Charleston

 

 

Charleston is a seaside community on Staten Island’s South Shore. Real estate in this neighborhood tends to be high-end and desirable for affluent buyers. Some prominent landmarks can be found in this area- notably the historic Kreischer Mansion, Clay Pit Ponds State Park, and Bricktown Centre.

 

Overlooking the Arthur Kill to the west, Charleston is bordered by Richmond Valley to the south, Woodrow to the East, and Rossville to the North. Formerly the site of the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, a new Charleston-area film studio called Broadway Stages opened in 2018 and now provides the location for major Hollywood productions. This neighborhood is also known for its private luxury development The Tides.

 

 

At the turn of the eighteenth century, there were still less than one thousand settlers living in Staten Island. In 1699, the most powerful family in the neighborhood we now know as Charleston was the Androvette family. The Androvettes were farmers by trade and by 1850, they owned one third of the community’s structures. The neighborhood was known to locals at the time as Androvetteville.

 

The area’s clay deposits eventually attracted the brick maker Balthazar Kreischer, who built his brick factory there in 1854. The Kreischer Brick Manufactory produced fire bricks, tile, and terra cotta. The factory became so popular that the area soon became known as Kreischerville. But with the onset of World War I, American sentiment toward the Germans soured and the name Kreischer had negative connotations. One of Balthazar Kreisher’s sons was named Charles, so the name Charleston was adopted as the new moniker going forward.

 

 

Charleston is a largely secluded community in one of the less-populated sections of Staten Island. Most of the land here remains undeveloped thanks to the large Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve and Fairview Park. Much of the land on the northern end is used for industrial purposes. Residents here can enjoy peace and quiet, lots of greenery, and water views of the Arthur Kill straight.

 

The majority of housing for sale in Charleston is located at The Tides, an upscale 55+ community. These waterfront homes are all fairly new construction in this 2004 development. Other than homes situated in The Tides, Charleston does still have a few older character homes.

 

While there are relatively few homes in Charleston proper, there are lots of retail and dining in the area utilized by surrounding South Shore neighborhoods. The Bricktowne Centre is a 42-acre shopping complex and features a Target, Christmas Tree Shops, Michaels, Home Depot, and a new Regal Cinemas Movie Theatre. One of the area’s most well-known restaurants is Killmeyer’s Bavaria Inn, which serves German cuisine. Musicians and creative types travel from all over Staten Island and beyond to record or take lessons at Fenix Studios.

 

 

Located within neighborhood boundaries in PS 25 South Richmond High Schools, which serves students from K-12. The nearest schools just outside of Charleston are PS The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability, PS 56 The Louis DeSario School in Woodrow, PS 3 The Margaret Gioiosa Pleasant Plains School in Pleasant Plains, IS 75 The Frank D. Paulo School in Rossville, and Tottenville High School in Tottenville.

 

Several private schools are also located around this area should you prefer. The closest is Gateway Academy in Richmond Valley. Also quite close is Our Lady Help of Christians in Tottenville, Yeshiva of Staten Island in Pleasant Plains, and Our Lady Star of the Sea in Annadale.

 

To get around, most Charleston residents commute by car. I-440 and Korean War Veterans Expressway form the southern and eastern boundaries of this neighborhood, which gives quick access to the northern part of Staten Island. The Outerbridge Crossing to New Jersey is just minutes away.

 

If you do need to commute by public transit, there are options here too. Local bus routes include the s74, s78, and s84, which all provide service to Bricktown Centre to the south and the St. George Ferry to the north. The SIM26 provides service to Midtown Manhattan over on Bloomingdale Road. Richmond Valley is the closest stop on the SIRR.

 

Thinking of buying a home in Charleston? See all homes for sale in this neighborhood!