b'ON BUILDINGS ON CORNERSInternationally recognized former Mayor of Charleston Joe Riley, Charles states, is credited with bringing Charleston through the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in 1989 with flying colors. He is also credited with preserving and enhancing the historic value of downtown Charleston. This was made possible by bold moves such as financially supporting The Charleston Place project with $10 million of public funds in the early 1980s. This was a move the Charleston Metro Chamber vigorously supported and passed the city council by just one vote! The Charleston Place opened in 1986, and it was the major turning point for the renaissance of Charleston.On the subject of historic redevelopment, Charles adds, Mayor Riley pointed out that he focused upon buildings on corners, because it could influence and spread in two directions.In his own words, here is how Joe described his revitalization strategy to me personally, Vacant corner lots are vital. A vacant corner lot in an old urban neighborhood is a site of a virulent infection. Its contagion is so powerful that the structures on either side of that vacant corner lot cannot avoid contracting the disease. They eventually contract the powerful virus, die, crumble and the vacant corner is bigger. That is why the restoration of corners is so important.As justification for putting so much emphasis on downtown, Charles says Mayor Riley simply said Main Street is important because it is owned by everyone! Therefore, Main Street belongs to everybody! What we need to do is to do more things that we can all own together, rich or poor! 47 NO MORE P.T. BARNUM'