A neighborhood full of industry just outside the city
In between Charleston and St. Albans, the neighborhood of Jefferson shares residential land with commercial space along the Kanawha River, with employers both national and local interspersed with pockets of homes and apartments. Several new industrial and commercial facilities, such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, have set up shop in Jefferson of late. With West Virginia's capital also just upstream, “it’s an up-and-coming place,” says Duke Jordan, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Commercial Associates.
Ranch-style homes dot the waterfront
Most properties line the waterfront on the river side of U.S. Highway 60 in this thin strip of a neighborhood. Railroad tracks and a few homes and businesses are on the other side. Sidewalks are few, even in the residential enclaves. Ranch-style homes, cottages and bungalows sit on snug, compact lots. Prices range from $90,000 to $130,000 on average. “It's just an ever-growing area because everything is getting pushed out from Charleston and South Charleston. The prices are low for now, but it’s about to go up through the roof,” says Jordan.
Fun indoors and out
River Alley is a bowling alley on MacCorkle Avenue (U.S. 60), offering leagues for all skill levels as well as frequent events. Just outside the neighborhood, Ordnance Park, with a history dating back to World War II, features a playground and a basketball court. A bigger green space can be found 3 miles west of Jefferson at St. Albans City Park. Here, residents can have relaxing picnics under a pavilion surrounded by mature trees or walk along webs of trails that weave through the woods. There's also a swimming pool, playground and baseball fields. One of its most unusual features is the Butterfly Garden and Monarch Waystation, a respite for migrating monarchs. Though the neighborhood itself doesn’t have a boat launch, there is one at the Port of St. Albans, about 3 miles northwest of Jefferson.
Travel in Jefferson
U.S. 60 provides a direct route to downtown St. Albans to the west and Charleston to the southeast. The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority provides bus service through several bus stops along Kanawha Terrace and U.S. 60. The St. Albans Bus Station for inter-city travel is 3 miles west of Jefferson. For longer-distance travel, the West Virginia International Yeager Airport is about 13 miles east of the neighborhood.
Shopping and dining in downtown St. Albans
A trip up U.S. 60 takes residents to downtown St. Albans. Lorobi's Pizza is a family-owned pizza joint housed in a no-frills, red-brick building on Cleveland Avenue. Club Eldorado Bar and Grill, a mainstay since 1970, delivers burgers, beer and karaoke in sports bar fashion. For groceries, there's a Kroger on MacCorkle Avenue.
The Kanawha County School District
The Kanawha County School District serves Jefferson's residents. Students can begin their education at George C. Weimer Elementary School, which received a C-minus on the site. Students can continue their education at McKinley Middle School and St. Albans High School, which scored a C-plus and B-minus on the site, respectively. With rigorous science, technology, engineering and math courses, St. Albans High ranks No.17 in Best High Schools for STEM in West Virginia.
Flood risk and noise
With proximity to the northwest-flowing Kanawha River comes a high risk of flooding. Within St. Albans, 68.8% of all properties are at risk. Several industrial buildings, as well as a rail line running parallel to U.S. 60, pose a noise risk as well.
Written By
Stephanie Davison
Photography Contributed By
Mark Chenoweth
