Talk to me about James Island! (Charleston, Isle of Palms: for rent, townhomes, neighborhoods)

[wildwoodflower]

My family and I are relocating to James Island this fall from Northern New England. I know little about the area and would love an info or local wisdom anyone can offer.

The area of the island we are looking at is around teh Stiles Point Elemantry School... Is this area considered a "safe" neighborhood? Is there alot to do for families and children?

What would you consider positive and negative aspects about this area?

Thank you for any information you may have about James Island!

[emilybh]

I moved here to Northern James Island from southern New England in Dec 07 and have been driving all around since I got here, trying to decide which areas of Charleston I like best and have pretty much combed most of James Island and I think the area you are considering is very nice and I would think very safe.

The people who live along the harbor on that side of James Island are REALLY lucky as they have some of the most gorgeous views of the entire harbor including historic downtown, the Ravenal Bridge, Mt. Pleasant and Sullivan's Island. When you are downtown at White Point Gardens by the Battery and look across, you see the waterfront homes on that side of James Island directly south of the penninsula.

There is shopping near there and of course its just a few mins to the James Island connector which zips you right downtown. It is quicker for me to go over the ICW and then the Ashley River bridge from where I am however.

You are also only minutes away from Folly Beach and there are lots of stores along Folly Rd. Barnes and Nobles are only minutes away in the West AShley section or you could head to the shopping in Mt. Pleasant and just over the bridge in Patriots Plaza on Houston Northcutt Blvd there is a Whole Foods store. So if you like Whole Foods, you aren't that far from one. Even closer is an Earth Fare store just over the ICW at the beginning of Folly Rd in West AShley. They are a smaller chain along the lines of Whole Foods.

[Oscar31]

I have lived in JI and Mt. Pleasant and think Mt. Pleasant has everything you could want. You have to cross two bridges to get here from JI, and with the traffic downtown and on 17 coming into Mt. Pleasant, it's a 20+ minute drive. And if you live on JI and want to shop, you have to drive 20 minutes (with traffic) to the mall or downtown.
I feel just as safe in Mt. Pleasant as I did JI, but I just think it has more to offer.

[wildwoodflower]

thanks!

i don't mind driving. right now where i live in rural new england i need to drive half hour just to get to a grocery store. and before that we lived even more rurally out west and had to drive 2 hours for groceries. seriously! i also don't care too much about shopping. it would be nice to be near a book store or little coffee shop. i would like to be walking distance to a beach for my kids and a park with a playground. i hear james island has alot to offer families like that with the james island county park.
i know traffic ewill be an adjustment for me..but i have also lived in nyc, so i will just have to readjust i guess.

any more advice? local wisdom? give me the local scoop

[Rggr]

That is a nice area. James Island is a nice community. There are a lot of recreation options as well. The island is pretty and a good location for the beach or downtown. I know the island well. Do you have any specific questions?

[Theresejenkins]

James Island has a lot of different price points, and, coming from NE you may appreciate the "older" homes that are out there, as well as the subdivisions where each house is not "cookie cutter" so much. The traffic to Folly Beach can be a real bear on weekends though...and the feel of the Folly Beach is very young, surfer-y, and "beachy" in a good way...(vs Isle of Palms and Sullivans where it's a bit different, in a good way)...

[SCBeaches]

James Island has an active, family-oriented community. Many, if not most, children are involved in soccer (there are several leagues), tennis, swimming, baseball, football, surfing, scouting, or dance. I have been teaching on James Island for 14 years and know many families, all of whom are very happy with the wide variety of opportunities for their children. School carnivals, high school fish fries and chili dinners, and football games are the centers of island entertainment for families, much like when I went to school in a small town many years ago. Also, there is a wide variety of churches, Folly Beach, James Island County Park, Hot Wheels Skating Center, James Island Cinemas, "Ready, Set, Jump", dance studios, James Island Recreation Center, soccer fields, tennis courts, pools, lots of restaurants, and a short drive to downtown or West Ashley for family entertainment. James Island still has a small-town feel and the area around Stiles Point Elementary really epitamizes that. Stiles Point Plantation, Parrott Creek, Bayview Farms, Harbor Woods, Fort Johnson Estates, Clearview, and Eastwood are all safe, family-oriented neighborhoods around SPES where most of our students and teachers live.

Warm, friendly, safe, and a variety of activities for children and families on James Island? Definitely!

[OrangeCountyGirl]

We rented a house on JI once we got here, and after doing a ton of research and driving around...it's probably our favorite spot in the area.

Personally, we love the mix of families, singletons, young couples, old couples etc. It's hard to imagine who would not fit here because it's such a mix of households.

We are right at Folly and Harbor View and feel safe and our location is convenient to going downtown (which has not taken me more than 8 minutes at any time) close to local grocery stores, banks, movies, post office, some restaurants.

So when we decide to buy, we think we will be in this area.

Hope that helps!

[harris1214]

My wife and I are moving out of the Atlanta area and seriously considering James Island as well. We have two small kids - a toddler and a 7 yr old. I have seen some reasonably priced townhomes for rent on James Island. They all seem to be located in the same area - Fleming Rd, Stephan Dr and Howle Ave. All are dead end streets across from Riverland Terrace Subdivision. Since we have kids, can anyone tell me if this area is safe? Also, is Harbor View Elementary considered a good school?

Thank you in advance for all your help!

[wildwoodflower]

i know riverland terrance is near plymouth park playground i can let you know more when we move down there in october. but we are moving to the harborwoods area i think. i also have a 7 year old, 2 year old and 3 month old...i have been told the area we are moving to near stiles point is very safe.

i'd love to hear more from others about JI