Demolition begins on Sergeant Jasper apartments in downtown Charleston

By Ashley Barker abarker@scbiznews.com Published Oct. 20, 2014

Demolition of the 14-story Sergeant Jasper apartment building in downtown Charleston began last week, according to a news release from The Beach Co., which manages the property.

Construction fencing was installed, nonstructural interior demolition was started and mechanical systems were removed, the company said.

During the next year, work will be completed in three stages: interior pre-demolition, exterior demolition and site preparation, the news release said.

Broad Street Market, which has a lease within the building, will remain open until February, the company said.

In March, demolition of the first-level commercial section, which surrounds the main structure on Broad Street, is scheduled to begin. The building will then be dismantled floor by floor starting at the top and working down, according to the company.

The site is expected to be ready for redevelopment late next year. The Beach Co. and the city of Charlestons planning department have been working on plans to redevelop the area since 2010, but nothing has been announced yet.

Residents of the apartment building, which opened in 1950, received a letter from the landlord in February saying they would have to move out. The 221 apartments were vacated from May through August.

Reach staff writer Ashley Barker at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyNBarker on Twitter.

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Demolition begins on Sergeant Jasper apartments in downtown Charleston