Historic Charleston Custom House May Reopen to Public

Federal board reviews underused government properties, including iconic Charleston landmark

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:07pm

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The future of the historic U.S. Custom House in Charleston, South Carolina is under review by the federal Public Buildings Reform Board. The board is exploring ways to reimagine underused government properties across the Southeast, including potentially reopening the Custom House to public access after being closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Charleston's mayor says the building's prime location makes it a prime candidate for adaptive reuse that could activate the surrounding area while preserving its historic integrity.

Why it matters

The Custom House is one of Charleston's most iconic historic buildings, but has been closed to the public for years. Reopening it could provide greater access to the community and generate revenue, while also preserving an important piece of the city's history.

The details

The Public Buildings Reform Board held a public meeting in Charleston to discuss nine federal properties in the Southeast, with a focus on the U.S. Custom House. The board noted the building costs over $65,000 per employee to operate and maintain, with much of the space sitting empty. Charleston's mayor says the building's prime location in the historic district makes it a prime candidate for adaptive reuse that could activate the surrounding area.

  • The Public Buildings Reform Board met in Charleston on Wednesday, January 29, 2026 to discuss the future of the Custom House.
  • The board plans to use public feedback to draft recommendations to Congress by the end of 2026.
  • If the Custom House is approved for reopening, it could potentially welcome the public as early as 2027.

The players

Public Buildings Reform Board

A federal board tasked with reviewing underused government properties and making recommendations for their future use.

William Cogswell

The mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, who says the Custom House's prime location makes it a good candidate for adaptive reuse.

David Winstead

A member of the Public Buildings Reform Board who emphasized the importance of community input in shaping the future of federal properties.

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What they’re saying

“Where it's located is just in the middle of our historic district, right on the water at the corner of Union Pier. We're getting ready to put a lot of money into the redevelopment of Market Street too. It sits in the epicenter of so much that's going on and could really be additive to the whole process.”

— William Cogswell, Mayor of Charleston

“The public has a right to understand what the federal role in their community is and what federal buildings are there. Their involvement is very critical to implementing what our reports suggest.”

— David Winstead, Member, Public Buildings Reform Board

What’s next

The Public Buildings Reform Board will use public feedback to draft recommendations to Congress by the end of 2026 on the future of the Custom House. If approved for reopening, the building could potentially welcome the public as early as 2027.

The takeaway

Reopening the historic U.S. Custom House in Charleston to public access could activate the surrounding area, preserve an important piece of the city's history, and generate revenue - but will require careful planning and community input to ensure the building's historic integrity is maintained.