West Ashley
West Ashley, one of Charleston’s oldest suburban neighborhoods, combines the country feel of peaceful living with the convenience of easy access to the downtown area.
Shaped by the Ashley River and the Intracoastal Waterway on either side, West Ashley is home to U.S. 17 South and S.C. Highway 61 and the plethora of residences and businesses that line these two major roads.
Avondale, a West Ashley subdivision, consists mostly of mid-century homes and has recently become a renovation hotspot for graduate students, young professionals, and families. Popular in part because of its short walking distance to the Greenway as well as to the restaurants and bars that have cropped up in the area in the past several years, this subdivision is attractive for its rich character and close proximity to all that the area has to offer.
Similar in location to Avondale, Byrnes Down is a charming, established neighborhood lined with modest, newly renovated brick cottages. This subdivision is so close to the peninsula that residents can easily walk or bike downtown via the Ashley River Memorial Bridge.
In West Ashley’s The Crescent, homes range from traditional brick structures to classic homes built in a variety of styles, most with sprawling yards. This quiet, traditional neighborhood is centrally located and gives stunning waterfront or wooded views to all its residents. Many who live here send their students to Porter-Gaud, the highly-acclaimed private school that lies adjacent to the neighborhood.
Across the street from The Crescent is South Windermere Plaza, which contains a variety of shops including a grocery store and a Starbucks. Nestled behind the plaza are the neighborhoods of Windermere and South Windermere, which consist of stately houses overlooking Charleston’s breathtaking marshland.
West Ashley is characterized by its impressive homes on wooded and waterfront properties as well as by the beautiful Ashley River Road, which leads to Drayton Hall, Magnolia Gardens, and Middleton Place. Other West Ashley attractions include the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site (where the English first settled the Carolinas in 1670) and the state park, which boasts animals such as bison, black bear, deer, elk, bobcat, and fox.