St. Andrews offers access to shopping, recreation and downtown Columbia
St. Andrews, located about 15 minutes north of Columbia, offers a suburban setting with appealing access to a range of amenities and attractions. “It’s a hopping area,” says Kathy Cobb of Keller Williams Palmetto. “It’s close to a lot of shopping. It’s very close to Harbison, one of our main shopping areas. St. Andrews also has a lot of parks and riverwalks that people really love, and another plus is that it is close to Lake Murray.” Home to two elementary schools and the area’s first public high school, this “well-established community” also offers proximity to major roadways that connect residents to Columbia-area destinations such as the South Carolina Statehouse, South Carolina University and Fort Jackson.
Pricing is favorable for first-time homebuyers
A variety of non-HOA ranch-style homes are prominent among the midcentury options common to the community. These homes sit on spacious lots and feature mature trees. Other offerings include model homes in gated communities. Prices typically range from the high $100,000s to the low $300,000s. “Good price-point opportunities exist for first-time homebuyers in St. Andrews,” Cobb says. Multi-family offerings also can be found. Options range from 1-bedroom condos in established settings to newly built 3-bedroom townhouses in gated communities. Prices range from around $50,000 to nearly $200,000. Monthly HOA fees range from $50 to nearly $500, depending on amenities. The Columbia area has some of the hottest summers in the state, but it also receives more than 40 inches of rain per year. Winters are mild, with 70-degree days not uncommon.
Shopping centers in and around the community
Within the community, Dutch Square Center features more than 40 stores and restaurants as well as a movie theater. Several nearby shopping centers, including Harbison Center and Harbison Court, are easily accessible just north of the community via Interstate 26. Just south is downtown Columbia’s thriving culinary scene, which features an appealing mix of Southern standards and contemporary cuisine. The Vista is a premier entertainment district in the capital city, which also offers several charming shopping districts.
Options range from community parks to the sprawling Lake Murray
St. Andrews Park features a community center and athletic amenities that include a pool, soccer and baseball fields, lighted tennis courts and a playground. “You can get involved in a lot of activities,” Cobb says. Nearby attractions offer recreation in a natural setting. The trails at Harbison State Forest are a haven for hikers and mountain bikers, and a kayak launch provides easy access to the Broad River. The Saluda Riverwalk features nearly 4 miles of paved surfaces and boardwalks that offer hiking, biking, fishing and bird watching. Riverbanks Zoo and the EdVenture Children's Museum is easily accessible from the riverwalk. Lake Murray is about a 20-minute drive from the community. The 50,000-acre waterway features about 650 miles of shoreline. The lake is known for its boating, watersports and sportfishing. It regularly hosts local, regional and national tournaments. The surrounding area also offers hiking, biking and several parks.
Columbia High School dates to the 19th century
The community is home to Sandel Elementary School, which earns a C from Niche; Pine Grove Elementary School, rated C-minus; and Columbia High School, also C-rated. The high school, which was founded in the late 19th century, offers magnet programs in aerospace, aviation and national defense. Students are served by Richland County School District One, which receives a grade of B-minus from Niche. The district’s choice program allows eligible students to take part in magnet programs, virtual schooling or attend schools outside their geographic zones.
Downtown Columbia is easily accessible
Buses that run along Broad River Road provide transportation to local points of interest that include Prisma Health Richland Hospital and Prisma Health Baptist Hospital in downtown Columbia. I-26 also can be used to get downtown for work at the South Carolina Statehouse or South Carolina University. Interstate 20 provides a direct route around the city to Fort Jackson, which employs about 7,000 active-duty personnel and civilians. Columbia Metropolitan Airport is about 10 miles away via I-26.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections complex, which includes two prisons, is adjacent to the community. Cobb says the proximity to correctional facilities “has never been an issue. No one has ever brought it up.”
Written By
Matt Pallister
