Progress
Preservation
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About Us

Rooted in scholarship,
driven by purpose.

Jonathan Poston and Casey Bearsch in a historic Charleston interior
Our Mission

We bridge history and progress through deep research, strategic planning, and bold advocacy. Our work ensures that historic structures are not only saved, but reimagined for the future.

Progress Preservation was founded on the belief that preservation isn’t about nostalgia. It is about stewardship, sustainability, and storytelling. Our team brings together architectural historians, preservation planners, legal advisors, and policy advocates.

75Years collective experience
300+Projects completed
8Specialized services
How We Work

Three commitments.

01

Scholarship

Every recommendation rests on archival research, condition assessment, and documented evidence. We earn authority before we assert it.

02

Stewardship

We balance the integrity of history with the realities of use, code, and capital. Preservation that cannot be lived in is preservation that fails.

03

Storytelling

A structure without its story is just material. We recover the narrative that makes a place worth keeping — and worth funding.

Our Team

The people behind the work.

Portrait of Casey Bearsch

Casey Bearsch

Co-Founder, Preservation Strategist
Portrait of Jonathan Poston

Jonathan Poston

Co-Founder, Architectural Historian
In the Field

Evidence before opinion.

Reviewing measured drawings during a project working session
Reviewing measured drawings during a project working session
Examining a plaster cornice profile by raking light
Examining a plaster cornice profile by raking light
Historic stair documented against its measured drawing
Historic stair documented against its measured drawing
Interior stair hall recorded during a site assessment
Interior stair hall recorded during a site assessment
Site visit on a Charleston rehabilitation in progress
Site visit on a Charleston rehabilitation in progress
Historic window and interior detail during condition review
Historic window and interior detail during condition review
Questions & Answers

How we engage.

We specialize in Charleston BAR and DRB navigation, historic tax credits, National Register documentation, FEMA variance justification, and preservation planning for both residential and commercial projects.

We integrate architectural review, regulatory compliance, historical research, and financial strategy into a single, coordinated process. This eliminates conflicts between agencies and accelerates approvals.

Yes. We support full project teams through concept development, design review, documentation, construction monitoring, and post-approval compliance.

We support Charleston projects requiring local regulatory engagement, and we provide National Register and Federal tax credit consulting nationwide.

Our work follows a structured sequence: evaluation, research, documentation, submission preparation, agency coordination, and representation during hearings or reviews.

Would you like to work with us?

Join Our Team →

“Historic preservation is not about freezing time. It's about keeping the story alive.”

Stephanie Meeks