Sam Rittenberg Blvd/Old Towne Rd Area

Sam Rittenberg Petition
Charleston County's Old Towne District Plan

THE LATEST

  • We have started a petition to support forward momentum of the City’s Sam Rittenberg redesign concepts in their future grant applications – sign here!
  • A segment of multi-use path along Old Towne Road, from the Lowcountry Land Trust office past the new County park, is under construction.
  • On January 27, 2026, Charleston County staff presented to the City of Charleston Traffic & Transportation Committee of Council with the following updates: 
    • The Old Towne District Improvements project is finalizing the remaining property acquisition needs, with the County aiming to advertise for bids in the late second quarter or early third quarter of 2026
    • The segment of multi-use path along Old Towne Road that will connect the entrance of Charles Towne Landing to the entrance of the new Old Towne Creek County Park (where the current segment is under construction), as well as the segment of path that will run from St. Augustine Drive past the fire station to the Old Towne Creek County Park entrance, will be bundled together and advertised for bids within the next three months

DESCRIPTION

Many projects are in the works to make West Ashley more connected, which was the primary theme that came out of Plan West Ashley. Paramount to achieve the goal of connectivity is redesigning Old Towne Road and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, alongside the Ashley Landing redevelopment and connectivity to a Better North Bridge, Highway 61, and the Ashley River Bridge.

HISTORY

On January 22, 2026, County staff requested County Council reallocate funds from completed or discontinued Transportation Sales Tax (TST)-funded projects to existing approved TST projects which have projected funding shortfalls, including the Old Towne District Improvements project. The final vote approving this shift in funds took place January 27, 2026. As a reminder, this project includes: 

  • 5′ sidewalks or 10′ shared-use paths (where this is sufficient right of way) on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard from Dickens Street to Gamecock Avenue;
  • 5′ sidewalks or 10′ shared-use paths on Sumar Street, depending on coordination with the City of Charleston’s Ashley Landing Redevelopment project;
  • 5′ sidewalks or 10′ shared-use paths (where this is sufficient right of way) on Old Towne Road from Donahue Drive to Sam Rittenberg Boulevard; 
  • Pedestrian crossing enhancements at Dickens, Amberly, Orange Grove, and Donahue;
  • Re-alignment of Charlestowne Drive to make it directly across from Donahue Drive;
  • A new traffic signal at Amberly Road and Sam Rittenberg; 
  • Improved landscaping and bus shelters.

In December 2025, the City of Charleston hosted a public information meeting on the conceptual designs and analysis report for a Sam Rittenberg Redesign Plan; materials can be found here, and comments can be provided via the project’s interactive map here. The concept uses existing right-of-way to create a more functional, welcoming and comfortable street through the use of landscaped medians, updated signalization, wide paths for walking and bicycling, and improved lighting.

The City’s next steps are to complete 30% of the design for two phases, from Charles Towne Drive to Ashley Hall Road, and Ashley Hall Road to Ashley River Road. At that point, the project will be a solid candidate for grants. We at Charleston Moves want to encourage continued forward momentum, so we have started a petition. Please add your name! We hope the City will be able to use this to demonstrate widespread support in their grant applications.

In 2024, the City of Charleston unanimously approved the development agreement for the Ashley Landing/Sumar Street site. Charleston Moves looks forward to working with EDENS to ensure bike/ped/transit connectivity throughout the site, as well as to and from. Charleston County and the City of Charleston are still coordinating on improvements to Old Towne Road and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, which will include a multi-use path from Charles Towne Landing to Orange Grove Road, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and additional signalization at Amberly. These improvements will connect to the sidewalk and pathway enhancements proposed around the redevelopment site, as well as an approved multi-use path along Old Towne from Charles Towne Landing to the new park site owned by Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (though there will be a gap in that path due to opposition from neighbors and a County council member). Improving these corridors will not only provide connectivity to shops and parks for the neighborhoods, but will also improve connectivity leading to the Better North Bridge project. 

After several years of public engagement, Charleston City Council voted in 2023 to have staff examine the possibility of making the Sumar site a civic space. Ashley Landing, the parcel immediately adjacent, is also undergoing redevelopment.  

In 2020, the City of Charleston’s Design Division produced a Northbridge-Charlestowne Gateway report here. 

Plan West Ashley was approved in 2018. 

In 2017, the City of Charleston purchased the Sumar Street Site (Ashley Landing) in the face of public backlash against a proposed gas station. Simultaneously, Charleston County proposed street improvements surrounding and leading to the site on Old Towne Road and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard. Substantial neighborhood objections caused the County to pull back from the project and instead propose bike/ped/transit improvements, for which Charleston Moves advocated. 

In 2014, the City of Charleston’s Design Division produced a Sam Rittenberg corridor report here, and a Citadel Mall report here. Also around this time, the City of Charleston developed Northbridge Park and a connecting multi-use path.