Keller Williams Realty
https://mail.buyhomesincharleston.com/blog/charleston-in-the-news-april-2026-edition
Charleston in the News - April 2026 Edition
Posted By: Alan Donald In: CharlestonDate: Sun, Mar 29th 2026 2:32 pm
We have plenty of good news - and numbers - to share about the Charleston area this month, such as what locally-made product was voted this year’s “Coolest Thing Made in SC”, which local team qualified for its first ever NCAA Tournament, where Charleston stands in various rankings, which housing assistance program is back, what new development and environmental management projects are underway or recently completed, and more. Read on and be sure to click on any of the links shown in bold blue font to learn more about the topics that interest you.
Charleston has made the cut on several recent rankings lists. It's No. 31 on Wallet Hub’s list of the most innovative states (with 20+ products made locally); No. 30 in RentCafe’s study of trending homeowner metros for Gen Z (with 4,275 such households in 2023); No. 7 in Wallet Hub’s list of happiest cities in the U.S. (based on factors such as sleep rate, unemployment, and income growth rate); No. 3 Favorite City in the U.S. among Travel + Leisure readers in its World’s Best Awards (dropping from No. 1 for the 1st time in 12 years); and No. 1 Best City in the South among Southern Living readers for 10 years running.
BREAKING NEWS: Two Charleston establishments (Merci and Weltons Tiny Bakeshop) were named as finalists for the 2026 James Beard Foundation's Restaurant and Chef Awards.
So, have you taken a guess on which local team qualified for its first-ever NCAA Tournament and what locally-made product was voted this year’s “2026 Coolest Thing Made in SC”? Drum roll please… Well, the women’s basketball team at the College of Charleston and Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner built in North Charleston did! Unfortunately, C of C’s No. 14 team lost to No. 3 Duke in the 1st Round. But they played well scoring 64 points against Duke’s 81.
While we’re talking numbers, let’s look at local development activity. Twelve area construction projects were among 36 across the state that received 2026 Top Projects awards from SCBIZ News for design, innovation and community impact. Two of them also received the Preservation Society of Charleston’s prestigious Carolopolis Awards: 651 King Street downtown and the Lowcountry Center for Conservation. The creation of Gary Santos Park is now underway in Mount Pleasant. Upon completion (est. 2027) of the $40 million complex, the public will be able to enjoy a gym, playing fields and basketball, pickleball and tennis courts, as well as arts and music programming. The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium is getting a permanent upgraded East Side Grandstand for visiting teams and their spectators that will double its capacity to 2,000 seats.
We even have numbers relating to local environmental management to share. Cummins Inc., an international power solutions company with a major manufacturing campus in North Charleston, has joined up with Charleston Waterkeeper and the SCDNR SCORE Program to restore a mile of the Stono River shoreline by 2028, planting a total of 350 wire reefs and 5,000 marsh grass starter plugs. Volunteers are needed for the April 2nd effort and can sign up here.
In other news, SC Housing’s Palmetto Heroes Program is again offering home-loan and downpayment assistance, with an interest rate of 5% or less and up to $10,000 in forgivable down payments to those in certain professions. Funds in last year’s program ran out in less than two months, so eligible buyers should apply soon. Lastly, Charleston International Airport is the state’s first airport to offer new touchless TSA screening to passengers enrolled in its TSA PreCheck program who opt in through one of five participating airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest and United. Relying on facial recognition tools, it enables passengers to advance through dedicated security lanes more quickly.
And that's a wrap for our Charleston area news until next month.