AIKEN S.C. Info on Developments (home, subdivisions, live)

[catmom68]

I live in Aiken and it depends on the type of people you want to meet in these developents. Fox Chase and Houndslake people seem more down to earth; whereas many in Woodside are "legends in their own minds". Came down from up north selling their home for big bucks (good for them) but come down and put on "airs and graces" and are trying to change Aiken to suit what they feel it should be. We came 14 yrs ago when Woodside just starting and not like it is today. Don't understand what you mean by rough around the edges for Houndslake. Just older community. Mt. Vintage is lovely but too far away from everything; even more so than Cedar Creek. Traffic is getting impossible on the southside where most of the developments (Woodside) are with traffic bumper to bumper a lot of the time. Easy to buy and build in Woodside but not so easy to sell as many have found who wanted to move out (can't put up For Sale signs, just Available for two weeks at a time). MANY restrictions and just because it is gated doesn't mean there isn't crime and vandalism. Bored teenagers! Aiken has a lot to offer and people are coming in droves, particularly the horsey set from Florida and elsewhere and every bit of land is being bought up. But, do a lot of looking around before you finally settle on Woodside!

[estrogen]

Being a true Aikenite, could you help me out? I've been down twice looking at the area and love it. The last visit I looked at Windsor, and Trenton for a piece of land to build a home and barn.(I have one horse) Windsor is too rural for me with no zoning. The subdivision I looked at in Trenton was very nice but only larger lots and too expensive.

My question to you is , what do you think of Three Run Creek Plantation? Being gated, I worry it too will be "hoity toity" which I couldn't abide. I love the fact that it's geared to horses and that the road is paved not dirt. I also would like some info on " The Paddocks" which is south of Three Run I think.
I have all the promotional stuff for these but would love a real opinion of these for a early sixties couple that just want to ride trails and not be part of the country club set.

Thanks

[wsaiken]

Originally Posted by estrogen

The only thing is, everyone told us not to go N. of Aiken, and I'd like to know why.

Did they mean the northside of Aiken or further north still? The northside is the poorer section of town. Though I've been in the area many times on the way to Edgefield, I don't know much about developments in Trenton. I know someone who lives down a dirt road on a pond. It seems nice to me. I don't know, but I imagine there aren't a lot of restrictions on development -- it could be very much a mixed bag in the area.

BTW, the convention in Aiken is to call dirt roads clay, but I'm not sure that this extends outside the city limits.

[finbar]

my wife and i are also very interested in the aiken area and went down there about 4 years ago and enjoyed the town. we looked at woodside and cedar creek, and were only able to spend a few hours at each location, (in addition to playing golf at each!!) they were each nice, but we preferred cedar creek. certainly woodside seemed more "clubby" with all that entails, good and bad, whereas there seemed to be a lot less pretense at cedar creek. we ate lunch at woodside on a weekday and it was chock full of muffy's and topper's cavorting about fully made up in their tennis outfits, just kind of turned us off.....the houses at both are very nice, with more of a range at woodside, which has considerably more houses. at both developments, i'd say most houses range between 300 and about 450. taxes are considerably higher at woodside since it is within the city limits, whereas cedar creek is outside. woodside is about 3 to 4 miles south of the center of town and cedar creek is maybe another 3 or 4 miles south of that. cedar creeks golf course was in MUCH better condition than one at woodside.

[MaddieClaire]

Originally Posted by bobizzy3

The two developments I keep coming back to, are Woodside and Mount Vintage ( I know Vintage is not in town). The only thing I have to go by are the homes posted on the real estate web sites and these two developments appear to have the look we are searching for. The houses seem upscale, well maintained, with nice amenities and limited access. We are planning a trip to Aiken very soon. So we will have to wait until we see the entire region to be able to better guide us in our decision.
But if anyone has any information on any developments in the Aiken area area that are comparable to Woodside or Mount Vintage please let me know.
I looked at several in the Aiken area like Houndslake and Cedar Creek but they do not look a little rough around the edges,, but I may be wrong. Our price range is very flexible. We don't have horses and we don't want a lot of land,, we are most concerned with finding a well maintained and managed development. Thanks again to wsaiken and anyone that can help.

Have you toured Mount Vintage yet? Though the neighborhood might be nice, getting to it is another story. The neighborhood is situated between North Augusta and Aiken(also called the valley)... and the drive on highway 1 is dreadful (and by dreadful I mean ugly and old and junky and rundown).
It's a shame that people let their properties get all junked up and trashy looking. And something else to consider - "the valley" between Aiken and North Augusta does have a lot of crime and I wouldn't recommend that area to anyone.
Brochures look all glossy and beautiful, but check out the entire area before you get too excited.

Aiken is friendly to anyone that is friendly, is nice to anyone that is nice, is welcoming to anyone that is welcoming in return - and I've never ever witnessed any racial problems.
I love the town and the people that live there, and highly recommend it to anyone that wants a quiet lifestyle. My only caveat is that Aiken is growing too quickly and the traffic is a nightmare....a nightmare! I repeat - a nightmare!
Good Luck & God Bless.

[estrogen]

I'm reading over my posts since I first went to Aiken and will update anyone who is interested. We bought a lot at Three Runs Plantation and now are looking for a builder. One builder gave me a bid on a 2011 sq.ft house , vinyl sided for $300,000...Seems awfully high to me.....any suggestions from anyone?

[coconuts]

HI I am very interested in buying property in either Three Runs Plantation or Good Springs Plantation. What are your thoughts? I ride English and my son rides Western. Has any one seen these developments starting to build? what does the property look like> Thank you!! Adrienne

[estrogen]

I don't know what development is Good Springs Plantation? Where is that?
I live in Three Runs and love it. I ride western every day with two friends who ride English. The trails are beautiful. I think just as nice as the Woods. And right out of our backdoor. This past weekend they had a fox hunt and that was interesting. I went on the TallyHo wagon not being a hunter. The developer has just put up a dressage ring and a jumping ring for the eventers. Very well done.
The people in here are very nice and in the short time I've been here I've made a few friends. So far we have two single women in their late 30's -early 40's, three couples of retirement age and two couples that are younger. We will have another single woman moving in soon. All very nice.
The pool and tennis courts are planned for mid plantation , I hope done by this summer.
Any questions you have about Three Runs, I'll be glad to answer

[FHMullane]

I just completed a house in Three Runs. I am selling it due to the FL market being impossible and health issues of my husband. If anyone is interested contact me. 561 745-9078.

[estrogen]

After living here two months and getting acclimated, I had to laugh when I read the post about Woodside people being "legends in their own mind" If that isn't the truth.

In fairness, however, I have found that it is the 30-40 yr. old group that this applies to.....you know, the young soccer moms who haven't figured out yet that no one cares what you drive or where you live.....they'll mature I hope.

I have met some very nice people in that development but I would agree with the consensus that the "Muffy's and Buffy's prevail...............yuck!!!!!! Pretentious people have always turned me off , so l of course would be adverse to it in a development.