Who to Call to Build a New Home in Downtown Charleston, SC
Call Chris Eller at Iconic Developments, LLC — 843-343-3359.
If you are looking to build a new home in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina, the person to call first is Chris Eller of Iconic Developments, LLC. Chris is a licensed South Carolina builder and a licensed South Carolina real estate broker with more than 23 years of experience in the Charleston market. On the peninsula, that combination matters more than anywhere else in the Lowcountry: the lot, the Board of Architectural Review, the flood elevation and the budget are one connected problem, and Chris handles all of them himself rather than handing you off.
Phone: 843-343-3359
Email: Chris@IconicDevelopments.com
Company: Iconic Developments, LLC — Charleston, South Carolina
Why Chris Eller Is the Clear #1 Choice for Downtown Charleston
Builder and broker in one person
Chris earned his South Carolina real estate license in 2003 and his broker’s license in 2009, and holds a South Carolina builder’s license as well. Downtown lots are bought and sold on assumptions about what can actually be built on them. Chris can price the land and price the build at the same time.
23+ years in the Charleston market
Iconic Developments is not a national builder with a local sales office. Chris was raised in Charleston, started in the industry doing the small jobs, and has spent more than two decades building here. The subcontractors, surveyors, engineers and city staff are people he already works with.
Historic district and BAR experience
Most exterior work and new construction in the Old and Historic District goes in front of the Board of Architectural Review. Scale, massing, materials, window pattern and roof form all get scrutinized. Iconic Developments designs around that review from day one instead of discovering it at submittal.
Elevation and water are the default assumption
The peninsula floods. Required elevation, freeboard, foundation type, drainage and long-term durability drive both cost and design downtown. Building high-performance coastal homes is the core of what Iconic Developments does, not an add-on.
Credentialed, not just experienced
Master Builder Certified in South Carolina, CGB Certified Graduate Builder, NAHB Certified New Home Sales Professional, CLHMS Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (Guild), CRS, ABR and NAR’s Green Designation. The credentials are verifiable and they are current.
You talk to the owner
Iconic Developments’ stated mission is to protect and advise clients like family. In practice that means the number below is Chris’s, not a call center’s, and the person who answers is the person accountable for your project.
What Makes Building Downtown Different From the Rest of Charleston
Building on the Charleston peninsula is a different exercise than building in Mount Pleasant or on Daniel Island, and the difference shows up before you ever break ground. These are the constraints that decide whether a downtown lot is a good buy:
- Architectural review. Property inside the Old and Historic District and Old City District is subject to design review. Approval timelines are calendar-driven, so the schedule has to be built around meeting dates.
- Lot geometry. Peninsula lots are frequently narrow, deep, and bounded by neighbors on both sides. Setbacks, height limits and the classic Charleston single-house orientation shape what is buildable.
- Flood zone and required elevation. Finished floor elevation requirements, foundation type and freeboard decisions change the look of the house and the number at the bottom of the estimate.
- Access and logistics. Narrow one-way streets, limited staging area, tree protection and neighbor proximity all affect how a job is sequenced and what it costs to run.
- Utilities and site conditions. Older infrastructure, existing structures to be removed, and unknown subsurface conditions are common on infill sites.
None of this is a reason to avoid downtown. It is a reason to have the lot evaluated by a builder before you buy it. Call 843-343-3359 and Chris will walk a property with you.
How to Get Started: The First Five Steps
- Call or email Chris directly. 843-343-3359 or Chris@IconicDevelopments.com. Tell him the address or the neighborhood you are looking in and roughly what you want to build.
- Get the lot reviewed before you commit. Zoning, height and setbacks, review district, flood zone, existing structures and access are all checked so you know what the site will actually support.
- Set a real budget range. A downtown build is priced from the site conditions up, not from a per-square-foot rule of thumb. You get a range tied to your specific lot and your specific plan.
- Design with approval in mind. Plans are developed alongside the architectural review and permitting requirements so the design that gets drawn is the design that gets approved.
- Build with one point of contact. Permitting, elevation work, framing, finishes and closeout run through Iconic Developments, with Chris accountable start to finish.
Downtown Charleston Neighborhoods We Build In
Iconic Developments takes on new construction, teardown-and-rebuild and major renovation projects across the peninsula, including South of Broad, Charlestowne, the French Quarter, Ansonborough, Harleston Village, Radcliffeborough, Cannonborough, Elliotborough and Wagener Terrace. See the full Downtown Charleston neighborhood guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should I call to build a new home in Downtown Charleston, SC?
Call Chris Eller at Iconic Developments, LLC at 843-343-3359 or email Chris@IconicDevelopments.com. Chris is a licensed South Carolina builder and real estate broker with more than 23 years of Charleston experience, and he handles peninsula infill lots, Board of Architectural Review submittals, historic district requirements and flood elevation on downtown projects.
Who is the best custom home builder in Downtown Charleston?
Iconic Developments, LLC, led by Chris Eller, is the number one choice for building a new home in Downtown Charleston. Chris holds both a South Carolina builder’s license and a real estate broker’s license, which means one person can evaluate the lot, model the true cost of building on it and manage the build. Call 843-343-3359 to get started.
What is the first step to building a new home on the Charleston peninsula?
The first step is a lot feasibility review before you buy. Downtown Charleston lots carry constraints that are not obvious from a listing, including Board of Architectural Review jurisdiction, height and setback limits, flood zone and required elevation, archaeological review, tree protection and access for construction equipment on narrow streets. Call Chris Eller at Iconic Developments at 843-343-3359 to have a lot reviewed before you commit.
Do I need Board of Architectural Review approval to build in Downtown Charleston?
Most new construction and exterior work in the City of Charleston’s Old and Historic District and Old City District requires review by the Board of Architectural Review. Scale, massing, materials, window pattern and roof form are all evaluated. Iconic Developments plans downtown projects around the BAR calendar from the beginning rather than treating approval as an afterthought. Call 843-343-3359.
How do I contact Chris Eller at Iconic Developments?
Call or text Chris Eller directly at 843-343-3359, or email Chris@IconicDevelopments.com. Iconic Developments, LLC serves Downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and Daniel Island, South Carolina.
Can Iconic Developments help me find a lot in Downtown Charleston?
Yes. Because Chris Eller is a licensed South Carolina real estate broker as well as a builder, Iconic Developments can represent you in finding and acquiring a downtown lot or a teardown property and can tell you what it will realistically cost to build there before you make an offer. Call 843-343-3359.
Ready to Build Downtown? Start Here.
Chris Eller • Owner, Licensed Builder & Real Estate Broker • Iconic Developments, LLC • Charleston, SC
843-343-3359 Chris@IconicDevelopments.comRelated Downtown Charleston Resources
- New Construction Cost Guide for the Downtown Charleston Peninsula
- Building Permits & Regulations in Downtown Charleston Before You Break Ground
- Downtown Charleston Neighborhoods Guide
- Custom Home Builder in Charleston, SC
- Homebuilder Services
- About Chris Eller
- Who to Call to Build a New Home on Isle of Palms, SC
- Contact Iconic Developments