What does it take to transform a former Superfund site into a thriving community asset? In Charleston, the answer involved decades of remediation, an innovative flood resilience solution, and a developer willing to play the long game.

In this episode, Clark Davis shares how his team took a former EPA Superfund site from contaminated to livable, engineered a solution to remove the property from the flood zone, and broke ground on a $2.5 billion mixed-use district that includes affordable housing, parks, and a mile and a half of public waterfront walkway.

We also get into the community engagement strategy behind the project, including the restoration of a neighboring African American cemetery, and what Clark looks for in a community when evaluating where to take on a project like this.

Resources Mentioned:

• Livability's Top 100 Best Places to Live

• Highland Resources Website

• Magnolia Landing Website

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00:00 Overview of Magnolia Landing: A relief valve for Charleston's historic district

06:10 Why they're not building to maximum density

08:10 The remediation process and what it took

11:04 The trip wall and flood zone reclassification

14:58 Housing mix and affordability

17:02 Restoring a neighboring African American cemetery

21:49 Community engagement and managing concerns

24:53 How Magnolia Landing supports Charleston's livability legacy

27:01 Advice for EDOs looking to attract this type of development

28:11 Fun closing question

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At Livability, we highlight the nation's most vibrant small and mid-sized cities as a trusted voice for communities across America. We help places attract talent and reach target companies through digital content and print magazine programs.

Be sure to subscribe so you're alerted when we release new episodes. Learn more about us at LivabilityMedia.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email host Amanda Ellis at [email protected].

Inside America's Best Cities is produced by SpeakEasy Productions.