By Jennifer Jordan | Charleston Housing News
For the former residents of Dockside Condominiums, one question has become impossible to ignore.
If the building is too dangerous for the legal owners to occupy, why are people who illegally broke into the property still living inside?
That question has reignited frustration among displaced condominium owners after Dockside’s association confirmed that multiple squatters forced entry into the vacant waterfront tower and have been occupying at least one condominium unit.
The irony is difficult for many owners to overlook.
In February 2025, Charleston officials ordered residents to evacuate Dockside within 48 hours over structural safety concerns. Owners were prohibited from living in their homes, permitted only limited opportunities to retrieve belongings, and instructed to secure the building after leaving.
Now, more than a year later, people with no ownership interest have reportedly broken into the same building and remain inside while the legal process to remove them unfolds.
A Building Too Dangerous for Owners…
When Charleston issued its emergency evacuation order, city officials determined Dockside presented significant structural concerns that required residents to leave immediately.
Owners complied.
Many left behind homes, furniture, family keepsakes and investments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Some eventually sold at significant financial losses.
Others continue paying mortgages, insurance premiums and association assessments despite being unable to occupy their property.
…But Apparently Accessible to Squatters
According to Dockside’s condominium association, security personnel recently discovered that individuals had forced entry into the building using power tools.
At least one condominium unit reportedly still had electrical service, allowing the occupants access to power while water service remains active throughout the building for fire protection.
The association says multiple individuals may now be occupying portions of the building.
The City’s Position
Charleston officials maintain that responsibility for securing Dockside has remained with the condominium association since the evacuation order was issued.
City representatives also say removing squatters follows South Carolina’s legal process.
Rather than immediately removing occupants, property owners generally must petition the magistrate court before law enforcement can complete an eviction through the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, city officials have stated that police officers and firefighters are not expected to enter a structure previously declared unsafe simply to remove unauthorized occupants.
Owners See a Contradiction
For many displaced owners, that explanation has done little to ease frustration.
They argue they were required to leave immediately because the building presented unacceptable risks.
Now those same risks appear insufficient to justify immediate government action against individuals unlawfully occupying the property.
Whether that reflects limitations in South Carolina’s property laws, safety protocols for first responders or procedural requirements within the court system, the result remains difficult for many owners to understand.
More Than 180 Police Calls
According to police records cited by the Post and Courier, officers have responded to Dockside more than 180 times since the evacuation for incidents including trespassing, vandalism and related complaints.
The condominium association says it continues working to secure the property but faces financial limitations while navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and ongoing litigation.
Court approval is reportedly required before certain security expenditures can be made.
A Property Still Searching for a Future
Meanwhile, Dockside itself remains in limbo.
Owners previously rejected a proposal estimated at approximately $150 million to repair the building.
The association is now pursuing a sale of the waterfront property while lawsuits and bankruptcy proceedings continue.
Until a long-term solution emerges, the empty tower continues generating headlines—not because residents have returned, but because people with no legal right to be there apparently have.
The Larger Policy Question
The Dockside situation raises broader questions extending well beyond one condominium building.
If a municipality determines a building is unsafe enough to prohibit its owners from living there, what responsibility, if any, does that government have when unauthorized individuals later occupy the same structure?
City officials argue property owners remain responsible for securing private property and that South Carolina law establishes a judicial process before squatters can be removed.
Displaced owners see something different.
They see a building they are legally prohibited from entering while individuals who allegedly broke in remain inside awaiting the legal process.
Whether that is a flaw in state law, public policy or simply the reality of balancing property rights with due process is likely to become part of the continuing conversation surrounding one of Charleston’s most visible vacant buildings.
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