Living in Byrnes Downs, West Ashley: 1940s Cottages, Greenway

Byrnes Downs, West Ashley

Byrnes Downs is a 1940s neighborhood in West Ashley, off Savannah Highway about two miles from downtown Charleston. It was built starting in 1942 as a World War II housing project of about 360 cottages, many since expanded. The West Ashley Greenway runs through it, Avondale's shops are a short walk away, and it's inside the City of Charleston. Over Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 20 homes sold here at a median of $785,000.

By Barry Cunningham, REALTOR®. Updated October 22, 2026.

What's selling in Byrnes Downs

From Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 20 homes sold in Byrnes Downs at a median of $785,000, 25% above the median for the MLS city of Charleston. Most sold between $615K and $1.29M. The homes that sold were 100% single-family detached, with a median year built of 1945. With this few sales, one or two big or small homes can move the median, so read it as a range.

Built: Started 1942 (World War II housing project, per the 2026 Preservation Society survey)
Size: About 360 houses (Original war-housing count, per Arcadia's Byrnes Downs history)
Builder: Long Construction Co. (With V-Housing Corporation)
Government: City of Charleston (Streets checked against city address records)

Where it is and getting around

Byrnes Downs sits off Savannah Highway (US 17) in West Ashley, about two miles from downtown. Streets like Colleton Drive, Yeadon Avenue, Lyttleton Avenue, Sothel Avenue and Tynte Street are all 29407 addresses.

The West Ashley Greenway, an 8.8-mile paved path on an old rail line from Main Road to Folly Road, runs through the neighborhood. Avondale's restaurants and shops are a few minutes' walk. The city's Ashley River Crossing, a $74 million bike and pedestrian bridge linking the Greenway area to downtown, broke ground in January 2025 with completion expected in June 2027, per SC Biz News.

The homes and lots

The V-Housing Corporation developed Byrnes Downs and the Long Construction Company built it as a war-housing project of about 360 houses. The homes started as rentals for Charleston Naval Shipyard workers and were sold to veterans after the war. Recent listings show 1944 build dates and lots around 0.14 to 0.15 acres.

Most houses started with two or three bedrooms, and many have been expanded with second-floor additions. A Preservation Society of Charleston survey finished in summer 2026 counted 14 house types, the most common a symmetrical three-bay house (51 examples), and found the neighborhood eligible for a National Register historic district, though it has no official protection yet (Live 5, Oct. 16, 2026). If you're buying to renovate, I'd get a full inspection and price out roof, electrical and plumbing work up front.

HOA and the tree canopy

I haven't found a mandatory HOA here, and a recent Tynte Street listing states "No HOA." That means no dues, but also no covenants controlling what gets built next door.

The Byrnes Downs Garden Club, formed in 1948, landscaped the neighborhood gateways and planted 107 live oaks in the late 1940s and 1950s. Those oaks are much of the reason the streets look the way they do today.

Flood zones and short-term rentals

Check flood zone carefully here. When I spot-checked Colleton Drive, Yeadon Avenue, Sothel Avenue and Tynte Street against Charleston County's FEMA flood layer, each came back Zone AE (base flood elevation 8 to 9 feet). Run the exact address through my flood zone lookup, ask for an elevation certificate, and get a flood insurance quote before you write an offer.

Byrnes Downs is in the City of Charleston, off the peninsula (Category 3). A short-term rental must be the owner's full-time primary residence (4% legal-residence rate), with one rental unit per property and one extra off-street parking space. There's no age or historic requirement. Details are on my short-term rental rules page.

Schools

Byrnes Downs is in the Charleston County School District. Attendance zones can change, so check the exact address with the district's official lookup: Charleston County school zone map.

What people like

Walkable to Avondale and on the West Ashley Greenway
About two miles to downtown
Mature live oaks and no HOA dues

What to weigh first

Many streets are in FEMA Zone AE
1940s houses often need system updates
Small lots limit how far you can expand

Common questions about Byrnes Downs

How much do homes cost in Byrnes Downs?

The median sale was $785,000 across 20 closed sales from Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026 (CHS Regional MLS), with most selling between $615K and $1.29M. That's 25% above the median for the MLS city of Charleston ($629,000). The median price per square foot was $608.

Does Byrnes Downs have an HOA?

I haven't found a mandatory HOA, and recent listings say no HOA. The Byrnes Downs Garden Club has been active since 1948, but there are no required dues.

Is Byrnes Downs in the City of Charleston?

Yes. The streets I checked, including Colleton, Yeadon, Lyttleton, Sothel and Tynte, are in City of Charleston address records. Confirm the exact address on the county tax record.

Is Byrnes Downs in a flood zone?

Much of it is. My spot checks on several streets came back FEMA Zone AE. Run the address through my flood zone lookup and ask for an elevation certificate.

Can I run a short-term rental in Byrnes Downs?

Only in your full-time primary residence, under the City of Charleston's rules, with one rental unit and an extra parking space. See my short-term rental rules page.

More about the area: West Ashley guide · all neighborhoods

Sources

Sales figures: closed residential sales recorded under the Byrnes Downs subdivision name in the CHS Regional MLS, Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026. Medians, not appraisals. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Other details checked against the sources above on October 22, 2026; HOA rules and fees change, so get current documents before you buy.