Relocating to Columbia, SC (Hollywood: condo, how much, houses)

[esevigny]

Hello,

My wife and I will be moving to Columbia this summer as I have accepted a faculty appointment at the University of South Carolina. By the time we move we will have a newborn, and we were looking for some recommendations for neighborhoods and such. We're in our mid-30s, and are looking for communities with other young professionals with families. We have a dog, and love to be near parks and trails. I also love to garden, and would love to find an older place with character in the city that could afford me a little garden plot. Any information or advice would be helpful and appreciated.

Cheers,

ELS

[wsaiken]

Shandon is close to school, has homes with character and has lots big enough for a garden plot.

[SAI126]

I'll bet they end up in Shandon. Rosewood, which is just south of Shandon has recently reversed decades of decline and is truly an affordable and relatively safe option.

[SusannaK]

Congratulations on your new job!

You might also want to check out the Earlewood neighborhood. It has some beautiful old homes and is near the University and the Vista and Riverfront Park. Over the past few years it's become a really nice place to live. The schools aren't as good as Shandon and Rosewood, though.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by esevigny

Hello,

My wife and I will be moving to Columbia this summer as I have accepted a faculty appointment at the University of South Carolina. By the time we move we will have a newborn, and we were looking for some recommendations for neighborhoods and such. We're in our mid-30s, and are looking for communities with other young professionals with families. We have a dog, and love to be near parks and trails. I also love to garden, and would love to find an older place with character in the city that could afford me a little garden plot. Any information or advice would be helpful and appreciated.

Cheers,

ELS

I'm a recent grad of USC. I'd definitely recommend Shandon; it sounds exactly like what you're looking for. It's close to USC, and many of the professors live there. The houses are very charming, old (1920's-1930's), and generally well-kept. They have front & back yards, so you could have a garden - but beware, Columbia has very sandy soil, and Shandon is completely covered by huge oak trees, giving a little too much shade sometimes.

You'd be in the Dreher High/Hand Middle school district, which I believe are good schools. If you've got $10K a year to burn, Hammond and Heathwood Hall are both excellent private schools.

I can't think of many parks in Shandon, but it's very pedestrian-friendly. Houses can be expensive by Columbia standards, but "Columbia standards" are pretty low.

If you break out a map:
the "Shandon" I'm talking about is between Rosewood and Devine - east of Harden, and west of Kilbourne. Everywhere in there is a pretty safe bet. West of Harden is Hollywood/Wheeler's Hill. There are also some really nice places here, but you'll be closer to University traffic, and closer to the ghetto.

Another good option, (just as old, almost as quaint, and less expensive) is the area between Milwood and Trenholm (my old stomping grounds). Just stay east of Woodrow. (Gladden, Hagood, Shirley, Butler are all good streets, and it gets more expensive as you go east).

Sorry if I gave you information overload; good luck.

[Bambe1]

Congrats on your new job
If u are interested in walk & bike trails, the harbison area of columbia would be kool. There's the mall and every store u can imagine.....for your wife. The school dist. is Richland 5 which I hear is pretty good. I have a condo there. Easily accesible to I20/I26. I have not experienced the heavy traffic I have heard about. Then again I probably did & didn't notice. Dealing with tunnel traffic from NJ to NY makes any traffic look O.k.

[esevigny]

Thanks for the info--it has been helpful.

[pgpost]

Wanted to second a previous post in favor of our neighborhood -- the Melrose Heights historic district. Lots of young couples here, great neighborhood for walking, has one of the best parks. We think our location is the most convenient in town. Better located for shopping than Shandon, a short hop to downtown. We moved here when my husband took a job at the university, only a short drive through tree-lined streets. We've lived here four years, have been surprised at how much we love Columbia.
Good luck to you in your move --

Previously poster had described our neighborhood--
"Another good option, (just as old, almost as quaint, and less expensive) is the area between Milwood and Trenholm (my old stomping grounds). Just stay east of Woodrow. (Gladden, Hagood, Shirley, Butler are all good streets, and it gets more expensive as you go east)."