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So city-data really helped me out when I moved to the twin cities 3 months ago for a short-term contract. I am moving again , to Columbia this time, on a 1 year contract.
I did a little bit of digging and came to the conclusion that the two areas for a single 27 year old IT professional would be either the Vista or Five Points.
Some questions:
- I will be working a little north of Dentsville. Is traffic terrible going there in the AM and back downtown in the PM? I'll compare the traffic to SF, NY and DC. Those are the cities I am most familiar with.
- I want to live in a fairly new building. As I was going through the forum I read about new constructions going up in some areas. I saw a really nice place called the Hangar Lofts near the airport. However, I prefer high-rises, but google didn't show me much of a skyline for residential places. I would pay up to $1200/month for an apartment, I think that should be sufficient for Columbia, right?
- I want to be able to walk to bars/restaurants/gyms. Being in a new city, living in the burbs is quite boring.
I just want to finish out my contract living a some-what fun life in Columbia. So I look forward to your suggestions/comments.
High rise options would be Senate Plaza, Cornell Arms, the Heritage, the Hermitage, Wilshire House, 1600 Park Circle, the Barringer Building or Middleborough. I would look at somewhere in the Vista, though, like Vista Lofts or Parkside. I also like Olympia and Granby Mill Lofts, but they're about a mile from the heart of the Vista. Check out Capital Places website as they have a number of places on Main Street, only a few blocks from the heart of the Vista.
Canalside Lofts would also be a good option downtown near the Vista. Had a single buddy (28) who lived there and loved it. Long walk or short cab ride to the Visita and easy access to I-126 and a nice jogging trail along the river.
I'd also consider renting a small house or a garage apartment in the western half of Shandon, Hollywood/Rose Hill, or Wales Garden. Those three are all within walking distance of Five Points, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and a five minute car ride or ten minute bike ride to the Vista or downtown. Hollywood/Rose Hill and Shandon both have a ton of young professionals and grad students.
I'd look at the Barringer Building with Capitol Places on Main St. You're a short walk from the Vista, and Main St gets better every day. You're also a long walk (through USC's campus) from 5 points.
If you don't need a fake ID, you're too old for most of Five Points.
Stereotype much? The Vista is just for a different crowd. I'd rather go to the Vista for drinks and food but I'd rather live in Five Points because of surrounding neighborhoods.
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