William "Mr. Willie" McLeod left a one-third interest in his property to the non-profit HCF through his will, which they received upon his death in 1990. Since that time, the HCF acquired the rest of the property. Since then, they have been searching for a buyer that would properly steward the historic property. 

            The HCF thought they had that buyer in 2004 when they sold the property to the American College of the Building Arts (ACBA), but they were forced to sell the property back to the HCF in 2008 as a result of the school's poor financial position. It was at that time that the HCF examined the possibility of selling the property to the College of Charleston Foundation. 

            Historic Charleston Foundation's executive director, Katherine Robinson, expressed her reasons for looking in the College's direction. "They have the ability to stabilize the properties that need to be stabilized. They have the funding," said Robinson. "It was never our intention to own it, but to be certain that the property could be preserved by a preservation-minded buyer," said Robinson. 

            The HCF has preemptively instituted nationally recognized protective easements to ensure that much of the property will remain as it was in antebellum times. The easements mandate that all restoration must meet or exceed the preservation standards outlined by the U.S. Department of Interior for the restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties. The easements apply to all of the buildings on the property, including the main house, the five slave cabins, the barn, kitchen house, the gin house, the carriage house, and the oak allees that line the road to the house from Folly Road. In addition, the HCF must approve any proposed construction on the property, which Robinson says is further insurance that the spirit of the plantation remains intact. 

            Though the protective easements are firmly established, the Purchase and Sale Agreement does allow for some further development of the property. The CCF released an initial, non-binding outline of the potential uses for the property. Though the outline conveys the CCF's stated intention to "respect the history of McLeod plantation," it also reveals some of the potential uses for the property, uses that have alarmed some in the historic preservation community. The initial plans state that students in the archeology, African-American studies, history, historic preservation and community planning, natural sciences, and studio art disciplines would potentially utilize the site. Additionally, the acres of open fields could potentially be used for recreational activities including intramural sports. That part of the plan is what has irked preservation groups the most. 

            The Friends of McLeod Inc., a non-profit advocacy group fighting for their own vision for the plantation, has voiced their opposition. Friends board member Carol Jacobson verbalized those concerns. "We want the absolute best for McLeod and the educational component sits there like an elephant in the room," said Robinson. 

            Friends of McLeod's plan calls for the preservation of the building and grounds as opposed to the restoration of the property, which they say would diminish its historical value. The group is concerned that the College's plan would permanently and irreversibly alter the plantation. They would like the plantation to serve as a passive park, but with an active Sea Island heritage center on premises. In addition, the group envisions a set of five walking tour pathways, each revealing a different facet of the plantation's rich history. Examples of the individual paths include a path dedicated to illustrating the African-American Sea Islanders' post-Reconstruction work on the land, and the use of the plantation in wars dating back to the American Revolution. 

            The 90-day due diligence period being undertaken by the CCF will end in mid-January. The College's plans for McLeod Plantation won't fully materialize until then, if not later. Until then, preservation activists are left with only questions. 

What would Mr. Willie do?

            Ultimately, the Historic Charleston Foundation is the steward of the property as outlined in William McLeod's 1985 will. McLeod left open the possibility of more homes being built on the surrounding property, but it is clear he wanted the main house and acreage immediately surrounding it be preserved. 

            His will reads: "I direct that Historic Charleston Foundation, Inc. place restrictive covenants on as much of the above described real property as possible so as to preserve my residence as a single family residence, to preserve the Oak Avenue and to provide that as much of the property as possible be restricted to single family residence or residences having the lowest possible density. How this is done shall be left to the best judgment of Historic Charleston Foundation, Inc." 

Charlie Morrison is staff writer for the James Island Messenger and West Of, both publications of Wiser Time Publishing. Contact Charlie at 843-297-0528 or by email at MorrisonCD31@yahoo.com or visit the James Island Messenger at JAMES ISLAND MESSENGER

For information on Charleston, SC and Folly Beach, SC real estate, please call Randall Sandin at 843-209-9667 or email at rsandin@carolinaone.com. Search the Charleston MLS for free at CHARLESTON REAL ESTATE SEARCH

 

Comments (2)

Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

Hi Randall, It looks like a beautiful home. By the way, my sister in law went to College of Charleston.  It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Nov 17, 2009 10:25 AM
Randall Sandin
Carolina One Real Estate - Charleston, SC
843-209-9667 - Search for Charleston SC Real Estate

Hey Jen - Thanks for the comment - yes, the place has been a fight for a few years now, hopefully it will work out fine in the end.

Nov 17, 2009 08:00 PM