Is the Pineview area of Goose Creek Nice? (Charleston, Summerville: rental, new home)

[stormyjane]

Hi! My husband and I and our little girl are moving from NJ to the Charleston area in October. We are very excited to experiece a southern lifestyle. Our daughter is 3 1/2 and we would like to raise her in a community that is family oriented. We have found the northeast to be a cultural wonderland but it can also be a quite hostile and aggressive environment. I guess we just are looking for something different! We are looking into renting a house in the Pineview area of Goose Creek, the house is on Laurel Ave. Does anyone have any input? Do you like the area, is it safe, is there diversity, are the schools good? We would be so appreciative for any information. My husband is an artist (Caricatures) and the Charleston area seems like a smart choice for us. We are trying to keep an open mind and enjoy our move to "the south" for what it is -- what ever that may be!!! Thanks

[OleTomCat]

Welcome to the south, from a fellow escapee from NJ, what exit?

Goose Creek doesn't have the best of schools, that would be Summerville or Mt Pleasant...

You will be fine here if you leave NJ behind you, learn to live the southern lifestyle and slow down and relax...

[stormyjane]

Hi Tom! Thanks for the response - I was hoping you would respond! I have read several of your other posts and knew that you were a Jersey native. We hail from exits 98 (freehold) 29 (somers point) and currently 4 (wildwood) -- Husband is a caricature artist and has a stand on the boardwalk. We have been very lucky and found a great deal on a rental in Goose creek. We are really excited to start our exploration of the greater charleston area and would love any input! Thanks!!!! Going to drive down and check out the area this Sunday. We will make the big move in the middle of October.

[SuzyQ123]

Pineview is an older neighborhood. Some houses are nice and some are starting to show their age. Lots of kids in the area. Lots of parks near by. Wanamaker is a great water park that is just a couple of miles away.

Westview will be the school. It has pre k thru 3rd in one building then another building has 4th and 5th separated from the 6th thu 8th. Nice newer buildings. The are building on to it now. Most kids from Pineview walk to school.

We moved here about a year ago and love it. I live on the next street down from Laurel. Two cops live on my street. I was out walking when I first moved here and met one of them. I asked how safe the area was. He laughed and said about the most action Pineviw sees is some kids paining over a stop sign.

It is diverse but mostly white. I think of my closest neighbors there are 2 black families ( 1 with kids one without) 4 white (only 1 with kids, others are older couples and 1 single older lady) and 1 Mexican (with kids) .

PM me if you want more info on what's around for shopping or hospitals. I also have 2 girls. My neighbor has 3 girls and one of them is the age of your dd.

[stormyjane]

Nice to meet you -- SuzyQ123! Thank you so much for your great input. I'm really glad to hear that there is some diversity -- I worried that racism/prejudice would be a problem but decided to just wait and see if it really is a problem. The movies have a tendency to magnify one aspect of a region while disregarding the whole. I have my fingers crossed that along with a culture rich with history, Charleston can also offer a diverse and integrative community. We'll see.
I can't wait to find out more about the outdoor opportunities -- we are psyched to enjoy and outdoor winter! Usually by the middle of November all activies are restricted to the indoors. Are the trails of Crowfield plantation only for the residents of that division? Are all of the areas outside of Charleston broken down into divisions? Is a division like a developement or is just a section of town? I guess I'll find out more when we get there. Thanks again!

[OleTomCat]

You have been steadily migrating south, now it is time for the big leap....

I grew up in Egg Harbor City, most of my family still lives there, my pop owns the tattoo shop on Philadelphia ave.

Great that you have decided to make the jump.....

[Luvsdabeach]

Here's another school option.
Howe Hall AIMS

[stormyjane]

Thanks all, for the replies -- the fam and I just returned from a quick 3 day stay in Charleston to set up a rental in Goose Creek. We couldn't be more excited or pleased that the Charleston area is going to be our new home! The whole area and the people that complete it far exceded our expectations. What a lovely area -- we feel truly blessed to have this opportunity.
As for schools, education is a definite priority. We will have to explore the Dorchester II school district (you can't dispute their rankings). But also, I'm pretty psyched by the magnet schools (Thanks luvsdabeach -- your suggestion/link is so timely). I spoke with a server at Chili's for quite a bit about her experience in an arts centered magnet school -- she just raved about the program. As parents we are prepared and excited to be involved with our daughters education -- it's nice to know that their are some other options in case living in Summerville isn't an option.