It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Saluda Factory gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in West Columbia, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made it positive by being friendly”
“I am a current client of this provider The agency would have to make it a”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver has changed a lot for me”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for my mom. This service is no cost to the family. He spent quite some time getting my mom's preferences clarified and then searching for matching AL facilities. All of this was done in less than two days. He and I talked through the options and I relayed the two I felt were best to mom. Nate personally picked mom up from rehab and took her on those tours, which was a godsend because I live in another state. During both tours, he texted me "play by plays" as to how it was going. He helped me and mom choose the right place for her budget and needs - and was very patient with us as my mom took longer than expected to make the final decision. She was talking about needing a new TV and Nate provided her/us with a link to some that were on sale that met her needs. Once the decision was made, Nate accompanied the AL staff member to mom's rehab and sat through the entire long paperwork process to ensure mom understood what she was signing. Again, he kept me in the loop by texting me regularly about how things were going during the meeting. He checked in a couple of times after that and prior to mom's move asking how our prep was going and if we needed anything. On one call, I did ask for a referral to a specific service we needed. He didn't have an established one, so he researched it and got one for me promptly. During and shortly after moving day, Nate checked in again to see how mom was settling in. I've been amazed at the personalized engagement that we received from Nate. Anytime he said he would do something, he did it and he did it promptly. If anything was delayed, he updated me immediately. This is in stark contrast to Tara at Senior Care Authority that provides this service as well. She promised me things during our initial call and didn't follow through on most of them. During our text exchanges, she never answered my specific question - always danced around it. Within a handful of days, I said "nope!", researched more, and came across Nate and this service. Ahhhh, what a breath of fresh air to receive what you asked for. I have no doubt it saved me countless hours glued to my computer, trying to compare facilities. I highly recommend Nate and his consulting service - it was an excellent experience and he was a lifesaver!”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for any senior in need. Also, if you ever need a job, please go and apply. They are always hiring weekly and offer competitive rates.”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over the past six months. Melisa and Nate have been wonderful and thanks for molding me into becoming a great leader. Professionalism is the key to success ????✨⭐️ I am looking forward to many years to come.”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with them for 3years Their caregivers are insightful and have so much compassion especially Mariah and Sabrina they are some of there champs they both have great personality and are very Professional. The owners are great and they run a great company.thank you for all that you guys do ????”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands Team ensured that I was well informed, and my loved one received the best care possible. The compassionate care was delivered not only by the care professionals, but by the support team. The owners even checked in with us to offer support and guidance. They exceeded our expectations!”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care for! Nate and Melisa offer regular training for caregivers so they they can provide the best care possible!”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best choice for your family’s needs. The Team at Always Best is thoughtful and supportive they go out of their way to make you feel heard and understood. They customize the care plan, care team and schedule. I recommend them to anyone considering aging in place.”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service is a savior for me personally. It relieves me from having to miss a lot of work time to travel to my mothers appt, now I can meet her at the appt. and save this time. The care and service she is getting is TOP NOTCH! From how easy it is for my mother to schedule and the follow through is right on the money. From a person getting the services: Melissa is the best, she calls me weekly to remind me of my appointments coming up. I am very pleased with the services and absolutely pleased with the services provided. I know that this alone helps ease the mind of my daughter. Thank you to the team at Always Best Care!”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking for care for a loved one, I highly recommend them. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and supportive. I work in the senior industry and recommend Always Best Care to my clients that need extra support in their home or while family is away. Always Best Care will respond immediately and truly show compassion to others.”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take the time to ensure your care needs are met. Highly recommend giving them a call if you have senior care or senior living questions or concerns.”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense of the questions we had when it came to the short and long term care of our loved one. When you have an elderly parent or a loved one with disabilities there are so many questions and so many emotions. It can be so confusing and it was hard for us to find one person or one company that has the knowledge and grasp of this industry that Nate has. We cannot thank him enough for guiding us through this process and his amazing bedside manner!”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your families a Merry, Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year! My brother, my dad, and I really appreciate everything you did for us this year. You're amazing! All the best for the Christmas season and 2023,”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs assistance daily, and I work full time. I like their team approach.”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The owners, Nate and Melisa, genuinely care about clients AND staff. They go above and beyond to support, encourage, and help everyone they work with. Their doors are always open, they’re generous with their time, and they truly want their staff to succeed. Donna in the billing department is fabulous, always available to answer questions or help in any way; Katrina in scheduling puts in so much time and effort to accommodate everyone’s needs and it’s amazing how well she handles everything; Angel works diligently on recruiting and training, making sure there’s plenty of staff to provide quality care; and Jackie is an incredible CHAMP, making sure clients are properly reassessed and care givers have the right tools and knowledge to do their job. ABC is a fantastic, compassionate, caring team I’m proud to be a part of, and I’m proud to serve our clients, too.”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the job. The people they hire can improve.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job if it wasn't for them and they go grocery shopping. They can have more guidance for the client and what to do for the client.”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made it positive by being friendly and courteous. I like that I do not have to worry about them; they are honest.”
“I am a current client of this provider The agency would have to make it a lot easier for me to find out about the caregiver coming out and having someone on backup. The agency could provide better scheduling and the caregivers would not come in on time.”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver has changed a lot for me and has done errands for me. I would tell a friend that Donna is great.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Terra or visit Robert Mills House and Gardens, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in West Columbia, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in West Columbia, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in West Columbia, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Many seniors at a Lexington County nursing facility have found new places to live after they received abrupt 30-day eviction notices.Jenni Lynn Assisted Living in West Columbia, which has been a staple in the community for decades, was sold in January.In the initial letter from Jenni Lynn’s management, residents were told they could not ...
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Many seniors at a Lexington County nursing facility have found new places to live after they received abrupt 30-day eviction notices.
Jenni Lynn Assisted Living in West Columbia, which has been a staple in the community for decades, was sold in January.
In the initial letter from Jenni Lynn’s management, residents were told they could not stay in their units past Feb. 7.
But after WIS reported on what happened, another letter went out to seniors housed in independent living units that said residents had more time to relocate.
The letter stipulated that they could stay in their units until February 28.
One of those residents is Paul Bornemann, a 73-year-old veteran. He said he has since found another place to live, but it has not come without headache.
“I’m turning into a feeling of anxiousness and despair and wonderment why somebody could do this,” Bornemann said in a January 9 interview.
However, the majority of residents there live in assisted living, and those seniors still must adhere to the original February 7 deadline.
One now-former Jenni Lynn employee, Valencia Austin, whose job was eliminated as the company started closing its doors, told WIS that of the dozens of seniors living there, only a handful are still at the facility.
It is unclear whether or not those residents have made other arrangements.
“I built close relationships with a lot of the residents, and I look at a resident having to go to another facility just like a child having to go to another school, and they have to adjust, get to know people,” Austin said. “During that time, the weather was very cold so they also had to deal with moving during cold weather.”
She said many of the residents she worked closely with had hoped to make it their “forever home.”
Austin said she and all of her former co-workers had to quickly find new jobs, but that nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the area have welcomed them with open arms.
Despite that, the sudden closure of Jenni Lynn is still burdening staff and seniors there, some of whom must move out in a few days.
“I think ethically and morally they should have given more time,” Austin said.
The way Jenni Lynn’s management has handled the situation is a symptom of a larger problem about how society treats the elderly population, Austin said.
“Have more compassion for seniors,” she said. “Realize that seniors they go through the same things we go through. Just because they’re in a facility and they’re being taken care of, doesn’t mean that they don’t worry, doesn’t mean that they don’t stress. It affects them physically and emotionally. So I just feel like seniors need more grace and to be appreciated.”
Austin feels like seniors can sometimes be treated as numbers at these facilities, and not as humans that need care.
Premier Senior Living, Jenni Lynn’s management company, said the facility would be working with all seniors to transition them to their new homes.
WIS asked the management company what specifically was done to help these seniors.
Management has not responded.
The new property owners are expected to take over on March 1.
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WEST COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U-Haul® center at 400 Orchard Drive in West Columbia, which had been a full-service facility for 42 years, has closed several services and become a remotely operated facility. The transition was completed today.As a result of closing services at U-Haul Moving & Storage of West Columbia, six Team Members were let go.The Orchard Drive facility will continue to serve customers with self-storage, ...
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U-Haul® center at 400 Orchard Drive in West Columbia, which had been a full-service facility for 42 years, has closed several services and become a remotely operated facility. The transition was completed today.
As a result of closing services at U-Haul Moving & Storage of West Columbia, six Team Members were let go.
The Orchard Drive facility will continue to serve customers with self-storage, truck rentals, moving supplies, and a U-Box® portable storage containers while being operated by parent store U-Haul Moving & Storage of Cayce at 1500 Charleston Highway, just two miles away.
Services halted at the Orchard Drive store include trailer and towing equipment rentals; truck sales; profession hitch instillations; pre-tow inspections; and support rental items. All of these services and more are available at the U-Haul of Cayce facility.
Local U-Haul Companies are always exploring opportunities for growth as they pursue means to better serve the needs of customers, but sometimes find it necessary to close or relocate stores, shops, offices and services. Reasons for closures can include: long-term strategic plans; safety and security concerns; physical site conditions and limitations; shifts in demographics; availability of local Team Members; trends in migration; expansion of the U-Haul neighborhood dealer network; proximity to other new or existing Company locations; and external factors.
About U-HAUL
Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers with more than 23,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The U-Haul app makes it easy for customers to use U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 to access trucks anytime through the self-dispatch and -return options on their smartphones with our patented Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 192,000 trucks, 138,700 trailers and 39,500 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America with 1,024,000 rentable units and 88.5 million square feet of self-storage space at Company-owned and -managed facilities. U-Haul is the top retailer of propane in the U.S. and the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. Get the U-Haul app from the App Store or Google Play.
Sydney Ellis Jeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6194 Website: uhaul.com
Trailhead Townhomes, with 52 townhomes off Sunset Boulevard, awaits final approval by the West Columbia City Council to provide new housing and riverwalk access.More VideosWEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new housing development in West Columbia is one step closer to becoming a reality. The project would feature 52 townhomes and be located off Sunset Boulevard.Following approval by the West Columbia Planning Commission on Monday, the Trailhead Townhomes now need to pass the city council's first and second readings, the fi...
Trailhead Townhomes, with 52 townhomes off Sunset Boulevard, awaits final approval by the West Columbia City Council to provide new housing and riverwalk access.
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new housing development in West Columbia is one step closer to becoming a reality. The project would feature 52 townhomes and be located off Sunset Boulevard.
Following approval by the West Columbia Planning Commission on Monday, the Trailhead Townhomes now need to pass the city council's first and second readings, the first of which could be as soon as Tuesday.
"It brings additional housing to our town. It helps to improve some of the aesthetic issues that we have here," West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said.
Miles said that he fully supported it.
"For years and years ever since that Moffatt Street riverwalk access went in, to get to it, you have to twist and turn up to a neighborhood, and the cities wanted to get direct connectivity to that off of 378. So this project will potentially provide that direct connectivity off of 378 to our riverwalk parking, which will help further the accessibility of our riverwalk," Miles said.
According to developer documents, the 52 townhomes would occupy a little over three acres at 620 Sunset Boulevard, where a janitorial equipment supplier currently exists.
The co-owner of this business, who sold it to developers, said he's excited about what could be in store.
"My business would relocate from there, so it's not for my business, but I think it's just great for the city of West Columbia. It's just a great addition to the city, and everything with State Street. We own some properties down there as well, so we're just all in favor of all the growth down there," said Skip Skipper, co-owner of Waper Inc.
One resident we spoke to was also in favor of the development.
"I don't mind it 'cause it's going to raise my property value, and, I mean, I own my home, so the only thing that's really going to be a drawback is the view of the city. They're going to be blocked by the townhomes," West Columbia resident Chris Spencer said.
Documents show parking onsite, with each unit having a driveway that fits two cars. Also, a mail kiosk and buffer between the townhomes and parking lot for the river walk access. And finally, a vegetation buffer along Sunset Boulevard on a brick wall.
The council meeting is on Tuesday, Feb. 4, starting at 6 p.m. at West Columbia City Hall.
More than 50 new townhomes could be coming to a space along the Saluda River in West Columbia where an obsolete industrial warehouse sits.Developers want to put the Trailhead Townhomes development on 3 acres sandwiched between U.S. 378/Sunset Blvd. and the Saluda River, right off of Jarvis Klapman Blvd. The city of West Columbia is in the process of rezoning the land for the project and its planning commission unanimously agreed to recommend the measure to city council at a Jan. 27 meeting.“We feel like this project beaut...
More than 50 new townhomes could be coming to a space along the Saluda River in West Columbia where an obsolete industrial warehouse sits.
Developers want to put the Trailhead Townhomes development on 3 acres sandwiched between U.S. 378/Sunset Blvd. and the Saluda River, right off of Jarvis Klapman Blvd. The city of West Columbia is in the process of rezoning the land for the project and its planning commission unanimously agreed to recommend the measure to city council at a Jan. 27 meeting.
“We feel like this project beautifies the city and gives the public extremely efficient and better access to the river,” Dustin Johns, the townhomes’ developer, told The State.
Johns said the plan is for each of the 52 townhome units to have four parking spaces and to make the public parking that already exists for the northern-most entrance to West Columbia Riverwalk more accessible by adding a road off of Sunset Boulevard that leads directly into the parking lot.
“There’s not a lot of activity there and it feels a little bit isolated so it’ll be nice to put eyes on public spaces there and I think that will encourage more people to use it,” West Columbia City Councilman David Moye said.
The development, which would also include retail space, is set to go to the west of the House of Raeford chicken plant, which has been squished between the Congaree River and Sunset Boulevard near the Gervais Street Bridge since 1998.
If approved by city council, the new townhomes would put the chicken plant between it and an upcoming massive 224-unit multi-family housing development set for the former Capitol Square shopping center. It’d also be not far from another housing development that was announced last year and slashed from its original 90 townhomes to 55 single-family houses because of traffic concerns.
The city held a joint public hearing Monday night, where West Columbia’s city council and planning commission heard about the project and hear input from the community. Three speakers from the nearby neighborhood spoke in opposition of the project, citing concerns about traffic and littering.
“I think it’s going to put more stress on those streets and on that system than it can take,” Carl Roberts, a resident of the neighborhood, said during the public hearing.
But Johns, the developer, said traffic shouldn’t be an issue with this development because the hope is to add a new road off of Sunset Boulevard to provide direct access.
According to the most recent traffic counts provided by the state Department of Transportation, 15,400 cars pass through that stretch of Sunset each day, which sits just off an exit from the Jarvis Klapman Boulevard bridge that connects to downtown Columbia. At present, the riverwalk entrance there and the streets around it can be directly accessed by cars only via a stoplight at North Lucas Street and Sunset Boulevard.
This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM.
A Midlands restaurateur known for slinging Texas-style barbecue in an old treehouse cafe in West Columbia has been named a semifinalist by one of the country’s most prominent food awards.It’s the second year in a row Robbie Robinson, pitmaster of City Limits Barbeque, has been in the running for a James Beard Award in the Best Chef: Southeast category. If Robinson wins, his eatery would join the only other Columbia-area restaurant to win a James Beard award ...
A Midlands restaurateur known for slinging Texas-style barbecue in an old treehouse cafe in West Columbia has been named a semifinalist by one of the country’s most prominent food awards.
It’s the second year in a row Robbie Robinson, pitmaster of City Limits Barbeque, has been in the running for a James Beard Award in the Best Chef: Southeast category. If Robinson wins, his eatery would join the only other Columbia-area restaurant to win a James Beard award after Lula Drake Wine Parlour won the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program honor last summer.
“Simply receiving attention from the James Beard Foundation speaks volumes about the level of culinary talent located in our region,” Bill Ellen, the CEO and President of Experience Columbia, said in a press release.
Robinson opened his barbecue joint, where he serves Texas-style brisket, pulled pork and an array of feel-good sides on weekends only, at 1119 Methodist Park Road in 2023 after spending more than seven years operating out of a food truck.
He’s since gained national recognition, both from prominent awards like the James Beards and from major media outlets like The New York Times and Texas Monthly magazine. In late September, City Limits was named one of the top 50 restaurants of the year by The New York Times.
The James Beard Foundation awards recognize culinary talent and excellence from across the country and are considered to be one of the most prestigious honors a restaurant or bar can receive. Columbia had largely been ignored by the awards, which were established in 1990, until two years ago when the foundation named three semi-finalists from the state’s capital – Jessica Shillato of Spotted Salamander, the culinary team behind City Grit Hospitality group, and Lula Drake.
Last year, Tim Gardner, the head sommelier and owner of Lula Drake, and his staff, brought home the city’s first honor during a June ceremony in Chicago. Robinson was nominated in the Best Chef: Southeast category last year. Chefs Tyrone and Kitwanda “Kiki” Cyrus, owners of Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, were also named semifinalists last year.
If Robinson moves on to the nominee round, which will be announced April 2, he will compete against four other chefs from across the Southeast for the coveted award set to be announced June 16.
“I bought a tuxedo last year,” Robinson said, when asked if he hoped to attend this year’s ceremony. “The tuxedo and the shoes and the shirt, that’s in the closet ready to go. The accountant in me would really like to get a little bit more utilization out of that acquisition.”
Two other South Carolina restaurants, both in Charleston, were named semifinalists in this year’s awards – Chubby Fish, in the Outstanding Restaurant category, and Graft Wine Shop, in the Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service category.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
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