Apartments near USC (Hampton, Ravenel: condo, crimes, how much)

[Intergalactic]

Cayce, Elmwood, Five Points, Forest Acres, North Main, Olympia, Rosewood, Shandon, West Columbia are within biking/walking distance, Greystone and St Andrews are a bit further, and Irmo Harbison and the Northeast require a car.

[cdv0311]

Any opinions on the following complexes?
Hampton Park
Hampton Greene
Shandon Crossing
The Rapids
West Vista
Lofts @ USC

[Intergalactic]

Shandon Crossing is not in Shandon. In fact, it isn't in Rosewood either; it is to the east of Beltline. It has terrible reviews on Google, look it up on Google Maps.

I get all those Hampton ones confused, but I got the general impression that they are expensive (but nice).

The Rapids are down by the river, a quarry and the train tracks (in other words, near a bad neighborhood, and the trains blow their horns all night). I might rent here if the price was low enough, but I'll bet it isn't.

Lofts @ USC used to be Whaleys's Mill Apts. The train horn problem is bad here, and I heard the smells of graduate students "cooking" are intense.

West Vista used to be Riverbend Apts, and it has horrible reviews on Google. I am unsure if this is one person on the warpath or represents reality. A lot of grad students (and Mexican hourly workers) live there.

Did any of these places say they'd take the dog?

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Intergalactic

Shandon Crossing is not in Shandon. In fact, it isn't in Rosewood either; it is to the east of Beltline. It has terrible reviews on Google, look it up on Google Maps.

I get all those Hampton ones confused, but I got the general impression that they are expensive (but nice).

The Rapids are down by the river, a quarry and the train tracks (in other words, near a bad neighborhood, and the trains blow their horns all night). I might rent here if the price was low enough, but I'll bet it isn't.

Lofts @ USC used to be Whaleys's Mill Apts. The train horn problem is bad here, and I heard the smells of graduate students "cooking" are intense.

West Vista used to be Riverbend Apts, and it has horrible reviews on Google. I am unsure if this is one person on the warpath or represents reality. A lot of grad students (and Mexican hourly workers) live there.

Did any of these places say they'd take the dog?

Let's be realistic here - for $500 or $600 a month, you're not going to find a luxury apartment in a great location. You can find a decent apartment in a decent location. Have you thought about getting a roommate? It would expand your options greatly if you can split the expenses.

[cdv0311]

Well my boyfriend and I do plan on splitting all expenses. I did look at a few of those realtor sites that you suggested and did find a few possibilities. It's just hard to narrow it down when I know nothing about the specific areas so I appreciate your opinions!

Those complexes I suggested before do allow dogs - just not sure if there are weight restrictions. I'm not planning on moving until July so I haven't actually contacted any listings just yet.

Has anyone found places to fill up pretty quickly? When should I shoot to secure a definite place by?

[Intergalactic]

I don't really know. The market for rentals is largely dictated by the arrival of the students in Mid-August. There are huge numbers of smaller complexes, apartment buildings, and houses for rent. As I said in another thread, "One possiblity would be to [rent] within one block of the limits of Shandon. The positive aspects of Shandon bleed over a bit into neighborhoods like Rosewood or Melrose Heights, but the lower prices fail to reflect this fact."

[cdv0311]

Can you tell me what some of the areas are like? Which are the nicer ones and which ones should I def. stay away from? Thanks!

[Intergalactic]

Melrose Heights is a residential neighborhood with many houses that have been turned into rental units, duplexes and a few quadruplexes. It is chock full of graduate student renters. Its boundaries are given here:
Wikimapia - Let's describe the whole world!
the eastern two thirds of this neighborhood are as safe as Shandon, the western third has some problems, such as gardening supplies walking off overnight. Otherwise its reputation is good.

Rosewood is the area south of Rosewood Drive. Its reputation is that it gets worse each block further south you go. Its boundaries are given here:
Wikimapia - Let's describe the whole world!
I would suggest only renting one or two blocks south of Rosewood Dr (down to and including Hope or Moss Avenues) between Etiwan and Kilbourne), and only doing so after one has observed the area.

[sanjoserenter]

Intergallactic,

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Good Luck,
SanJoseRenter

[leslied88]

I would suggest you call the police department or a rental agent to find out which neighborhoods are good or bad.

I would avoid the area across Harden Street near the Martin Luther King park. This is a bad area, according to my brother who is a police officer.