Charleston venerates the ancient dwellings that largely define its physical character, while providing the foundation of its tourism economy. So the reported efforts to have 135 Coming St. appear even more venerable than its 185 years should come as no surprise.
That apparently was the idea behind chipping away stucco from the brick foundation of the Radcliffeborough home now under restoration by Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. The lieutenant governor has now learned that such work is distressing to his neighbors and forbidden by city officials.
The city's policy rightly protects the integrity of Charleston's architectural heritage, and the city's action in the lieutenant governor's case should warn others of the impropriety of other faux aging efforts, such as the installation of rotting stair steps and rattling shutters, or of constructing fake ruins, as did the English nobility a couple of centuries ago.
The lieutenant governor must learn to be patient in our old city. His newly restored house eventually will again suffer the ravages of time.
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