possible move to columbia (Charleston, Greenville: estate, transplants, military)

[nutraveler]

I am a young African-American mother of two very young children who is looking to move down south. I have been looking at South Carolina, specifically Columbia. I am looking for a safe area to rent an apartment/townhome/small house. Can you help me with finding very safe, diverse areas in the Columbia for a woman? I am looking for an area that is family friendly (libraries, stores close by, etc) also. My husband is supposed to be working at several sites in the area (Fort Mill, Hartsville, Seneca). I am trying to find a place to settle down before he gets there.

I also have another question. I would like to return to work after staying home with my children. Are they areas where I am somewhat close to medical facilities?

I really do appreciate any help with this. Thanks everyone.

[Tommy1981]

There are several major hospitals in the area, and there would be some kind of shopping and a library near each one. Are you planning to go back to work around the same time as your move? If so, I'd probably drop a few applications to the different medical centers around town and see where you get the best offer. If not, you may want to pick a place that is in between a couple of Hospitals. There are several hospitals on the West side of Downtown (Heart Hospital, Baptist Hosptial, etc.) and then Lexington Medical Center is not too far away at I-26 and 378. You could find a place in the St. Andrews area and be close to either hospital area.

What kind of price range would you be looking for in a rental? Are you looking for 2-3 BR? If you provide a little more information I'm sure you'll get some more specific recommendations.

[nutraveler]

tommy...thanks for the reply. I am looking for a 2 bedroom in the price range of 600-1000 per month. I am willing to spend at the upper limit if that would provide a better location for me. My biggest concern is that if I continue to stay at home with the kids, I want to be in a safe area. I know there is no place which is 100% safe, but I want to lessen my chances of becoming a victim, kwim? I am also looking in the Greenville area also because my husband may be working at any one of the three nuclear power plants in the area. So, if you have any info on that city it would be great.

Thanks again!

[Tommy1981]

You'll find a ton of options for a 2BR place that's in that price range. I'm leaving a place shortly in the St. Andrews area thats 2BR, 2 BA in a gated community for $750 or so with a 12 month lease. When shopping around we found plenty less than that, but we opted for this unit because it was a little nicer than most of the others we saw.

I used to live in Greenville, and I'm quite fond of the area. The Columbia vs Greenville debate has been a popular topic on these forums. Most people I hear from are just in Love with the Greenville Area (as I am). Greenville and Columbia are fairly similar, but Greenville is more orgainzed in my opinion. The downtown area in particular is much better. Columbia's downtown area is fairly spread out with the Vista area and 5-points plus the USC campus being jammed in the middle of downtown. Greenville is more continously laid out, so you can walk up and down 2-3 miles of Main St. and hit all of the shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. They've got a relatively new Single A baseball team that's affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. They built a "mini-fenway" with in walking distance of the west end of Downtown. They've also got the Peace Center downtown that hosts all kinds of Broadway on tour shows, Orchestra's, Ballets, Musicals, etc. Greenville's Haywood Mall is one of the best malls in SC. Greenville only has I-85 and most of the town is spread out linearly on 85, so you can get around fairly easy. I guess 385 is an interstate too, but it shoots straight into downtown from I-26 in Clinton.

To be fair, Columbia has the Blowfish (a semi-pro baseball team in a summer league for College Baseball players). They've also got the Koger Center which is almost the same as the Peace Center. Columbia has 3 interestates: I-20, I-26, and I-77, which create a "loop" more like a triangle. The traffic in Columbia is much worse than Greenville, and the three interstates leave everything spread out. Columbia does have an edge at being closer to Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Charlotte.

I guess if I had to pick I'd go for Greenville, but I'm sure some of the other folks on this forum would give you plenty of reasons to go for Columbia. You might want to put a post in the Greenville forums to get some input from the folks that may not check this forum. Either way you can find good apartments for that kind of money in safe areas.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Tommy1981

You'll find a ton of options for a 2BR place that's in that price range. I'm leaving a place shortly in the St. Andrews area thats 2BR, 2 BA in a gated community for $750 or so with a 12 month lease. When shopping around we found plenty less than that, but we opted for this unit because it was a little nicer than most of the others we saw.

I used to live in Greenville, and I'm quite fond of the area. The Columbia vs Greenville debate has been a popular topic on these forums. Most people I hear from are just in Love with the Greenville Area (as I am). Greenville and Columbia are fairly similar, but Greenville is more orgainzed in my opinion. The downtown area in particular is much better. Columbia's downtown area is fairly spread out with the Vista area and 5-points plus the USC campus being jammed in the middle of downtown. Greenville is more continously laid out, so you can walk up and down 2-3 miles of Main St. and hit all of the shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. They've got a relatively new Single A baseball team that's affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. They built a "mini-fenway" with in walking distance of the west end of Downtown. They've also got the Peace Center downtown that hosts all kinds of Broadway on tour shows, Orchestra's, Ballets, Musicals, etc. Greenville's Haywood Mall is one of the best malls in SC. Greenville only has I-85 and most of the town is spread out linearly on 85, so you can get around fairly easy. I guess 385 is an interstate too, but it shoots straight into downtown from I-26 in Clinton.

To be fair, Columbia has the Blowfish (a semi-pro baseball team in a summer league for College Baseball players). They've also got the Koger Center which is almost the same as the Peace Center. Columbia has 3 interestates: I-20, I-26, and I-77, which create a "loop" more like a triangle. The traffic in Columbia is much worse than Greenville, and the three interstates leave everything spread out. Columbia does have an edge at being closer to Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Charlotte.

I guess if I had to pick I'd go for Greenville, but I'm sure some of the other folks on this forum would give you plenty of reasons to go for Columbia. You might want to put a post in the Greenville forums to get some input from the folks that may not check this forum. Either way you can find good apartments for that kind of money in safe areas.

I thought she asked about Columbia?

Anyway, to answer your questions about Columbia, there are 5 general hospitals located here, with 3 of them in the downtown area. Since you have young children you will eventually be concerned about schools so I would recommend looking in the Shandon/Rosewood/Melrose Heights area, where you would be within 2-3 miles of 3 hospitals and you would be in the Dreher High School feeder schools. These are generally looked at as the best in-town schools. You would also be in close proximity to the Devine Street retail corridor, Five points and downtown. Downtown Columbia is not just "Main Street", it encompasses the Congaree Vista district, Five Points and the USC campus, too, so there is something for everyone.

In terms of hospitals, there is also a VA Hospital and several state-operated psychiatric hospitals, too.

[Tommy1981]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I thought she asked about Columbia?

Originally Posted by nutraveler

I am also looking in the Greenville area also because my husband may be working at any one of the three nuclear power plants in the area. So, if you have any info on that city it would be great.

Thanks again!

She asked about both.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Tommy1981

She asked about both.

My apologies, I only noticed her first post and not the second.

[Noire]

Originally Posted by nutraveler

I am a young African-American mother of two very young children who is looking to move down south. I have been looking at South Carolina, specifically Columbia. I am looking for a safe area to rent an apartment/townhome/small house. Can you help me with finding very safe, diverse areas in the Columbia for a woman? I am looking for an area that is family friendly (libraries, stores close by, etc) also. My husband is supposed to be working at several sites in the area (Fort Mill, Hartsville, Seneca). I am trying to find a place to settle down before he gets there.

I also have another question. I would like to return to work after staying home with my children. Are they areas where I am somewhat close to medical facilities?

I really do appreciate any help with this. Thanks everyone.

Where are you moving from?

[nutraveler]

I am currently living in Pittsburgh, PA.

[CarolinaSouth803]

I would say stick with your choice of Columbia in this instance. I'm not going to get into the comparison of the 2 cities because in my opinion...SC is a beautiful state and you can't lose in choosing either. I will say that because of the commute patterns of your husband...Columbia would have him driving shorter distances overall...being that Ft. Mill is about 75mi away and Hartsville about 70mi away. The farthest would be Seneca [115mi away] and that would be the only area that living in Greenville would benefit him to be close to [about 30mi away].

The NE Richland area would be diverse enough for you [lots of military family and northern transplants...shopping close by and etc] and is part of a good school district. Providence Hospital [North East] is a medical center that isn't to far from the area either.


Good luck!!!