West Side stretches with a mix of business, residential and industrial buildings along the Kanawha River just north of Downtown Charleston. Home to one of the city's most visited parks, Magic Island, and within close proximity to other recreational spots, residents have their pick of weekend fun. Though Downtown is a short walk south for many West Siders, the community enjoys its own dining spots, ranging from long-standing restaurants to newer, artsy spots such as Dancing Dog Ice Cream. Though West Side has at times faced economic struggles, the community is striving towards improvement. The West Virginia Community Development Hub works with West Side to aid workforce development and economic revitalization within the neighborhood.
Streets lined with vintage bungalows
Four Square, ranch-style homes and bungalows line West Side’s gridded streets. Built between the early 1900s and the 1950s, most homes are nestled close together and don’t have garages or driveways, so residents usually park along the street. Houses needing renovation sell for between $20,000 to $50,000. Turn-key homes go for $60,000 to $180,000 on average. The West Virginia Community Development Hub, in serving its mission to encourage and develop home-grown community leaders in building sustainable improvement projects, is working with West Side to collect information from residents and stakeholders on priorities and proposals. Additionally, West End is one of six neighborhoods chosen for the Accelerate WV 2023 program, which connects the community to local and national experts to help plan and find financing for projects.
West Side offers a mix of residential, industrial, and shopping areas.
Quaint ranch style homes are throughout the West Side neighborhood.
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Magic Island Park and nearby amenities
Magic Island Park is a riverside playground with a splash pad, walking trails and sprawling lawns. “They’ve got children’s activities down there, and they have a running club down on the boulevard,” says Nadia Hardy, a real estate agent with Re/Max Real Estate Unlimited. Magic Island hosts the Charleston Parkrun, a free weekly 5K along Kanawha Boulevard on Saturday mornings. A trip down this serene riverside trek leads to the Haddad River Front Park, less than a mile south. The park’s amphitheater hosts annual events and concerts. With a capacity of 2,500, locals can enjoy the free concerts held here every Friday from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. Just south of West End is the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, which hosts many of West Virginia’s premier entertainment and sporting events. Nearby, the Kanawha County Public Library was recently renovated and upgraded. “Our new public library is state-of-the-art; it’s just beautiful,” says Margo Teeter, local and Realtor with Old Colony Realtors. The $32 million remodel included a 20,000-square-foot expansion and a full renovation of the historic building. Additions include a new technology center, a larger children’s floor, more study rooms and a covered walkway across Summers Street.
Under the highway is the Magic Island Skate Park in West Side.
Haddad Riverfront Park offers beautiful views and a fun small playground for children.
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Shopping and dining in West Side
The Smokehouse is a relaxed eatery offering burgers, barbeque and breakfast since 1946. For a sweet treat, Dancing Dog Ice Cream is a new and artsy spot with blooms of color-coordinated flower displays adorning the walls. The menu harkens back to a 1950s diner with ice cream, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. This pet-friendly spot also has a small front patio with two tables. There’s a Kroger on Delaware Avenue and a Goodwill on Virginia Street West. There’s also the Patrick Street Plaza Shopping Center, offering several restaurants, shops and services.
Residents in West Side love going to The Smokehouse, which has served food since 1946.
Dancing Dog Ice Cream is a new artsy spot for delicious lunch and sweets just outside West Side.
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The Kanawha County School District
The Kanawha County School District serves the residents of Downtown Charleston. Students can begin their education at Edgewood Elementary School, which earned a B-minus on Niche. They can continue their education at West Side Middle School, which scored a C-minus. Kids can also attend Capital High School, which received a C-plus on the site. There are also several private school options to choose from, such as Charleston Montessori School, Charleston SDA School and St. Anthony Catholic School.
Edgewood Elementary School is a public school located in Charleston, West Virginia.
Westside Middle School has a student to teacher ratio of 17 to 1.
Capital High School has an overall rating of C+, according to Niche.
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Travel in West Side and beyond
Washington Street borders the neighborhood to the north, connecting the community to Interstate 77, Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60. The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority provides service through several bus stops along Central Avenue, Fourth Avenue and Washington Street. Cyclists can take a ride on Kanawha Boulevard, overlooking the river. The West Virginia International Yeager Airport is about 6 miles east of the neighborhood.
OktoberWest
Locals gather in the West Side Elk City District to celebrate OktoberWest, a bar crawl that includes 100 craft brews, including several Octoberfest and German varieties. The proceeds for the event go back to support West Side’s community and economic development projects.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Eden,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Magic Island Park
Haddad Riverfront Park
Living Aids Memorial Garden
Transit
Airport
West Virginia International Yeager
17 min drive
Bus
Lee St & Ohio Ave
Bus
Central Ave & Vine St
Bus
Washington St & Bigley Ave
Bus
Lee St & Maryland Ave
Bus
Bigley Ave & Glen St
Bus
Central Ave & Glenwood Ave
Bus
Bigley Ave & Spring St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
West Side
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Side, Charleston sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in West Side, Charleston over the last 12 months is $82,967, up 29% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Beautiful, New Four-Bedroom, Two-Bathroom Home containing 1,920 Sq. Ft. on a Solid Perimeter Foundation. The Home Features Two Large Living Areas, A Great Kitchen, and a Roomy Primary Suite. It is conveniently located on a Flat, Corner Lot along Kanawha Boulevard on Charleston's West Side. The Home will include a Fenced Lot and a Covered Porch with a View of the River.
New Construction located within walking distance to the Boulevard and Patrick St. One-story manufactured home on a Solid Perimeter Foundation containing Three Bedrooms and Two Bathrooms.
Fully rented and ready for its next investor! This well maintained building has 4 units that have 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom per unit, central HVAC, washer/dryer hookups for each unit, tall ceilings, tons of character, beautiful woodwork, low maintenance brick exterior, and more. Each unit has its own porch and deck area. Located 1 block from businesses, restaurants, and shops!
This West Side home is ready for your updates. Features beautiful woodwork throughout the home, hardwood floors, vintage kitchen, and baths, and lots of character. Three Bedroom/ 2 full bathrooms makes this a great starter home or investment property. Will likely not qualify for government loans due to needing updates and the estate has no resources to do repairs/updates. Just a few houses from
Disregard listing price. Property will be sold at auction. 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms. 1,685+/- Sq Ft 2-Story Home w/ Partial Basement. 0.07+/- Acre Lot (as assessed) with Fenced Backyard (Nice Privacy Fence). Kitchen & Utility Room with Access to Backyard. Spacious Living Room with Gas Fireplace. Opening Dining Room with Vaulted Ceilings. Master Bedroom on Main Living Floor. 3 Large Bedrooms & Full
Taylor RamseyJoe R. Pyle Complete Auction and Realty Service
Property Id: 18056251 bedroom 1 bath with great views of river and bike path.Convenient location to Patrick Street and 1 mile from Downtown.Magic Island events less than 1 mile.Small bonus room for office or storage.2 AC units included. NO Dogs, 1Cat OKFor QUICK response call or text Rent $595. Deposit $605.Require credit and background check.
PLEASE CALL THE POSTED NUMBER BEFORE A VIEWING WILL BE SCHEDULED. Garages with remote - Extra storage room - Washer & Dryer included in apartment. Luna Apartments in Historic Luna Park. This building has been painstakingly renovated and fairly new to the market. These are very nice apartments. These units have been completely renovated in keeping with it's historic nature. You will
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Eden,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
5,619
Median Age
43
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$21,217
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$40,238
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
90.4%
College Graduates
17.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.7%
% Population in Labor Force
51.1%
Below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
45/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
69/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
