Arsenal Hill (Columbia, Aiken, West Columbia: fit in, for sale, apartment complex)

[verseau279]

Please bear with me everyone, I have lots of questions about different areas as I search for a place to rent. I figure the best way to inquire is to keep the different areas in separate posts.

In that regard, what can you tell me about Arsenal Hill, particularly, the area around Blanding and Wayne.

My co-workers have concern about me, as a single woman living in that area. What are your thoughts?

[mettler]

what you should list is how much you are willing to spend, where you work, what kind of commute time you want...what kinds of things are you looking for outside of work - do you want to be close to the action or out on a farm?..that sort of stuff. Then, I think people can give you some ideas of where to look.

Personally, I am a big fan of Shandon. In order to find a lot of the homes available in that neighborhood you have to drive thru the streets looking for FOR RENT signs.

[verseau279]

Thanks for your input, mettler. I will list those things here in this thread.

I don't want to spend more than $1,200/mo, though, while I would rather not, for the right place I could go $100 or so higher. At this point, I am only in the position to rent, not to buy. I work at 301 Gervais. I would like my commute to be no more than 30 minutes door-to-door, but the shorter, the better. Outside of work, I enjoy nice restaurants. I plan to pick up swing dancing again and one of the venues that I know of is downtown. I will probably look into picking up some other type of activity or fun type of class. The gym I plan to join is downtown. I would like to be able to walk around my neighborhood safely.

I do prefer a house, as opposed to an apartment complex. I might consider a duplex or townhouse under the right circumstances, but I would probably be very picky about it.

I've been doing the horse thing here in Aiken. Now that my horse has passed on and I'm taking a break from horses, I don't want to live out in the farmland, and I have no need to be able to access a barn easily.

As concerns driving around Shandon, could you give me some boundaries for what defines Shandon? I will definitely take a drive around and give it a look-see.

[Captain Worley]

Lots of reasonably priced homes in Cayce/West Columbia. Just across the river from your place of employment.

I was at the Battery at Arsenal Hill the other day and did not like it. the hoiuses are too close together, there isn't a lot of manuevering room, and the parking pads are already crumblng at the edges. I was not impressed. I'm sure they are pricey, too, but was so disgusted by what I saw that I didn't even go to the model home and ask.

[mettler]

If you cross over Rosewood you will be in Shandon..I guess you could define it as the neighborhood within the streets Harden-Rosewood-Bonham-Devine-Harden. The adjacent neighborhoods are all pretty nice too. Your budget could easily fit in there, and you would only be minutes away from work.

[waccamatt]

If you're working at 301 Gervais, how about Vista Lofts on Gervais or Vista Commons on Pulaski Street - you could walk to work from either place and be within walking distance of the grocery store, lots of restaurants and nightlife.

[verseau279]

waccamatt, I've thought about the Lofts and the Commons, but I really don't want an apartment complex situation. I live in a spacious house with a roommate right now, and don't think I want to go back to apartment/condo living.

mettler, I drove around Shandon yesterday at lunchtime and really liked the area. We'll see if I can find something I like in my price range.

Captain, on Arsenal Hill, I wasn't looking at those places. There is a house on Blanding and Wayne that is for sale or rent (which ever happens first, I guess). There is actually a picture of it on waccamatt's website. It looks like it has been fabulously updated. I drove by it the other night and the neighborhood seemed okay. I just keep getting other people warning me away from the area, as a single woman.

You mentioned Cayce/West Columbia, do you have any recommendations on areas to focus on?

[mettler]

I think you would really enjoy Shandon. I has a great community feel to it. There is also a lot of activity in the neighborhood with people out and about during the day/evenings. They also have a good Neigborhood Council sort of thing. And, with the Semester coming to an end you are looking for a rental at a good time.

Waccamatt's recommendation is good too. There are a lot of condo/apartments in that area of town that would be nice in order to meet people, since you would have immediate neighbors etc.

I have friends that live across the river (cayce/west columbia) in the Avenue section (if I remember correctly it as A-E Avenue). They seem to like it there.

[Captain Worley]

Originally Posted by verseau279

You mentioned Cayce/West Columbia, do you have any recommendations on areas to focus on?

Try the Avenues. The area bounded byState Street, US1, 12th Street, and Holland Avenue. The area between the river and State Street has a few houses for sale, too.

[verseau279]

Thanks, I'll check there too.

Now that you guys have me out there driving around, I have found a couple of places in Melrose Heights that I'm going to look at (on Maple and Fairview).

I'll let you know where I end up once I find a place. Thanks for all of your great help!