James Island is a mostly residential island located only five minutes from downtown Charleston across the Ashley River via the James Island Connector. Also close to Folly Beach, James Island is a very popular choice for students and faculty at the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina. The island offers a wide variety of neighborhoods and homes with varying prices, surrounded by waterfront views of Charleston Harbor, Wappoo Creek and the Stono River. Developed before stricter zoning laws occurred, most neighborhoods here have no home owner’s associations. The Civil War began here in 1861, when Confederate forces at Fort Johnson fired on Union-occupied Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Today, families can choose from a number of recreational opportunities, including those available at the popular James Island County Park. This 643-acre park offers picnic areas, biking and hiking trails, a climbing wall, playgrounds, pedal boating, kayaking, lagoons, fishing and a crabbing dock. Most popular is the Splash Zone, a water playground located inside the park. Beginning on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Day, the park hosts the Holiday Festival of Lights, a three-mile drive through hundreds of breathtaking light displays featuring millions of twinkling bulbs.
Bayview Farms is a residential, planned community just off of Fort Johnson Road. The community was started in 1987, making it one of the newer ones on the island. It is minutes from the James Island Connector, putting downtown Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina only 6 minutes away. It is also close to Folly Beach which is approximately 14 minutes away. The neighborhood has a clubhouse, tennis court and three pools. A homeowner’s association helps maintain the community’s attractive appearance. Most of the homes for sale in the Bayview Farms neighborhood are either on tidal creek or a freshwater pond, and many of the 265 homes in the neighborhood have their own docks. Catch wonderful views of wildlife that surround the area.
Clearview is a prestigious waterfront community, constructed in the late 1960s and 70s, and laced with winding lakes and large oak trees. Some of the best views of Charleston across the harbor are here. One can see Patriot’s Point Marina, the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse and Fort Sumter. James Island Yacht Club is less than one-half mile away. With a variety of older and newer homes, there is something available in the subdivision for everyone. Large yards with established landscaping surround older, solidly-built brick homes. Nearby amenities include Publix and Harris Teeter grocery stores, the James Island Yacht Club and Sunset Park.
Cloudbreak Court on James Island is one of the few new construction neighborhoods on the island, mostly built in 2010. The homes in are constructed with upscale materials and feature large porches, attached garages, gas fireplaces, and hardi-plank exteriors. The location is close to the Charleston Municipal Golf Course, as well as being close to the Earthfare grocery store in the Windermere shopping center, Starbucks, the Mustard Seed restaurant and Terrace Theater Cinemas. It is about 7 minute drive to downtown Charleston, and a 10-15 minute drive to Folly Beach.
The Country Club of Charleston is the oldest golf country club in The United States. This neighborhood is very much a golf-cart community with families enjoying their neighborhood outings by golf cart. Country Club I, also known as Country Club Estates, is bounded on the north by Wappoo Creek. Most of the homes on Wappoo Creek feature their own docks and deepwater access. The prestigious, private Porter-Gaud School is just across Wappoo Creek and also very close is Starbucks, Earthfare grocery store and the public library. Country Club II neighborhood is south of Country Club I. Adjacent to Folly Road, the James Island connector and Harbor View Road, Country Club II is infinitely accessible. Homes here were mostly built in the 1960s, but most of the homes have been updated and remodeled. Nearby amenities include a Harris Teeter and a Publix grocery store, a post office and a movie theater.
Eaglewood Retreat is a six street neighborhood located off of Fort Johnson Road. Constructed in the mid 2000s, cottage style single-family homes and traditional Charleston single townhomes have all the upgrades, hardi-plank exteriors, and two car garages. The developer of Eaglewood Retreat also developed Bayview Farms. It is also one of the few neighborhoods that has a clubhouse and a swimming pool for all of the residents.
Eastwood is a neighborhood known for its mature oaks and large yards. Most lots are about a .5 acres, and some offer Charleston harbor waterfront views. Eastwood lies 5 miles from a municipal golf course and the James Island Yacht Club. Sunrise Park is a new county park a short walk away with gorgeous views of the harbor and features a new fishing pier and kayak dock. Eastwood is close to Harborview Road, which features several grocery stores, banks and restaurants and also provides access to the James Island connector. Travel time into the city is 10 minutes, and it takes roughly 15 minutes to get to Folly Beach.
Fort Johnson Estates is a quiet, established neighborhood on James Island with mature trees and vegetation. Located at the end of Fort Johnson Road and approximately 10 minutes from downtown Charleston, traffic is minimal which makes this neighborhood feel very secluded. Houses here were typically built in the 1960′s, constructed from brick, ranging from 1500 to over 3500 square feet, and having large lot sizes. In the back of the neighborhood, homes offer beautiful marsh views and tidal creek access. Amenities include a swimming pool, tennis courts and club house. Homeowners here have the option of joining the Fort Johnson Estates Club and pool membership.
One of the closest to Folly Beach sits Fort Lamar, a diverse neighborhood with a mixture of 1960s brick ranches and newer, elevated waterfront homes with boat docks. What makes Fort Lamar unique is that it is relatively spread out and homes are literally separated by marsh. Home of Fort Lamar, where Confederate soldiers defeated Union troops in the 1862 skirmish, this area is of historical significance. The area is also home to the Retreat, a gated condominium community. Harris Teeter grocery store is close by for convenient shopping and stocking up for beach days.
Harbor Place is a great little community strategically located right off of Harbor View Road. Consisting of only one street, Harbor Place Drive, the neighborhood is a private, cul-de-sac community, consisting of 109 homes built in the mid-1980s. Condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes with extensive open floor plans can be found here, ranging in size from 1,600 to 2,200 square feet. The condominiums and townhomes are located near the entrance of the neighborhood on the water with wonderful views. The homes in the back of the neighborhood are all single-family, most of which are also on the water with extensive views of the 24-acre Lake Francis. Directly across Harbor View Road is a Harris Teeter grocery store, a Starbucks coffee shop, banks, restaurants and a gas station. It is less than two miles from the James Island connector, which gives access to MUSC, the College of Charleston and the rest of downtown Charleston. Folly Beach can be reached from Harbor Place in about 15 minutes.
Harbor Woods subdivision is a great neighborhood within walking distance to James Island Charter High School. Homes here were constructed in the 70s and 80s, although most have been updated, and range in size from 1,600 to 2,500 square feet with at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Large yards with mature trees are an appealing feature for this neighborhood. Since there are no covenants and restrictions for this community, boats may be parked in the driveway. Nearby is a Harris Teeter grocery store, Starbucks coffee shop, banks, restaurants, and the James Island Recreation Complex, which includes a pool and lighted ball fields.
Jamestowne Village is a cute pocket community located in the middle of James Island on only one street, Swamp Fox Lane. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Charleston and 10 minutes from Folly Beach, this affordable single family home community is convenient to everything. Developed by Meridian Builders, homes here were built in the early 2000’s, and range in size from 1500 to 2000 square feet with open floor plans on adorable tree-lined streets. Because the neighborhood has no amenities, HOA fees are some of the lowest one will find for newer construction on the island. The community is popular for professionals who need a short commute to downtown.
Just a 5 minute drive via the James Island Connector to downtown Charleston and a 10 minute drive to Folly Beach is Lawton Bluff, a 600 home residential community just off of Harbor View Road. This well-established neighborhood was built in the 1960s and consists of brick ranch homes on large lots, many of which have access to James Island Creek or beautiful views of Charleston Harbor. Most homes have been upgraded, and since there are no covenants and restrictions in this neighborhood, one has a lot of control with design. Close to grocery stores, restaurants, the county park, a movie theater, and a public library, it is also home to the James Island Recreation Complex, which offers many amenities such as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, basketball courts, softball and baseball fields, ballet and aerobics classes and a playground.
Lawton Harbor is a small, private, cul-de-sac community. Surrounded by wooded residential neighborhoods and Stiles Point Elementary School, Lawton Harbor is within walking distance to the James Island Recreation Center, a drug store and a grocery store. Many of the owners enjoy having no stoplights on their commute to downtown Charleston, which is only 5 minutes away. Consisting of single family homes, the neighborhood began construction in 1999. Mostly traditional in design, homes were built from ten different floor plans, but are mainly two story with 3 to 4 bedrooms. This neighborhood has covenants and restrictions, but the HOA fees are minimal.
Ocean Neighbors is situated on the southeastern section of James Island right off of Old Military Road. It is one of the closest neighborhoods to Folly Beach, only a 15 minute bike ride via the bike path that runs to the beach on Folly Road which begins at the intersection of Military and Folly Roads. There are also two public boat landings between the neighborhood and the beach, and the neighborhood allows boats to be stored behind one’s fence. Ocean Neighbors is a growing community of roughly 240 single family homes with floor plans ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet. Most homes are elevated and two stories. Winding through the community is a 20-acre lake. Amenities in Ocean Neighbors include two common spaces with a gazebo and fishing pier, and there is also a nice, wooden children’s play park.
Parrot Bluff is a small-scale community at the intersection of Fort Johnson and Harborview Roads. Nestled back on Parrot Creek, about 100 primarily brick homes were built here in the mid-1990s. Homes are two-story, typically have 3 to 5 bedrooms, and range in size from 2,000 to 3,500 square feet. Some homes have personal docks on the tidal creek. Lots are rather small, about .25 acres or less, but offer nice views. There are no direct amenities in this neighborhood, but just one subdivision over is Fort Johnson Estates outdoor pool, which offers membership. Just a short walk away are the city tennis courts. This community is 5 miles from the municipal golf course and the James Island County Park, and it is approximately 10 minutes to Folly Beach. Travel time to downtown Charleston is 10 minutes with the added bonus of no stoplights to contend with.
Parrot Creek is directly beside Parrot Bluff on Fort Johnson Road; however, Parrot Creek is one of the few gated communities on James Island. An upper scale community in design, homes here range in architectural style and in size from 2,000 to 5,000 square feet on lots about .25 to .33 acres in size. Parrot Creek is a waterfront community resting on Parrot Creek, and some homes offer deep water access to the Charleston harbor, while others offer tidal creek or marsh front views. This neighborhood is within walking distance of a play park and tennis courts. Also, residents can join the Fort Johnson Estates swimming pool to use the facility (which is the next neighborhood down the road). Parrot Creek is about 10 minutes from Folly Beach and downtown.
Located off of Maybank Highway on Magnolia-lined streets lies Riverland Terrace, an eclectic popular neighborhood on James Island with a personality all its own. It is about a 7 minute drive to downtown Charleston over the Old Ashley River Memorial Bridges, and is a 15 minute drive to Folly Beach. Being one of James Island’s oldest neighborhoods, it was developed in the 1940s and was originally planned to include a large resort-style hotel. Leading into the neighborhood is the Avenue of Oaks, consisting of 73 live oak trees believed to be over 100 years old. They once led to Wappoo Hall Plantation on the Stono River. A Civil War fortification known as Fort Pemberton, built in 1862, remains today. The roughly 800 homes here are mainly brick cottages, ranging in size from 900 square feet up to large 5000+ square foot homes on the Wappoo River with deep water and docks. Most homes have been renovated while keeping the original bungalow character. The neighborhood includes the Charleston Municipal Golf Course, a public play park, a public boat ramp, funky shops, a great cinema, coffee houses and restaurants.
Seaside Plantation is a large residential planned subdivision with something for everyone. Only a 10 minute drive to Folly Beach and a 15 minute commute to downtown Charleston, this neighborhood is one of the most popular on James Island. Amenities include tailored landscapes throughout the community, a community dock and a boat landing on Seaside Creek open to all residents. Only a few minutes away is the James Island County Park with many acres of biking and walking trails, a crabbing dock, camping facilities and a water park. There are many options for homeowners here. One can choose to live in a three bedroom townhome on the salt marsh with wonderful views of Seaside Creek, or one can choose to live in a large single-family home located on a lake or pond, or on a lot including a private dock with incredible views of Morris Island and the Old Charleston Lighthouse.
Stiles Point Plantation is a neighborhood located between Harbor View and Fort Johnson Roads on the site of an 18th-century cotton plantation. Sitting just across the Ashley River, some of the homes have views of the marsh, tidal creek, and even downtown Charleston and the Ravenel Bridge. Stiles Point Plantation features single family homes that were built in the 1980s and 1990s, ranging in size from 2,500 to 4,000 square feet. Many homes have pools. Stiles Point Plantation amenities and other features that keep it in high demand include a 5-acre recreation area, which includes tennis courts, a baseball field, a pavilion and a play park. There are no stop lights along the 5 mile drive to downtown Charleston, and Folly Beach is 10 minutes away in the other direction.
Westfield Place is a small community made up of only two streets and located on the corner of Secessionville and Fort Johnson Roads. Built in the traditional Charleston style, most two-story floor plans have 4 bedrooms and range in size from 2,400 to 2,800 square feet on .14 to .22 acre lots. Homes were built in 2006 and 2007 and have large front porches and hardy plank siding. Westfield Place is a short bike ride to Gold’s Gym, Food Lion, a couple restaurants, shops, bars, and the library. You could ride your bike to the beach in about 30 minutes, since there are sidewalks and bike lanes most of the way.
Wexford Sound is a quiet, almost hidden, single family home neighborhood located off of Secessionville Road on James Island. It is about a 15 minute drive from downtown Charleston and 5 minute drive from Folly Beach. Most of the homes here were built by the same builder in the mid to late 90’s and range in size from 1400 to 2600 square feet, have 3 to 5 bedrooms, and have mostly vinyl exteriors. Lots are large from 0.14 to 0.5 acres each, and many homes have marsh or pond views. Wexford Sound amenities include a large stocked pond, a community dock and a play park. Across the street from the neighborhood is a public park with baseball fields. Also convenient to the neighborhood is Gold’s Gym, a grocery store, library, a local favorite hot dog stand named Jack’s Cosmic Dogs, and other restaurants and bars.
Whitehouse Plantation is a well-established neighborhood comprised of 1960s ranch-style brick homes located on large lots. One can also find a townhome here, and more recently, there has been some new home construction on lots with marsh front views. Convenient to downtown and Folly Beach, the community is exposed to five supermarkets, movie theaters, a day care and the James Island County Park, which has a variety of outdoor activities, such as boating and rock climbing, hiking and fishing. There are no HOA fees or covenants and restrictions, which means many owners enjoy doing what they want on their property, without having to seek approval.
Willow Walk is a well-maintained community built in the 1980s with approximately 150 homes, ranging in size from 1100 to 1450 square feet. Centrally located, Willow Walk is only 10 minutes from downtown Charleston via the James Island connector and is also only 10 minutes from Folly Beach and the convenience of shopping, restaurants, a YMCA, churches, medical facilities, schools, parks and a variety of entertainment for the entire family. Nearby James Island County Park offers many fun-filled activities, such as boating, rock climbing, hiking, crabbing, fishing and a slide splash. There are no covenants and restrictions for this neighborhood.