Discover CharlestonLiving in Charleston, SC – A Diversity of Views

Tripp Smith, our in-house real estate photographer comes from a rather artistic family.  His mother, Betty Anglin Smith is a renowned local painter, his 2 sisters (the 3 of them are triplets!) also paint and Tripp is a talented B & W art photographer. Their scenes are all different, based around their experiences of the lowcountry and its local areas.  What intrigues me though is that if I look at their work I can recognize who did what from the way they view the world.  The same is true for every visitor, every newcomer and every long-time resident of Charleston. 

Take for example the native-born South of Broad resident.  They have a distinct accent of their own and a love of the town but one that probably does not stretch to the Eastside or upper Peninsula of Charleston.  Their historic canvas is as it has always been. They see old friends, familiar schools and streetscapes of their childhood.  They are of the “Bin here ” crowd, whereas all others are of “Come here ” – from “Off ” as they say. 

There is the Student.  From the College of Charleston, to the Citadel, or MUSC’s renowned medical school, for them the city is adventure and exploration and hedonism in full measure.  Their funds are not yet restricted and Upper King Street is the place to be and be seen from early evening onward. They don’t see history and architecture, they seek “joie de vie. ”

It is in the nature of life that after college comes work and for those who remain here, or the new arrivals, then housing prices start to dictate where they live and socialize.  So the upper West Side or West Ashley or James Island is where they go. They love Charleston for its festivals, for its open spaces and farmers markets.  For its special interests, its yoga classes and its limitless outdoor spaces for fitness pursuits.

Then you have the less conformist types. Those trendy sorts for whom a career ladder means a path less traveled. The haircuts, the “designer ” beards and tattoos, the specialty craft beers and the culinary, musical and service trades that let them work the hours and times they want. This group includes the “tech sector ” transplants, here as a result of the explosive growth of high-tech IT industries springing up in the Upper Peninsula.

We have our poor too, as does any city. They see the lives of others and the feel the distance between here and there. In these blighted areas of Charleston “poor ” does not equate to “uncultured. ” These residents have their own identity, obvious and present for those who take the time to look.

At another end, are the Academics for whom preservation and history are an end in itself. From all walks of life and ages they come to dig, conserve, catalog and restore.  They see antebellum antique and antiquity in equal measure and in plenty.  

Charleston graciously accommodates all these disparate groups, with varied backgrounds and varied lifestyles.This “Holy City, ” set along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, provides the perfect backdrop for their diverse 21st century cultural pursuits.  

NOTE: Charleston has something for everyone … We invite you to discover “your Charleston ” for yourself.