[1] Starting in 1847, the Concord Park tract was an industrial site that for many years housed a gas plant that spread coal tar and other chemicals, according to South Carolina environmental regulators.

[5][6] In the place of the Anson Borough Homes project, the City of Charleston pursued a plan which would bring economic development to the tract, the largest undeveloped parcel south of Calhoun Street.

[8] In addition to paying $16 million, the agreement called for East West to construct public restrooms, create 60 units of affordable housing, and make 2,000 square feet of office space available for nonprofit use at 67.5 percent or less of market rates.

[12] In late 2009, the city agreed to amend the purchase agreement to allow East West Cumberland Associates to sell part of the property, add more office space, and reduce the number of planned homes.

After experiencing financial troubles, East West Cumberland Park Associates sought permission to sell off a portion of its southern acquisition to a third party known as the Humanities Foundation which would then pursue low-income housing on its own.

[15] The first commercial development broke ground in October 2010 when Atlanta-based Holder Properties started work on a four-story, 62,000 square foot office building at 25 Calhoun Street.

The consultant said that the earlier studies showed that people liked the idea of garden rooms, water features such as fountains, ample seating, places that were shaded with both architecture and vegetation, and public art pieces.