Charleston mayor William Cogswell lays out 2025 vision in ‘State of the City’ address

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Charleston Mayor William Cogswell laid out his vision for the city’s future in an address to the city council Tuesday.

Cogswell delivered his first “State of the City” address during the city council’s April 8 meeting, marking his first major address since taking office last January.

The mayor, who defeated two-time incumbent John Tecklenburg in a 2023 runoff election, is expected to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and outline his priorities moving forward.

Cogswell recently described his first year in office as “exciting” and “busy,” pointing to plans to revitalize Union Pier, the continuation of the Low Battery Seawall project, and new initiatives to combat violent crime, particularly along King Street.

Still, he acknowledged that the state’s largest city still faces significant housing and transportation challenges — issues he wants to tackle in the upcoming year.

You can watch his full address in the player above.