Credit a "falling-down" 19th-century dwelling on Bogard Street for providing the inspiration for an adjacent seven-townhouse neighborhood in keeping with the traditional, wood-frame design.

John Sullivan, a local residential builder, studied fellow builder Ian Tomlinson's full-scale restoration of the decaying home at 9 Bogard St. From there, his company, Second Wind Consulting, assumed Tomlinson's concept of building solid, hardwood-dominated cottages on open space off the street. The builder, of Sullivan's Island, joined with noted Charleston architect Randolph Martz to come up with a look and feel for the property. They applied some of the classic features to the townhome enclave, called 9 Bogard Cottages.

The three-story 1,309-square-foot townhomes, similarly tailored inside with various exterior colors and trims, are priced at $465,000. They have 2 1/2 baths and three bedrooms with the master bedroom on the top floor.

Each of the dwellings has a parking space and a small yard.

Being on the Charleston peninsular, 9 Bogard Cottages was scrutinized by preservationists to make sure it was in keeping with the more-than-100-year-old homes nearby.

"We worked with the BAR (Charleston Board of Architectural Review) on everything," Sullivan said.

As a result, the townhomes have treated wood siding as opposed to the fiber-cement alternative found on many new homes today. Metal roofs, maroon in color, also are standard.

Interiors have wall-to-wall hardwood floors, using heart pine brought in from Somerville, Ga. A 74-year-old craftsman from New England built the brick-and-wood fireplace mantels.

The townhomes have 9-foot ceilings on the first floor and 8-foot ceilings on the upper two floors, said Jesse Ford who with Meg Fleming are partners in Second Wind Consulting.

Mixed in with the vintage architecture and building materials are stainless-steel kitchen appliances, washer-and-dryer hookups and bookcases built into a master bedroom wall. "For the consumer, they feel solid," said xxxx, which is marketing the property.

Expected buyers will include singles, couples, second-home owners or families in some form or other. "I think college parents buying for students, and young professionals," xxxx said. "It's so close to King Street, in walking distance to shops."

The residences also are near the Medical University of South Carolina and to the Charleston School of Law.

The neighborhood will have an entrance gate to give it more privacy. There will be one street in and out of the property, which will have a cul-de-sac for turning around.

Because of the small parcel to work with and the high-end building materials, Second Wind Consulting made every inch count. Bedrooms have closets, which weren't always found in older homes. Still, the townhomes aren't overloaded with storage areas. "It's nice that (clothing) wardrobes have grown popular again," said xxxx.

Duct work is hidden under a long window seat in the master bedroom. The second-floor bathroom has a narrow, ceiling-to-floor cubicle with rows of shelves next to the shower. "They are simple ideas," Ford said.

"I think they did a did a good job with no wasted space," Ruthie Smythe said.

To venture to 9 Bogard Cottages from downtown Charleston, take St. Philip street north to Bogard and turn left. The entrance is on the left. Or, travel north on Coming Street to Bogard, turn right and the townhomes are on the right.

REAL ESTATE

Neighborhood

9 Bogard Cottages

County

Charleston County

7

Townhome sizes

1,309 square feet

Townhome prices

$465,000

Typical features

Gated community

Three story townhomes

Wood siding

Metal roofs

Stainless steel microwave, dishwasher and smooth-top stove in kitchens

Third-floor master bedrooms

Property taxes

$3,370 on a $465,000 townhome

Area attractions

Charleston historic district, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Museum, Hampton Park, Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, College of Charleston, The Citadel, Charleston Visitors Center, Marion Square, Interstate 26, Septima P. Clark Crosstown.

Distance to downtown Charleston

1 mile

Schools

Memminger Elementary

Grades K-6; 724-7778; enrollment, 351; certified staff, 32; PACT results, 17.5 percent of fifth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 13.7 percent on math; 6 percent on science; 6 percent on social studies.

Burke Middle

Grades 6-8; 579-4815; enrollment; 386; certified staff, 31; PACT results, 7.3 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or advanced on English/Language Arts, 6.5 percent on math; 1.4 percent on science; 5 percent on social studies.

Burke High

Grades 9-12; 579-4815; enrollment, 693; certified staff, 62; SAT results, 395 verbal, 389 math. The 784 combined score is lower than the state average (993) and the national average (1,028).

Housing trends

Peninsula Charleston below the Crosstown: number of sales in the fourth quarter of 2005: 115 (up from 102 in the fourth quarter of 2004).

Average sales price: $879,550 (up from $759,000).

Median sales price: $700,000 (up from $527,000).