Brookdale sees new schools, contemporary housing and steady growth
Brookdale is at the forefront of Orangeburg County's development. The community, adjacent to the city of Orangeburg, is part of an area attracting attention as people move out of larger cities. "Brookdale is in a state of development, because the city is rebuilding the high school and building a new elementary school that will serve the area," says lifelong resident and Realtor Wilmont Berry with The Berry Group. "D.R. Horton just committed a housing project here that just broke ground. There are estimated to be between 100 and 200 more homes here." Brookdale is also close to Orangeburg colleges, outdoor amenities and a growing downtown. "There's a lot that's coming, and it's exciting to me because this is the most I've seen this area move in my life," Berry says.
New construction adds contemporary options to the market
Brookdale's classic southern suburb feel mixes mid-20th to early 21st-century housing styles. Quiet roads are lined with towering pine and oak trees, and houses are typically on a quarter to one-acre lot. There are primarily ranch-style homes, cottages and split levels, with prices between $85,000 and $200,000. "It's a growing area that's more affordable than places like Charleston, where housing can be up to three times more expensive. You do get a lot of bang for your buck," Berry says. Many residences are older and offer the opportunity to renovate. Conversely, there is new construction at developments like The Park at Wilkinson subdivision. Buyers can choose between contemporary cottage and ranch-style floor plans, priced between $190,000 and $275,000.
Schools include C-rated options, while nearby universities include two
Orangeburg County School District serves over 10,500 students and earns an overall C rating from Niche. Whitaker Elementary earns a C, Robert E. Howard Middle receives a C-minus, and Orangeburg Wilkinson High scores a C. The high school features over a dozen athletic programs, including football, volleyball and soccer. Athletics are covered by the MUSC Health Sports Medicine program, ensuring the school's athletes receive top-of-the-line care. Residents may also enroll their students at C-plus-rated Brookdale Elementary, a pre-K through fifth-grade choice school serving economically disadvantaged students.
Brookdale is also near South Carolina State University. This public, historically Black institution is the only land-grant research university in South Carolina. It serves about 2,600 students and offers over 50 undergraduate programs. It's also the only HBCU in the country offering a nuclear engineering program. Claflin University is an adjacent private HBCU that serves over 1,800 students and offers over 40 undergraduate programs.
Festival of Roses and outdoor spaces draw visitors each spring
Residents are a short drive from several of Orangeburg's casual recreation spaces. Orangeburg Community Park draws residents for its playground, covered picnic areas and paved walking loop. There is also a small playground on Chestnut Street. Golfers may book tee times at the nearby Hillcrest Golf Club.
Edisto Memorial Gardens is about 3 miles away on the banks of the North Fork Edisto River. Established in the 1920s, the gardens encompass 175 acres, with nearly 5,000 rose plants. "It's gorgeous there. People often go for walks or bike around the gardens," Berry says. The gardens also offer tennis courts, athletic fields and courses, an art center, a play area and a splash pad. Visitors may also explore the adjacent tupelo and cypress wetlands via the boardwalk path near the rose garden. A disc golf course and public kayak launch across Highway 301 are also accessible via Glover Street. Orangeburg's Festival of Roses takes place at the gardens each May. Visitors from across the country come to view the roses, dine at local food trucks, enjoy live music and browse regional artisan vendors.
Brookdale residents shop and dine in nearby retail hubs
The community is close to Highway 601, which offers car dealerships, businesses and chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Chick-fil-A. Hutto Seafood Market and Kitchen is also off 601, offering fried and steamed seafood platters in a casual interior. Orangeburg's main retail area lies South of Brookdale, on Chestnut Street. Residents grab groceries at Piggly Wiggly, Walmart, ALDI or Food Lion. Adjacent small shopping plazas branching off Chestnut Street offer salons, supply shops and local restaurants, like Pauline's Dining Room. This comfort food restaurant offers classic, homestyle southern dishes like fried pork chops smothered with gravy. There's also a small downtown area around Russell Street, featuring restaurants, boutique shops, a performing arts theater and the Downtown Orangeburg Farmers Market. The market runs each Tuesday and every second Saturday between May and August.
Brookdale offers highway access and nearby transit options
Brookdale is bordered by Interstate 26, State Route 33 and U.S. Highways 178 and 601. The community is about 30 miles from I-95 and 50 miles from I-20. "One of my favorite things about the area is that you're in the middle ground between Charleston and Columbia, so that you can get to both cities easily, but you don't have to live there," Berry says. Orangeburg County offers transit services across Orangeburg, including a campus loop and a downtown circulator. Several stops in and around Brookdale exist, including on Jamison Avenue. There is also a free transit service for veterans to a VA medical center in North Charleston. There is also an Amtrak station in Denmark, about 20 miles away. The Floridian train stops here daily, offering service between Miami and New York. MUSC Health-Orangeburg is the nearest hospital, located at the northwestern edge of Brookdale. Columbia Metropolitan is the closest airport, about 40 miles from Brookdale.
