Charleston's Broad Street is steeped in history, with quaint shops, dining venues, charming inns and legal practices near the Four Corners of Law.
Now, an attorney and former New York resident wants to add a new element to the mix.
Josh Nass intends to transform the four-story office building he bought for $1.72 million at 61 Broad St. between Meeting and Church streets into a broadcast studio hub where politicians can film interviews and make appearances.
The nearly century-old Steinberg Law Firm has occupied the 7,056-square-foot structure since 1927, and, for now, the personal-injury practice is staying put.
Josh Nass is the new owner of the four-story building at 61 Broad St. where Steinberg Law Firm operates in downtown Charleston. Provided
Nass said he plans to convert the upper floors into residential units and transform the back part of the bottom floor into a television studio where politicians can come for one-on-one interviews and film campaign pitches for broadcast networks. Ideas for the rest of the ground floor include an office space, conference room and bar or dessert shop. He hopes to create a rooftop deck space as well.
"We are going to make Broad Street the hub for broadcast media," Nass said.
The studio conversion will be overseen by Jonathan Wachtel, former director of communications for Nikki Haley during her tenure as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Wachtel also is a veteran TV producer with two decades of experience.
Nass works in crisis communications and government relations. He focuses on helping politicians and others with "reputational issues."
Nass called Charleston "an exceptionally vibrant city" with untapped opportunities.
"It's about tapping into a market that's a bedrock of great traditions, great roots and great history," he said. "The capital coming into this market from investors is incredible. The potential hasn't been realized yet in Charleston."
Nass said Steinberg will remain a tenant for at least the next eight months with the option to stay up to a year and a half.
The law firm plans to maintain a presence on the peninsula once it decides to move out of the Broad Street site, according to attorney and partner David Pearlman.
For now, it's concentrating efforts on the soon-to-start construction of a new larger office building in Goose Creek near Infinger Furniture. It will replace the existing practice nearby on Goose Creek Boulevard.
Steinberg also has an office on Grandview Drive in Summerville.
"The majority of our clients are now in the suburbs, and we want to make sure we are easily accessible," Pearlman said.
The suburban sites offer plenty of parking, where the current Broad Street office does not.
