Mother-daughter duo maps Charleston's dilapidated downtown buildings

TL;DR

Mother-daughter team Julie and Sarah O’Connor publish online map documenting nearly 200 dilapidated buildings in downtown Charleston.
Map highlights abandoned structures across the peninsula, stemming from Julie's experience restoring a fire-damaged Sheppard Street office in 2015.
Effort aims to spotlight urban decay and spur preservation or redevelopment amid Charleston's growth pressures.

The story at a glance

Julie O’Connor and her daughter Sarah have created and published an online map listing nearly 200 severely dilapidated and abandoned buildings in downtown Charleston. The map draws from Julie's observations after she and her husband restored a rundown 800-square-foot structure on Sheppard Street for their architectural firm, American Vernacular. The article profiles this local initiative amid ongoing discussions of urban blight in the peninsula. It appears on the front page (A1) of The Post and Courier's April 13, 2026 print edition.[[1]](https://www.postandcourier.com/)[[2]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/postandcourier.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/eedition/7/89/78961abf-82d0-58e6-8b3f-5534ffa5b2b6/69dda5969124f.pdf.pdf)

Key points

Julie O’Connor first pried open the fire-damaged Sheppard Street building with a crowbar and flashlight in 2015, later restoring it into her firm's charming office despite initial doubts from a Realtor.
Unable to ignore similar abandoned properties peninsula-wide, the O’Connors compiled the map to raise awareness about the extent of deterioration.
The map covers almost every part of downtown Charleston and lists close to 200 structures in poor condition.
Continues from O’Connor's pattern of tackling "abandoned building bug" after her successful renovation project.

Details and context

The O’Connors' map emerged from personal experience: after fixing their own decrepit property nestled between the Crosstown and Julian Mitchell Elementary School, Julie noticed decay everywhere on the peninsula. This isn't a formal city report but a private effort to document blight visually.

Charleston faces ongoing challenges with vacant, fire-damaged, or neglected historic buildings, often tied to rising property values and development pressures. The map provides a tool for residents, officials, or developers to identify problem spots, potentially aiding preservation or demolition decisions.

Photos show Julie displaying a before-and-after of her renovated home and the duo at their firm's entrance, underscoring the "between ruin and revival" theme.[[2]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/postandcourier.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/eedition/7/89/78961abf-82d0-58e6-8b3f-5534ffa5b2b6/69dda5969124f.pdf.pdf)

Key quotes

"I just took one look and said, ‘I love it.’"

— Julie O’Connor, recalling her first visit to the fire-damaged Sheppard Street building.[[2]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/postandcourier.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/eedition/7/89/78961abf-82d0-58e6-8b3f-5534ffa5b2b6/69dda5969124f.pdf.pdf)

Why it matters

Downtown Charleston's mix of historic charm and unchecked decay affects neighborhood safety, property values, and the city's appeal as a tourist and residential hub. For locals and investors, the map offers a concrete starting point to prioritize fixes, potentially unlocking redevelopment in high-visibility areas. Watch for city responses, such as zoning tweaks or funding for demolitions, though no official action is confirmed yet.