Can someone familiar with Columbia give us some ideas for safe housing locations for a grad student ? My son will be in Columbia just 2 years, and is looking for a 1 bedroom. It would be nice if there were other grad students/upperclassmen in the area. ( to meet people ) He is not interested in the party scene. So, the newer apartments that seem geared toward that did not appeal to him when he visited. ( Hub, Palmetto Compress)
He will have his car, so a place to park off street is one requirement.
Does he want a complex? What is safe can vary by a few blocks, as with lots of cities, so hope he has chance to visit. He can look at complexes that have website. These often specify that no undergrads are allowed. My D lived in complex on Gill Creek Parkway. There are two complexes (both Hampton something) and they are close to campus by car (10 min?). She did meet grad students there and they are situated to get med school students. Both pet friendly. Close to Target, groceries including Whole Foods, lots of food options. There are also individual apartment options in that area, again because of med school. There are slightly more expensive (newer), complexes off Forest Drive (we live within a mile) near Trenholm Plaza.
If want non-complex, look on Zillow off Devine Street/Shandon. Rosewood Dr neighborhood has some nice blocks and not so nice blocks. But all these would be very close to campus.Closer you get to 5 Points the more students you will encounter. I would avoid Irmo/Harbison just because the traffic is horrid unless coming out at off times.
Hope this gives you a place to start. Please feel free to PM with specific questions if you see something on-line that you want to know about or if want name of reliable management companies.