Real Estate Lingo: Charleston Edition

Depending on the context, "Downtown" could correctly be used to refer to any of the following: 

• Anything on the Peninsula (above OR below the Crosstown), 
• Anything below the Crosstown (aka the "Lower Peninsula"), or
• Anything below Calhoun Street (aka "Historic Downtown Charleston"). 

"Historic Downtown Charleston" is specifically made up by four neighborhoods-South of Broad, French Quarter, Harleston Village, and Ansonborough. Geographically, it is everything south of Calhoun Street, and zip code is 29401.

The "Lower Peninsula" refers to anything south of the Crosstown. Made up of the four Historic Downtown Charleston neighborhoods (see above) plus other neighborhoods: Elliottborough, Cannonborough, Mazyck-Wraggsborough, Eastside, and Radcliffeborough (all of which are in zip code 29403).  In our area's MLS, this is referred to as "Charleston Below the Crosstown" or "area 51."

The "Upper Peninsula" is anything above the Crosstown until you get to the border of the City of North Charleston. Contains several residential neighborhoods and some growing commercial areas (restaurants, boutiques) with Hampton Park as a major landmark. Zip code is 29403. Neighborhoods include Hampton Park Terrace, Wagener Terrace, West Side, and North Central. The "Upper Peninsula" may also refer specifically to the primarily non-residential section of town above Mount Pleasant Street that parallels I-26. In our area's MLS, this is referred to as "Charleston Above the Crosstown" or "area 52."

 Usually refers specifically to King Street below Calhoun.

Usually refers to the residential section of King Street below Broad (from Broad Street to the Battery).

 Usually refers specifically to King Street above Calhoun.

Typically refers to Tradd east of Meeting Street.

Typically refers to Queen east of Meeting Street.

Typically refers to Queen east of Meeting Street.

The elevated battery on East Bay Street. May also be referred to as the "High Battery."

The elevated battery on East Bay Street. May also be referred to as "The Battery."

The street level battery along Murray Boulevard. Extends from East Bay down to the Coast Guard station at Murray and Tradd. 

One of Charleston's traditional and most iconic architectural styles, characterized by a narrow side (a "single" room wide) facing the street and a side entrance. If there is a piazza (side porch, usually accessible to the street), there may also be a street front door to the porch, and the main entrance will be accessible via the the porch. On the interior, the stairway will be found up the center of the home. 

The City of Charleston's Board of Architectural Review. Generally speaking, BAR approval is needed to make any changes to the exterior of a home that is visible from the public right-of-way. More info here.

The City of Charleston's Board of Zoning Appeals. This Board makes decisions regarding lot usage, lot coverage, building set backs, height restrictions, and parking requirements. More info here.

While they do not exist on every historic home, exterior and interior easements are a useful historic preservation tool and, when in place on a particular home, are typically managed by Historic Charleston Foundation, The Preservation Society of Charleston, or similar preservation not-for-profit organizations.

Exterior easements protect specific exterior features of a home (depending on the home and the details of the easement, it could apply to home color, architectural details, materials, landscaping, or other exterior features that may exceed BAR requirements).

Interior easements are less common; when in place, these protect exceptional interior features of a home--most commonly trim, paneling, plaster, and other rare or significant historic details. 

Use easements may protect the property from changes in use--for example, a building in a historically commercial area could have use easement that requires that some or all of the building continue to be used for commercial purposes. 

Access easements are to allow home owners who share driveways or walkways to maintain rights for usage. 

The need for an access easement is rare; however, there are homes, particularly in the oldest parts of the city where one home is situated behind or extremely close to another, making an access easement the best way to minimize confusion or disputes regarding ingress/egress. 

Refers to the lower property tax rate paid by owners who claim the property as their primary residence.  

Refers to the higher property tax rate paid by owners who own the property as a secondary residence or investment property.  

Could mean one (or both) of two things: (1) The home is in a FEMA defined higher risk flood zone (AE or VE) where flood insurance is recommended and would be required if you have a mortgage on a home, and/or (2) The home is in an area prone to flooding.

Important note, not all homes "in a flood zone" are on streets or in areas where flooding is a noted issue. Most of the Charleston peninsula is in flood zone AE, though there are some very rare pockets of downtown where you can find flood zone X.

This phrase is thrown around, but it's a bit of a misnomer since technically everything is in a FEMA flood zone of some kind--low/moderate (X zone) or higher risk (AE or VE).

That said, when people say a home is "not in a flood zone," they usually mean that it is in flood zone X or "shaded X." While no one can guarantee that flooding will never be an issue, homes in flood zone X have the lowest risk of flooding.