CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A group of Richmond-area leaders spent yesterday getting a glimpse of what has made this historic Southern city a success.

Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., who has guided much of Charleston's progress during nine terms in office, said his strategy has included focusing on development that pays attention to the needs of humans and settles for nothing short of perfection.

Speaking to 110 community leaders traveling on this year's InterCity Visit, Riley described a bruising fight early in his administration. It sounded similar to the one playing out in Richmond over whether a key stretch of the James River east of downtown should be developed as a public park or as a high-rise condominium project, called Echo Harbour.

In Charleston, Riley said, it was critical that Waterfront Park on the Cooper River be built. He said city residents deserve prime access to the water because they might not be able to afford to get it elsewhere.

"No one can imagine Charleston without this park," he told the Richmond group who had gathered at the park's art gallery.

Rachel Flynn, Richmond's director of community development, said Riley's message was heartening in light of the debate over Echo Harbour.

"Look at Richmond. What could be more true? We have a 22 percent poverty rate. That may be the only body of water they ever know. Why not give them the best public space?"

James Theobald, an attorney for Echo Harbour who also is traveling with the group, said Charleston seems to be balancing public and private interests along its waterfronts. "That's a terrific goal, but the devil is always in the details."

Riley said he has butted heads with bureaucrats and others at times, insisting that a dilapidated building be restored rather than demolished, or that a sidewalk be widened to make a project work despite inconvenience to motorists.

He said a city's downtown is vital to a community's health because "it's the place where citizenry is reinforced."

"Anything beats the rats and rain, but the fact is we shouldn't build anything in the city that doesn't add to the beauty of it," he said.

The Richmonders said Riley's passion for moving Charleston forward was evident and inspiring. One jokingly suggested he return to Richmond with them.

David Ruth, who moved from Charleston to Richmond in 1991 and traveled with the group, said Charleston's progress has been dramatic and fast.

"I almost see Richmond at the cusp of what Charleston was in the early 1980s," with reinvestments in homes and businesses, said Ruth, acting superintendent of Richmond National Battlefield Park.

The InterCity Visit, organized annually by the Greater Richmond Chamber, is designed to expose business, government and other community leaders to successes in other cities that may have particular relevance to Richmond.

The group left Richmond on Wednesday with the goal of returning home tonight with ideas and energy to make the region better.

The participants also heard yesterday from members of Riley's staff and several regional officials. They later broke into groups that toured local development sites and heard about Charleston's efforts to promote business innovation and its work to engage young professionals.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.