Longborough, Charleston, SC
Charleston's newest old neighborhood — timeless architecture and a walkable plan set along the Ashley River.
Overview & Lifestyle
Longborough is a planned residential community built in the 2000s by The Beach Company on Charleston's upper peninsula, in the Wagner Terrace area just north of Hampton Park along the Ashley River. Unlike most of the neighborhoods on this list, Longborough isn't an old district being rediscovered — it's a deliberately "new" old neighborhood, laid out on a compact, walkable street grid with neoclassical and traditional Charleston-style architecture designed to echo the look and feel of the city's historic downtown. The community replaced an aging subsidized-housing site with a mixed-income neighborhood combining market-rate single-family homes with a meaningful share of workforce housing, an approach that earned it recognition as an award-winning model for that kind of redevelopment.
Spanning roughly 27 acres, Longborough is a small, tight-knit community — sources place the total home count at roughly 80 to 125 residences depending on how workforce and market-rate units are counted — arranged around quiet pedestrian-friendly streets and a community park fronting the Ashley River. It has become popular with young families and Citadel-affiliated households, offering a small-town, walkable pace of life just minutes from downtown Charleston, without the density or tourist traffic of the peninsula's older core.
Location & Getting Around
Longborough sits north of Hampton Park and adjacent to The Citadel, with the Ashley River forming its western edge. The location offers easy access to I-26 and US Highway 17, putting downtown Charleston, MUSC, and Upper King Street within a short drive, while Joe Riley Park and the rest of the upper peninsula's green space are close by. The neighborhood's small scale and traditional grid make it comfortably walkable within its own boundaries, though a car remains useful for most trips beyond the immediate area.
Amenities & Community Features
A community park along the Ashley River gives residents direct waterfront green space and a place to gather, while the neighborhood's walkable, tree-lined streets and traditional architecture set it apart from typical suburban subdivisions. Hampton Park, one of Charleston's largest and most beloved green spaces, is just to the south, offering walking trails, a lagoon, and rose garden, and The Citadel's campus and parade grounds border the community as well.
Homes & Price Range
Homes in Longborough were built primarily between 2005 and 2007 and range from roughly 1,815 to 5,565 square feet, typically with three to five bedrooms and three or more bathrooms. Recent closed sales for the community's single-family homes have ranged roughly from $1.4 million to $2.5 million or more, with a reported median sale price near $2 million, reflecting the neighborhood's larger-format, higher-end construction relative to its size. Because Longborough sees limited annual turnover given its small number of homes, buyers should get a current, listing-specific read from Chris Eller rather than relying on historical figures alone.
Schools & Family Life
For current school zoning and assignment information, contact Chris Eller directly.
Nearby Charleston-Area Draws
Hampton Park's trails and gardens and The Citadel's campus and parade grounds are immediate neighbors, while Joe Riley Park and its baseball games are a short distance away. The Ashley River waterfront offers views and outdoor recreation right from the neighborhood's edge, and Upper King Street's restaurants and shops, along with the rest of downtown Charleston, are an easy drive or bike ride away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Longborough
How old is Longborough, and what does the name mean?
Longborough was developed in the 2000s, primarily between roughly 2003 and 2007, by The Beach Company. Its name follows the Charleston tradition of "-borough" neighborhood names, paired with a nod to the community's design intent as a distinctly Charleston-style residential enclave.
Is Longborough a historic district?
No. Unlike many downtown Charleston neighborhoods, Longborough is a modern planned community built to evoke the scale and architecture of the city's historic districts, situated in the older Wagner Terrace area near Hampton Park and The Citadel.
Does Longborough have water access?
The neighborhood includes a community park fronting the Ashley River, giving residents shared waterfront green space and views, though it is not a marina or private-dock community.
Considering a home in Longborough? Contact Chris Eller, Real Estate Sales Broker Associate with The Cassina Group, for current listings and local market insight - chris@iconicdevelopments.com.