Positioning Charleston for the Future of Digital Infrastructure
The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and enterprise digital infrastructure is creating a quiet but powerful shift in the U.S. commercial real estate landscape. At the heart of this transformation are next-generation data centers—specialized facilities designed to house the high-performance computing power required to run modern workloads.
While many associate these developments with West Coast tech hubs, a growing number of investments are flowing into the Southeast. Charleston, with its logistical advantages, economic incentives, and recent high-profile expansions, is poised to play a strategic role in this emerging sector.
Local Momentum: Google Expands in Dorchester County
In September 2024, Google announced a major expansion in Dorchester County, strengthening its long-term footprint in South Carolina and reinforcing the state’s growing role in the digital economy. The project includes infrastructure capable of supporting everything from cloud storage to AI applications—further signaling the importance of versatile, high-performance data hubs in the Southeast.
Read the Governor's Office announcement:
“This expansion is not only a testament to Google’s confidence in South Carolina but also a catalyst for future tech infrastructure investment across the region.”
— Governor Henry McMaster
National Trends: The Rise of Flexible Data Infrastructure
Across the country, the surge in data consumption, cloud services, and AI model training is driving demand for facilities that can support scalable and dense workloads.
$2B Utah Project: A developer recently secured a $2 billion loan to build a 100-acre facility designed to host cloud and AI processing in Salt Lake City.
Source: Wall Street JournalU.S. Market Growth: The U.S. data center market is projected to grow from $19 billion in 2021 to over $50 billion by 2030, fueled by demand from sectors like e-commerce, logistics, AI, and healthcare.
Source: McKinsey & CompanyDual-Purpose Design: Today’s developers are designing facilities for multi-functional utility—supporting AI applications, edge computing, and enterprise cloud simultaneously.
What Makes Charleston a Strategic Candidate
Charleston's positioning on the East Coast places it at the intersection of coastal infrastructure, military-grade cybersecurity operations, and growing tech sector support. With large employers, proximity to power and fiber infrastructure, and port access, the region checks many of the boxes sought by modern data infrastructure developers.
Key Advantages:
Proximity to Fiber Routes & Power Infrastructure
Zoning Potential for Industrial & Tech Parcels
Growing Logistics and E-Commerce Sector
Local Tech Talent from MUSC, Citadel, and Clemson Restoration Institute
What This Means for Real Estate Investors & Developers
Charleston may soon see growing interest in repurposing industrial or warehouse properties for digital infrastructure use. Forward-looking investors can explore:
Rezoning opportunities for light industrial or mixed-use data development
Land acquisition near power hubs or fiber access points
Long-term leasing models to cloud providers or enterprise computing firms
Grants & Incentives: South Carolina offers targeted tax credits and infrastructure grants for tech-aligned developments
Real estate consulting firms like CBRE and JLL report that land values near existing or planned data center zones can increase 20–40%, especially in low-density metro markets with power access and development flexibility.
Final Thought: Charleston’s Quiet Opportunity
Rather than chase the AI buzz, Charleston has the potential to build long-term value by focusing on adaptable, next-generation infrastructure. Google’s Dorchester expansion is a signal. What happens next is up to the region’s investors, developers, and city planners.
At Charleston Revival Homes, we believe in smart growth—balancing community heritage with future-forward investment. We’re tracking opportunities in this space and are ready to help you navigate what’s next.
