Neighborhoods Along Montague Avenue
Zone A
Zone B
Zone D
Zone E
Zone C
Montague Avenue from Rivers Avenue to Virginia Avenue, including Park Circle and the Old Village district.
Liberty Hill The Liberty Hill neighborhood is perhaps the most unique neighborhood in the Noisette area. Initiated in 1871 as one of the earliest home ownership developments for freed slaves, the original properties purchased by the founders of Liberty Hill have been subdivided for multiple heirs, resulting in progressively smaller lots. Some of the real estate is still owned by descendants of the families from over 130 years ago.
Existing Liberty Hill historical marker at Pinckney Community Center.
View of entry sign to Liberty Hill on Montague Avenue.
The distinctive pattern of development remains evident today. Narrow streets lined with deep, narrow lots dominate the fabric. The majority of the smaller houses sit a few feet from the eighteen to twenty foot wide pavement. The street edge is irregularly defined by fencing and occasional landscaping. There are no sidewalks, but the neighborhood is abundant with mature trees. The close streets force traffic to move at slower speeds, making many of them attractive places for children to congregate and play. Smaller houses have been enlarged with room additions or a second structure. Historic houses are clustered among the modest newer housing and occasional mobile homes. The compact house pattern is punctuated with small churches, some which reside in converted homes. Previously developed vacant lots permeate the district, detracting from the intimate sense of place. A few small businesses line the north side of Montague Avenue, and exhibit varying degrees of commercial success. On the south side, the Pinckney Community Center serves as a central gathering place for the area residents, many whom exhibit
a deep sense of commitment to the area. The physical characteristics of Liberty Hill result in a higher density than other neighborhoods in the Noisette area, and actually reflect many of the New Urbanists principles that are deemed desirable for walkable communities, such as narrow streets, smaller lots and front porches. Liberty Hill has a cultural history and physical fabric that should be preserved as an historic district. However, complex socio-economic problems such as lower education rate, disproportionate distribution of subsidized housing, and low level of income serve as hurdles for the community’s improvement. Although the internal streets offer some of the intimate spirit of Liberty Hill, several problems with the street system exist. Montague Avenue splits the neighborhood into north/south areas, with five lanes of fast moving traffic. Consequently, pedestrians rarely traverse the street. The small side streets in the north area deadend and cause a safety concern for both the fire and police departments. These need to be reconnected to promote easier connectivity with the various districts of North Charleston, which is a central tenet of walkability and comprehending the area. The Master Plan recommends that the zoning be modified to protect the existing pattern of Liberty Hill. The current R-2 zoning which is predominant in much of the neighborhood allows development, which could potentially be out of scale with the historic pattern if not designed with
care. This could eventually erode the historic configuration. The new zoning regulation needs to encourage infill development of the vacant lots in the Liberty Hill neighborhood, ideally reinforcing the unique pattern of setbacks, lot sizes, building massing, and density. Safety and security concerns, access for public vehicles and the capacity of the infrastructure need to be considered. Recent actions undertaken by the Liberty Hill Neighborhood Association changed a significant portion of the lots to R-1 Single Family zoning in an attempt to combat potential multifamily infill within the predominantly single family neighborhood. Furthermore, the group discouraged a new development on a wooded block that was seen as detrimental to adjacent property owners. These activities demonstrate both a commitment to and understanding of the value of Liberty Hill. A number of structures in the Liberty Hill neighborhood are deteriorating beyond potential salvaging, a trend that requires immediate measures to reverse. A survey of the existing district should be undertaken, and those that are unsafe for habitation should be deconstructed. The planning should respond to relocation needs of potentially displaced residents. Development programs that integrate infill housing for mixed incomes would benefit Liberty Hill as a community and improve the tax base.
View of Montague Avenue showing small commercial building.
This typical Liberty Hill image shows modest homes built close to narrow streets.
5.4
Catalysts for Change
Mature trees permeate Liberty Hill
Small shops are integrated with the residences.
Fall 2003, many property owners sought and were approved for downzoning from R2 to R1 to preclude multifamily and mobile homes within Liberty Hill.