Vista Sands — Plush dwellings, fine amenities highlight Summerville apartment village

As a tenant, you can take in a S.C. Stingrays hockey game, attend a Family Circle Cup tennis match, frequent an oyster roast and dress up for a luau.

And if those aren’t of interest, there’s always the new Nintendo Wii video game station in the clubhouse.

The site is Vista Sands, a seven-year-old rental community. While upscale to begin with, the complex has gradually upgraded its attractions to keep pace with the times.

Riverstone Residential manages the 250-residence rental village, situated just north of Azalea Square shopping plaza.

Organized shindigs or outings for residents, such as the Stingrays game, are just a few of the draws. The location is a big lure, says Mike Silky, property manager at Vista Sands.

“If you want to live in Summerville, this is the best place to go shopping (and) to restaurants,” he says.

The complex sports a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom options. One-bedroom choices are the 658-to-833-square-foot Berkeley and Sullivan models priced at $717-$938 a month; and two-bedroom offerings are the 960-to-1,140-square-foot Woodland and Moultrie floor plans costing $949-$1,197. The three-bedroom 1,187-square-foot D’Alessandro, renamed for long-time maintenance supervisor Albert “Del” D’Alessandro who died recently, is $1,168-$1,448.

Units feature porches, balconies or in some cases, sunrooms. The kitchens show off black Whirlpool appliances, upgraded countertops and maple cabinets.

Another treat for tenants is the amenities lineup. Inside the clubhouse is a billiards room, fitness center with treadmills and free weights and business area with computers and fax machines. There’s a 24-hour laundry with six washers and dryers apiece and a flat-screen TV. The complex offers free DVD rentals.

A sizable swimming pool, flanked by apartments, is next to the clubhouse. Two gas grills are on the pool deck, and just past the pool — which is open year round — is a gazebo.

Elsewhere on the complex is a play area, fenced-in dog park, car wash zone and 42 garages that each can be rented for $95 a month, Silky says.

There’s also a guest suite that tenants can reserve, such as when they have family in town.

In keeping with its efforts to periodically upgrade, Vista Sands freshened its exterior looks in the past year with a light blue paint scheme, he says.

Occupancy rates had dipped a bit earlier this year, but rentals have picked up as of late. The complex now is 93.2 percent full.

“There’s a real mix of people who live here,” Silky says.

For more information, call 843-225-4114 or visit www.vistasands.com.

Vista Sands is located in eastern Summerville. Heading west on I-26, turn at exit 199A for Main Street. Take Main for two blocks and turn right on Azalea Square Boulevard. Stay on the boulevard to Sheep Island Road. Continue straight across the road onto Bear Island Road. Ahead at 1001 Bear Island Road is Vista Sands.