Help!!! Need to find safe area close to Summerville (Charleston: travel, crime)

[ladykatt1963]

Hello Carolinians,

I am back and looking for suggestions again. I visited Walterboro, Cottageville, Round O, Reevesville, Harleyville, and Summerville. I fell in love with Summerville. The people are so genuinely nice, helpful, and considerate. Example of a good neighbor on my last solo visit. There was a gentleman following me in his car and coming from the west; we have a lot of road rage incidents. I thought I done something to offend him or something. I did not understand why he had been following me almost a mile, so I ignored his attempt to get my attention. Finally, he caught up and got my attention, informed me that my tire was very low on air, and directed me to the nearest fuel station. I was totally relieved. That is one of many positive encounters I received while visiting Summerville. My increments of visiting South Carolina has been a 2 weeks span on several trips. I noticed that Summerville has grown on each visit and wanted to know my alternatives. My goal is open a bed and breakfast on 12+ acres close to Summerville, not too far from Charleston, and have found properties in St. George and Dorchester with the acreage I so desire. My husband and I are enthusiast Sushi eaters. How are the restaurants, shopping, crime, and traffic, etc in these areas? Where can I get more information on these towns. Any and all inputs welcomed.

[DJShymansky]

A B&B on 12 acres near historic Summerville sounds idyllic. I wish you the absolute best of luck. I honestly don't know of any sushi restaurants in the St. George area, it still has a lot of room to grow and the majority of restaurants I've seen have been commercial chain fast-food, especially closer to 95.

Summerville and Charleston however, have outstanding restaurants of nearly all flavors and crime in Summerville is confined more or less to the areas of 17A-26 and Dorchester Rd. Traffic is keeping pace with the population, though. The city and county goverments are looking into making improvements, but it could take your guests anywhere from an hour/hour-and-a-half to get into/out of downtown Charleston to visit during rush hours.

Hopefully though, they wouldn't be traveling during rush hour and their commutes would be closer to 20-25 minutes. Plenty of historic gardens and plantations to tour as well. The closer you can get to the Summerville area, the better, I'd say.


Check into land along Ashley River Rd., between West Ashley and Summerville. Plenty of majestic Oaks hanging across the road and historic plantations and gardens close by. There is a lot of undeveloped land in that area, and it's close to the Ashley River. You could also go down towards Ravenel/John's Island to find suitable land, but too far and it might not have as much appeal for your clients, getting farther form both Summerville and Charleston.

[Jim3310]

Hi Ladykatt,
I'm going to give it to you straight.
You are not going to make a profit in Round O with a 12 acre B&B.

The 'destination for R&R' has not really caught on yet in the low country.
Now, opening a B&B closer or actually in Summerville itself, may be an option.
I just toured one that was on the market.

You may want to consider the area just north of Mt. Pleasant. It is underdeveloped and may be just right for what you are thinking about. Your Realtor should know which way the expansion is headed. You need to be ahead of the curve.

In my opinion, you will be waiting too long in Round O for that expansion to come.

If you don't mind taking a loss for 5 to 10 years, then that's OK.

If it's a business looking to get out of the initial red ink, find someone who knows the area you need.

"If you build it, they will come" = Hollywood.