Safe Housing for Midlands Tech students (Columbia, Hampton: apartment complexes, rental homes, townhouses)

[6274life]

My daughter will begin at Midlands Tech (Beltline) in the fall but she can't drive until October. I have looked at a few places fairly close to the school (Hampton Park and individual apartments), but I get the feeling the area isn't safe. But I've also heard that public transportation isn't particularly good either. Would it be safer to put her farther away and have her take the bus for a few months until she has her car or is there any place safe close enough to campus she could bike?

I have no idea as I am far away from SC and really fretting about getting this settled!

[Ceezer]

Rosewood Dr seems like a decent area/neighborhood. I'm not familiar with all the cross-streets through there (Waccamatt would probably be of more assistance here), but I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find something on the Eastern end that would be within walking distance to the Beltline campus and would also put her close to grocery stores and restaurants/services.

[Woodlands]

You may want to check around USC particuliarly in Rosewood/Rosewood Drive Area..Several buses run up and down Rosewood Drive to Midlands Tech.. since many college students live in that area already your daughter should have no problem in living in a 'safe' environment at least in terms of having her peers around. There may also be student living in the area looking for roommates.. Others on this site may be able to list online referral services or you may want to contact USC or Midlands Tech to see how students advertise for roommates. There are also several realtors in that area that specialize in student housing.

Another option though more adventurous would be to live in the neighborhoods along Garners Ferry near the VA hospital.. Cedar Terrance neighborhood may have some older homes for rent and there are several other townhome, duplex communities that have rentals available and several newer apt complexes in the area. Check one of the realtor/apartment websites and look at 29201, 29206, and 29209 may be a few zips to check for rental housing and apartments. Also check the CMRTA website http://www.gocmrta.com/content/pdf/SystemMap09.pdf for schedules

[Intergalactic]

Originally Posted by 6274life

My daughter will begin at Midlands Tech (Beltline) in the fall but she can't drive until October. I have looked at a few places fairly close to the school (Hampton Park and individual apartments), but I get the feeling the area isn't safe. But I've also heard that public transportation isn't particularly good either. Would it be safer to put her farther away and have her take the bus for a few months until she has her car or is there any place safe close enough to campus she could bike?

I have no idea as I am far away from SC and really fretting about getting this settled!

Why did you get a bad vibe from Hampton Park? I've driven around that area a lot at night, and seen most of those Hampton subdivisions, and they seemed pretty safe to me. Some are gated, and they are pricey compared to many of the complexes in town.
http://www.city-data.com/neighborhoo...lumbia-SC.html has demographic data (use the pulldown menu and click on the panels to get the numbers) that should put your mind at ease.

It's the complexes directly to the south of Midlands Tech that didn't look so good to me. I also wonder about the units just to the north of Midlands Tech, but I have no evidence that they are bad.

[waccamatt]

I would avoid the apartment complexes along South Beltline Blvd. near Midlands Tech, but the other apartments in the area or houses/duplexes for rent should be ok. Let us know the address of what she's looking at and we'll let you know if it's an ok area. On that end of Rosewood Drive you would generally want to stay right along Rosewood Drive or north of it.

[susancrosby]

My son lives at Rosewood Hills townhouses on Rosewood Drive and rides his bike down the sidewalks to Midlands Tech! It is a little over a mile. Look at Property Consultants Find Rental Homes Columbia SC for information.

[kcchiefsfan]

Does anyone know how the area along s. bonham is? Seems to be pretty quiet, but looks can be deceiving. I have been thinking about moving to the Rosewood area

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsfan

Does anyone know how the area along s. bonham is? Seems to be pretty quiet, but looks can be deceiving. I have been thinking about moving to the Rosewood area

South Bonham tends to be a nice street from what I've seen. I don't live in the neighborhood though.