Wednesday, December 21, 2005

University of South Carolina Baseball Stadium

Here's an update on the new University of South Carolina Baseball Stadium that is going up in Columbia South Carolina:

The Estimated cost of the stadium is $20 Million

There will be 6,800 seats

The site is a 29 acre tract along the Congaree River

The site cost alone is $8.5 Million. This land is being bought from the Guignard Associates and "others"

Here's a timeline projection:
At this time, they are getting input from the local residents of Richland and Lexington Counties (Columbia and Cayce South Carolina) regarding parking, traffic, and other issues that may have an impact. What is certain to be a POSitive impact is the fact that we are getting a first class ball stadium right in the middle of our City!

By October 2006, construction will begin. By the same time in 2007, the USC Baseball Team will begin fall practice. 5 months later in February of 2008, the 2008 USC Baseball Season will begin in the new stadium!

The picture you see here shows the site of the new stadium marked on the right, and the location of my home in Cayce, South Carolina (just on the other side of the river) marked on the left. The distance from my home to the new stadium as the crow flies is approximately .82 Miles:

USC Baseball Stadium

Columbia South Carolina Baseball Stadium

New Baseball Stadium, set to begin construction in October of 2006...right across the river from Cayce South Carolina. This new Baseball Stadium ( which is actually in the Columbia South Carolina City Limits ) is sure to boost the economy even more in this, the fastest growing city in the Southeast - Columbia South Carolina.

Here is a link to The State Newspaper's Article about this new Baseball Stadium in Columbia South Carolina

Friday, December 09, 2005

Columbia South Carolina Real Estate

The Columbia South Carolina Real Estate Market is Booming. Not only are there more attractions than ever in this area, but there are also better neighbors moving in. This is particularly true in Cayce, SC which is just across the Congaree River on the edge of Columbia.

Some of the real estate that has cropped up in Columbia include:

The Colonial Center - A venue for concerts, events such as the "monster truck" show, University of South Carolina Basketball, etc. A recent guest at the Colonial Center was "The Wiggles"!

The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center - The name speaks for itself! This brand new facility is in the heart of the "Vista" area Downtown.

First Citizen's Bank Corporate Headquarters - This mammoth undertaking is coming to our fair city in the form of a huge new building. Watch their site for updates on this new Columbia Building that will change the skyline forever!

The Riverwalk Commons - I think that's the name of it...anyway, this is a new residential area building project that is going on right on the river. The lots alone are going for as high as $350,000 apiece. These million dollar condo's, apartments, and houses are sure to increase the property value of the West Columbia and Cayce Area.

If you're looking for real estate in Columbia, South Carolina, don't overlook this property - it's in the best location you can find! ::::: My piece of Columbia South carolina Real Estate

Contact me, Ashley Brooks for more info!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

View From My Real Estate in Cayce Towards Columbia South Carolina

Here is the view looking out of my back door in Cayce South Carolina pointed directly towards the Capital Statehouse Grounds, the Vista on Gervais Street, and Downtown Columbia South Carolina.

If there were no leaves (as is the case in the winter) you would be able to see the buildings of downtown Columbia. From my back porch, as the crow flies, the distance is EXACTLY 1.89 miles as measured using Google Earth (download google Earth and take a look! - earth.google.com).

I've also included an aireal snapshot (again, from Google Earth) pinpointing the South Carolina Statehouse Grounds and the Location of My home in Cayce, South Carolina.

columbia south carolina

This home is as close to the City of Columbia without living IN the city as you can possibly get! Everything you need is at your fingertips - the city, the vista area, 5 points, University of South Carolina Campus (1 mile away!), Bi-Lo Grocery Store, ACE Hardware, Convenience Store, Movie Rental, BOWLING alley, and many many other restaurants and attractions.

Please contact the owner of this blog, Ashley Brooks, at ashleybrooks@sc.rr.com if you are interested in purchasing this home (see more pictures of this home in Columbia on this blog - more coming soon or as requested!).

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Is Columbia South Carolina a nice place to retire to? What things to do are there in Columbia?

Here's a recent reply I gave to an inquiry about Columbia South Carolina Real Estate, Community, Culture, and things to do:

(name kept anonymous),

About Charleston South Carolina - you're right, it's very close; about 1.5 hours drive from Columbia down I-26 East. Very artsy type place with lots of history. I've visited it many times. I used to live in Myrtle Beach, SC...now THAT's the golf mecca of the East...but very touristy. They have an annual "Bike Week" or Biker week there...

Columbia has become a very diverse place. There is growth everywhere...in business, leisure, population, the arts, real estate, you name it. It's very exciting (for me) to live in such a growth environment.

If you're a techie type, google earth will help with my little online tour here...do you have google earth? If not, here is a direct link: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html (this is a link to html, not an exe file, direct from google). It may be a good way for you to investigate any given area. To see where I live, just type in 109 Riverhill Court, Cayce SC...you'll see the river which separates my neighborhood from the City.

Anyway...golf...Columbia has some sprawl going on in the Northeast area too. I believe there are, like 3 golf courses in that area alone. (Spring Valley Area) - again, maybe on google earth...look for "brickyard road" - that's in Spring Valley.

The older, more established (year round of course) golf courses are Linrick aaaannnnd another one...I'm not really a golfer :). Point is, yes, there is golfing...but no where near as much as in Myrtle Beach, SC

To answer your question about sprawl, real estate, downtown...look on google earth for "gervais street". Gervais Street is roughly 4 minutes from my house (because of traffic). As the crow flies, it's about a mile. Gervais is where the "vista" is located. This is where all the restaurants are, country line dance hall, disco dance place (club RA), Longhorns, and the more upscale restaurants like "The Blue Marlin".

In that same general area on "Blossom Street" is the new Colonial Center, a venue for concerts, USC Basketball, Pro Wrestling and the like. Behind it is a new Convention Center...right next to that is the new Hampton Inn on Gervais Street. There is a YMCA there on Sumter street (steamroom, raquetball, basketball, freeweights, etc) across from one of the largest hotels, The Marriott.

South Carolina State Fair is a yearly Fall attraction. They have their own website at http://www.scstatefair.org/ . We just saw the Oak Ridge Boys play there in Loretta Lynn's stead (she twisted her foot or something). Near the State fair (on Bluff Rd at Rosewood Drive) is the SC State Farmer's Market.

Not far to the right of the vista area on Gervais Street is "5 Points"...as Columbia is a bit of a College Town (USC Gamecock Football Tailgating is big here), 5 points is the eclectic College area. But is trying to appeal to the more mature crowd as well in recent years.

Coliseum, Koger Center, Williams Brice Stadium, baseball stadium - The nutcracker plays every year at the Koger Center on Assembly Street...this and the like play all year there. If you like Hockey (beer & fighting hehe), the "Inferno" plays almost year round at the Coliseum on Assembly Street. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks play at the Williams Brice Stadium on George Rogers Blvd at Bluff Rd right next to the SC State Fairgrounds. The Capital City "Bombers" WAS our baseball team which recently got replaced by the "Blowfish" (I have no idea what blowfish has to do with Columbia except for Hootie and the Blowfish).

Malls - on Google Earth, look for "Columbiana Blvd. or Harbison Blvd" in the St. Andrews Area. That's my favorite mall. Hundreds of shops, I'm sure including Parisian, Belk, Sears, Coldwater Creek, BIG food court with Carousel, etc. Kiosks everywhere selling anything from cell phone accessories to neon Virgin Marys hehe. Chick-Fil-A is big here...and if you want a treat while you're there, there's a Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, Marble Slab, Dairy Queen, and Orange Julius nearby in an ajoining strip mall called "Columbiana Grande" - this is where the big newest movie theater is that I like.

The Riverbanks Zoo is a popular place to spend time. Personally, I think it's just as good as the Bronx Zoo. Very clean, lots of diversions, and of course animals in cages to look at :). Popular events there include "Boo at the Zoo", a trick-or-treat week before Halloween, and "the lights before Christmas".

Kayaking, boating - If you're into such avocations, you can "put in" AT the aforementioned Zoo, and "pull out" either at the Gervais Street Bridge (again, see Google Earth) or on down at the Cayce Boat Landing (maybe 3 miles down the "Cayce Riverwalk"). If you wanted a longer excursion, you could pull out at highway 601 or go all the way to the coast.

Lake Murray is our main lake here in Columbia, South Carolina. Just look west on google earth...it's huge, you can't miss it. We like to go water skiing out there as well as striped bass fishing.

Museum - The Columbia Metropolitan Museum and a new kids place called "EdVenture or Ed Venture" are points of interest, also near the Vista on Gervais Street, just on the city side of the Congaree River. My favorite attraction there, and one I volunteer for every year is the Palmetto Health Sponsored "Festival of Trees". Basically, what people do is donate a designer tree that they put together, honarable guests (well, guests paying $125 per ticket) "bid" on the trees (silent auction), and the $$ goes to Children's Hospital. It's fun because there's heavy hors d'orves, upscale entertainment, high profile appearences (Mayor Bob Coble was there this year), and it's a black tie event...so we all get to act like we're hoyty toyty for the night hehe. On a regular basis, though, the museum is a formidable attraction alone - the most recent exhibit is the Norman Rockwell Exhibit.

Airpport - Our main airport is the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. US Air, Independence Air, Delta, are the main flight services out of there. You still save money if you drive an hour or so North To Charlotte, but there are direct flights to places like Chicago O'hare and other major airports like that. They just renovated our Airport, so it's easy on the eyes as well...and rarely "packed". The Columbia Metropolitan is roughly 4 miles West of my home on Riverhill Ct in Cayce.

Churches - Well, it's the Bible Belt...need I say more hehe?! Seriously...we go to 1st Baptist on Hampton Street Downtown. There's everything from Cathlic of course to Evangelical to Non-Denominational.

If you want to visit in the Spring, my Wife and (at that time in the future) 1 year old girl would be happy to be your contact while you're here. I can show you some houses in the best areas if you'd like, and you can get a look at our home/area in Cayce.

If you do want to talk to an actual Real Estate Agent, I know several. But as you know, you run the risk of having them try to sell you something for the sake of selling you something :). Nevertheless, the best one I know of is Jerry Fowler - www.jerryfowler.com - he's a straight shooter and a good man all around. Coupled with that, my favorite mortgage group is http://www.midlandmortgagecorp.com/, Mr. David Hilburn.

Do Email me if you have any more questions... ashleybrooks@sc.rr.com or keep checking my blog for updates at the Columbia South Carolina Blogspot

Bye for now,
Ashley Brooks
www.ashleybrooks.info

Monday, November 07, 2005

Cayce Real Estate and Columbia Real Estate - South Carolina


If you are looking for a home in Cayce or Columbia, South Carolina I've got the perfect one for you. I'm not a realtor, but I do know the real estate market in Columbia and Cayce as I grew up in Columbia, my work in Life Insurance allows me to network there, and I have watched the area grow.

3 years ago, my Wife and I stumbled across a lot on which nobody had ever built. There were 12 of these lots at the time. Now, there are no lots left and the value of our home has skyrocketed.

As this is my home, and I place very high value on it for that reason, I am asking much more than the CURrent value for it. I am certain, though, that within the next few years, the price that I am asking will be a BARGAIN.

Located 100 yards {through the historical Guignard (owned) woods} off the Congaree River, convenient to all parts of Cayce and Columbia, South Carolina, this 2300 square foot home is but 4 minutes from the Capital Building that sits on the Columbia South Carolina Statehouse Grounds.

Current Asking Price: $500,000 Firm.

Includes: 2 Kayaks mounted in garage, Industrial Size Air Compressor in the garage for air tools, 4 man Jacuzzi on the back patio, and several furniture items (fully furnished as is for the right price).

Contact me if interested, if you want more pictures, the exact coordinates of the home, or more information at: ashleybrooks@sc.rr.com . No hagglers please!

Cayce Riverwalk - Cayce, South Carolina

This past weekend was a nice one...birds singing, leaves (finally) turning here in Cayce South Carolina. My wife, child and I had an opportunity to get out to the Cayce Riverwalk and enjoy this and much more.

The Cayce Riverwalk is about a 3 mile stretch running along the banks of the Congaree River from the Gervais Street Bridge Amphitheater to the Guignard side of Cayce right before the train tressle.

Walking is always pleasant there...you can also rollerblade, ride a bike, jog - whatever works for you!

While you're on the Cayce Riverwalk, I'd highly reccomend eating at the New Orleans Riverfront Restaurant...you can also park there to enter the riverwalk if there is no parking elsewhere ;)

Contact me for more information on this and any other aspect of Cayce: ashleybrooks@sc.rr.com

bye for now,
Ashley

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Cayce South Carolina

Cayce South Carolina is a little known town just west of Columbia.  Cayce is a small pocket of goodness, featuring that small town atmosphere and a sense of safety and well being.  In posts to come, I will review all aspects of Cayce including government, commerce, special events, and more...so stay tuned!

Columbia South Carolina

I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. Welcome to my blog! I intend to give my readers a first hand account of REAL news, events, stories, and other information pertaining to Columbia, Cayce, Richland and Lexington Couties as they happen.

I want to encourage all who view my blog to comment and contact me if any clarification or additional information is needed.

Thanks for visiting!

Ashley Brooks
Cayce, S.C.