Charleston Design Review Board denies demolition of Clemson University’s historic West Ashley lab in a 4-2 vote on Monday.
Historical Significance
Established in 1935 by Congress as the first of nine research centers post-World War I, the lab at 2875 Savannah Highway focused on crop varieties like beans, corn, melons, and cabbage to bolster regional agriculture. Deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, it pioneered disease-resistant produce such as the Charleston Grey watermelon.
Preservation Efforts
The Historic Charleston Foundation advocated against demolition, highlighting its educational potential despite 20 years of disuse and no restoration plan from Clemson. This decision preserves a key site tied to Lowcountry farming history on the Coastal Research and Education Center property.
