City of Charleston evacuates Dockside condos, townhomes citing safety concern

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Officials in Charleston have announced additional evacuations for residents next to the Dockside Condominiums, citing safety concerns.

The city informed the Dockside Board of Directors that the townhome residents and the condo community must be out of their homes by 5 p.m. Friday. Condo residents were informed Wednesday to evacuate, while townhome residents were informed Thursday.

Officials cited concrete slabs that they described as “significantly overstressed” as the reason for the evacuation order, saying, “the structure has insufficient capacity to continue to be safely occupied until substantial structural strengthening is implemented.”

The board said that townhome residents have been informed of the evacuation order and are being assisted by the Dockside Association. 

“We will keep open lines of communication with all of our residents as we navigate this challenging situation,” the board said in a statement to News 2. “Our staff and board members are working around the clock to secure each unit and protect personal property. This is a team effort, and we are deeply grateful for the cooperation, patience, and resilience shown by both our residents and staff as we work through these challenging times together.”

The condo tower, which has 112 units, is located at 330 Concord Street on Charleston Harbor between the South Carolina Aquarium and the International African American Museum.

Officials estimate around 60% to 70% of the units are occupied full-time. Built in the 1970s, the tower has a history of structural issues that were discovered in 2022 after contractors found issues with the column and floor connection of a private unit.

Following the discovery, the Dockside Association Board hired an engineering firm, SKA, to inspect the building.

Inspectors were able to investigate 16% of the building because of the intrusive inspections only some residents would allow inspections. Based on SKA’s findings, the problem stemmed from the initial construction, not a gradual deterioration.

Although SKA recommended temporary shoring efforts, they did not say the tower was unsafe.

After the SKA report, the Dockside Association hired another engineering firm, WJE, to investigate further, particularly to assess the load capacity of the floors, according to information provided by the city.

On Tuesday, WJE notified the association that the building was unsafe, and residents were subsequently informed of an evacuation plan.

The association notified the city about the report at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. City officials reviewed the information and agreed to the evacuation order.