Safe neighboorhoods in NE-Woodlake vs. Wildewood (Columbia, Clemson: income, zoned, work)

[texasmom1]

We are moving from Texas. We have narrowed down neighboorhoods to Wildewood, Woodlake, or possibly Blythewood. I am concerned about safety in Wildewood and Woodlake neighboorhoods. Does anyone have any honest insight??? I have heard rumors of gang activity near the Summit subdivision...any truth to this? I appreciate any and all candid feedback. Any problems with teenagers at the movie complex on Sandhill?

p.s. My teen is going to private so we are not concerned with public school issue except with regards to resale

[waccamatt]

All of those areas are fine.

[Chi2Midlands]

I'll echo waccamatt with some more explanation. Wildewood and Woodlake are both excellent, very safe neighborhoods - among the best in Northeast Richland. Blythewood is overall also a very nice area, but since Blythewood refers to a proper town and a greater zip code (29016), you may want to ask about a specific neighborhood or subdivision (e.g., Cobblestone, Longcreek, Eagles Glen etc.) if that is what you are looking for. I would say the more rural (i.e., non-subdivision) areas of Blythewood with homes on larger lots are quite safe.

[texasmom1]

Thanks chi2 and wacca. I was getting nervous about their proximity to two notch road (lots of bad feedback from coworkers about the street). Its awesome to get honest feedback from locals!

Texasmom1

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by texasmom1

Thanks chi2 and wacca. I was getting nervous about their proximity to two notch road (lots of bad feedback from coworkers about the street). Its awesome to get honest feedback from locals!

Texasmom1

Two Notch Road is a long road and, while there are some not-so-good sections of Two Notch, they are much improved and nowhere near the area you're looking at.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Yeah, those are good high end neighborhoods with good neighborhoods around them for the most part. I wouldn't have any safety concerns living there. Very safe area of town.

[jlboney]

I would have to agree with Brandon, I live in the Northeast area off of Clemson Rd and I don't feel unsafe here at all. I also used to live just off of Two Notch Rd, and I never had any problems there either.

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by texasmom1

Thanks chi2 and wacca. I was getting nervous about their proximity to two notch road (lots of bad feedback from coworkers about the street). Its awesome to get honest feedback from locals!

Texasmom1

Waccamatt's absolutely right - Two Notch is a VERY long road that stretches for many miles from inner-city Columbia out to rural Kershaw County. Do not let anyone convince you that proximity to Two Notch is a "bad" thing (other than perhaps traffic). Yes, I would avoid living near Two Notch road near, say, Beltline Blvd., but near Clemson Road it is in the middle of some the highest-income areas in the Midlands. See an earlier thread on this same topic where the same comments popped up:

NE area near two notch

FWIW, many people who live in or near Columbia but are not familiar with Two Notch Road often label it as a "bad area" because unfortunately the sketchier portions tend to make the news when crime events happen and they often say "off" or "near" Two Notch Road.

[4logic]

I live in the summit and we have not had any problems. There are neighbors I could do without, but no gang activity and we feel very safe.

[Wildflower-222]

I live in Wildewood and can vouch that it is a very safe and stable neighborhood. But I must be honest and tell you that there is gang activity centered around I77/I20 from approx Decker Road down. It appears Smallwood Rd is the end point of their activity. I recognized the graffiti on the overpasses and did some driving around the area and found much evidence painted about. You will find they are contained to the side of I20 bordering Fort Jackson and there is nothing on the side of I20 where Wildewood is located. Wildewood, as has been already stated, is a rather upscale neighborhood. However, part of the area across the interstate is zoned for the same public schools as Wildewood.

The Summit and Sandhills, while close enough to easily drive to, are not close enough to affect us in Wildewood. I have not experienced any problem with unruly teenagers at the movie theater or Sandhills Mall . While researching the gang situation, I did notice there was an indicator that something had occurred towards the Summit, but once again this is a safe neighborhood (perhaps this is what you saw online also?), and this is nothing that would discourage me from the area. Two Notch Road in our area is a shopping area with Target, Olive Garden, Circuit City etc etc and very safe.