Moving to Columbia for Law School (Lexington, North: apartment complexes, lofts, condo)

[yousocute08]

Hey,
My fiance and I are moving from Northern Virginia to Columbia to attend USC for Law school. I am having a hard time figuring out what areas are safe to live in. We would like to be w/i 10 miles of USC, and were looking at some of the areas west of USC, are these safe?
Thanks

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by yousocute08

Hey,
My fiance and I are moving from Northern Virginia to Columbia to attend USC for Law school. I am having a hard time figuring out what areas are safe to live in. We would like to be w/i 10 miles of USC, and were looking at some of the areas west of USC, are these safe?
Thanks

By west of USC do you mean immediately west of USC or do you mean like in Lexington County. My first question is this: wouldn't your husband want to be within walking distance of the law school instead of having to commute? If he commutes he will need to park in a commuter parking lot and then walk. There are many wonderful neighborhods within walking distance/USC bus of USC and you'd have a number of options as far as housing type is concerned.

[yousocute08]

We were looking at areas near the zoo. The Stone Ridge Apts for example. We are both attending the law school, so we would be able to commute together. While it would be nice to walk to classes, we don't really have a preference. Right now we are commuting about an hr and a half to get to work/school so a 15 minute drive is no problem.

[waccamatt]

There are lots of apartment complexes close to the zoo, I guess I just don't understand why you'd want to commute when it isn't necessary.

[yousocute08]

Well, you still haven't really answered my question... if there are better places I am more than open to knowing about them. Where are good places to live closer in??

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by yousocute08

Well, you still haven't really answered my question... if there are better places I am more than open to knowing about them. Where are good places to live closer in??

That's because the only requirement you've given is a "safe area". What types of amenities do you need? What price range is good, do you prefer a garden apartment, house, highrise apt/condo, quadraplex, etc. Do you want to be within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, etc.?

[yousocute08]

I am sure I can find an apartment, I just want to know areas to avoid.

[waccamatt]

There aren't really huge swaths of town to avoid. If you look in the areas around campus you're fine. The complexes off Greystone near the zoo are fine. There are a few complexes off Broad River Road next to I-20 I'd probably avoid. If I were going back to school I would want to be within walking distance, which would include Vista Commons on Pulaski Street in the Vista, Vista Lofts on Gervais in the Vista, any of the midrises and highrises around campus - Cornell Arms, Clare Tower, Senate Plaza, Place on the Green, Wilshire House, the Heritage, all of the duplexes and quadraplexes around campus in Five Points, Shandon, Wales Garden, University Hill, etc.