Charlestowne, Charleston, SC
The peninsula's founding ground - walled-city history, Battery views, and single houses that have belonged to the same families for generations.
Overview & Lifestyle
Charlestowne is the name the neighborhood's own residents' association uses for the ground where Charleston itself began - the southern tip of the peninsula, generally described as the area south of Broad and Exchange Streets down to the Battery and White Point Garden. It is the same storied real estate that many buyers and agents refer to informally as "South of Broad," and the two names are frequently used interchangeably in local real estate marketing. What sets the area apart, regardless of what a given listing calls it, is the sheer density of history underfoot: this was the heart of the original 17th- and 18th-century port city, and today it remains one of the best-preserved concentrations of colonial and antebellum architecture in the United States, anchored within the Charleston Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.
Daily life in Charlestowne unfolds at a graceful, unhurried pace that belies its proximity to one of the busiest tourist destinations in the South. Piazzas are angled to catch the harbor breeze, walled gardens hide behind wrought-iron gates, and church bells from the surrounding historic sanctuaries mark the hours. The neighborhood association representing the area estimates roughly 1,800 residences within its footprint, many held by multi-generational Charleston families alongside a smaller number of newer owners drawn by the chance to steward a piece of the city's founding story. It is a place where residents walk to dinner on King Street, greet neighbors from the piazza, and watch the sun set over the Ashley River from the Battery seawall.
Location & Getting Around
Charlestowne occupies the southernmost point of the peninsula, generally bounded by Broad and Exchange Streets to the north, the Ashley River and Murray Boulevard to the west and south, and the Cooper River and East Bay Street to the east - the literal end of the land where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet to form Charleston Harbor. From nearly any address here, it is a short, level walk to the shops and restaurants of lower King Street, the Charleston City Market, and the historic churches clustered at the Four Corners of Law. The neighborhood's narrow, largely one-way streets and cobblestone lanes are built for walking and biking rather than driving, and most residents handle daily errands, dining, and socializing entirely on foot.
Amenities & Community Features
White Point Garden anchors community life here, a harborfront park at the Battery long used as a public promenade, dotted with Civil War-era cannon and monuments and framed by sweeping views toward Fort Sumter and the harbor. The adjoining Battery seawall draws residents out for evening walks year-round, past some of the grandest historic homes in the country. Beyond the park, residents enjoy walkable access to historic churches, private clubs, art galleries, and fine dining, plus the boutiques and cafes of lower King Street just beyond the neighborhood's northern edge. Every exterior change in the area falls under the jurisdiction of Charleston's Board of Architectural Review, which has protected the streetscape's cohesion - and its property values - for decades.
Homes & Price Range
Housing stock in Charlestowne is dominated by the iconic Charleston single house - one room wide and oriented to catch the prevailing breeze - along with grand double houses, Georgian and Federal-era mansions, and carriage homes tucked behind garden walls, many dating to the 18th and early 19th centuries. New construction is essentially nonexistent given the built-out footprint and strict preservation oversight, so restored, move-in-ready properties are prized and priced accordingly. Recent and current listings in the area have ranged roughly from the high $800,000s to $1.5 million for smaller interior-lot single houses or properties in need of updating, up into the $4 million to $8 million range for handsomely restored homes, and beyond $10 million to $14 million or more for the largest waterfront mansions along East Battery and Legare Street - figures that shift with each new listing, so a current, property-specific market read from Chris Eller is essential before setting expectations.
Schools & Family Life
For current school zoning and assignment information, contact Chris Eller directly.
Nearby Charleston-Area Draws
Charlestowne sits within walking distance of nearly everything that draws visitors to Charleston in the first place: the boutiques and restaurants of King Street, the historic City Market and French Quarter galleries, Rainbow Row's pastel facades, and the harbor tours and waterfront parks along the Cooper River. Fort Sumter tours depart from the nearby City Marina, and the beaches and golf of Kiawah Island, Sullivan's Island, and Isle of Palms are all a short drive away, with Charleston International Airport roughly twenty minutes from the neighborhood's front door.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charlestowne
Is Charlestowne the same as "South of Broad"?
Largely, yes. Charlestowne is the name used by the area's own neighborhood association, which represents residences south of Broad and Exchange Streets, and it covers essentially the same ground that local agents and residents commonly market as "South of Broad." You will see both names used for this part of the peninsula, sometimes interchangeably.
What makes Charlestowne historically significant?
It sits at the founding heart of the city, within the Charleston Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, and contains one of the country's best-preserved concentrations of colonial and antebellum architecture. Many homes here have stood, and stayed in the same families, for well over a century.
Can I renovate or add on to a historic home in Charlestowne?
Nearly every exterior change - paint color, roofing, additions - requires review and approval from Charleston's Board of Architectural Review, and many properties carry preservation easements that further restrict alterations. These protections preserve both the neighborhood's character and its long-term value, but any renovation should start with a preservation-savvy broker and architect.
Considering a home in Charlestowne? Contact Chris Eller, Real Estate Sales Broker Associate with The Cassina Group, for current listings and local market insight - chris@iconicdevelopments.com.