mr. chips

Yes, but a "college town" vibe should have bookstores, coffee shops, bookstores, home-grown restaurants, bookstores, art shops, bookstores, nice places to sit and talk, tea rooms, bookstores, etc. Five Points has some of that - it needs more.

What a shame that the Charleston paper is doing more reporting on Columbia than the State!

Not sure where to put this, but you may have heard that Columbia is getting a new public charter school for the arts. According to their website, the Midlands Arts Conservatory (MAC) will open in August, 2017. MAC will have a focus on the visual arts, theater, dance and music. Go to https://www.facebook.com/MidlandsArtsConservatory/ and http://midlandsartsconservatory.org . They will be holding two informational meetings for parents and the community: on Saturday January 7 at 4:00 in the North Main branch of the Richland Public Library, and on Sunday, January 8 at 3:00 in the second floor theatre at the main branch of the Richland Public Library.

In today's Cindy Ross Scoppe's article in today's State paper she mentions that " Cassie Cope reports that the only one of the projects that even makes an appearance on one of the Transportation Department’s many priority lists is the one involving Columbia’s eight-block South Main Street. " Apparently there is $3-million for that project. Has anyone seen plans yet? Is this really going to happen, or is it still in the works? It would be great if this could turn into a pedestrian friendly "mall", and a centerpiece of the campus. Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/cindi-ross-scoppe/article98165602.html#storylink=cpy

Of course - but neither can it fund highways downtown. However, there is a lot of land downtown for apartments and townhouses. The more people who live and work downtown, the less need for highways. Eventually there will be a critical mass of people who live downtown and need to go from the Vista to Main street, to Five Points, to Bull Street, and the city will have to pay for some sort of upgraded mass transit - maybe 20 years from now - and that will mean better bus service, or street cars, or a monorail, etc.

Sorry to disagree with you, but highways downtown would destroy the character of Columbia. This is not "old school" - it is learning from the mistakes of other cities. Those cities made their mistakes 50 years ago, and are now coming around to much better ways of moving people around and creating communities. Remember the old adage: "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got". In this case you get congestion, pollution, broken up neighborhoods, and ugly strips of asphalt and concrete.

No, No, No - we don't need more highways, especially downtown. Don't you realize that many cities are actually tearing down the ugly highways that were mistakenly built in the city centers - e.g. Seattle, Boston. Even Greenville tore down a bridge in order to reveal the beautiful waterfall and create a lovely urban park. We need to make the drivers so frustrated that they decide to live downtown, and that the "powers that be" build mass transit systems to get us around. Say "No" to cars!

I totally agree!

I guess it is a matter of personal taste- but I rather like this color, and the fact that these USC buildings have a kind of architectural unity. These buildings are also immediately identifiable as USC.

Yes, those are such high-profile and important plots of land (both sides of the Gervais/Assembly corner) - they need to be something special. It's all about the connectivity of Main street to the Vista, and it is what people will see when they visit the State House. It has to be people-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and perhaps even making a statement. I hope something goes there that will really enhance our city. Is there any actual movement on that site?

European cities have had pedestrian streets (Fußgängerzone) for decades - business thrive, cities are more beautiful, visitors and local citizens love it. Greene and Lady streets are a good idea. I would nominate South Main Street - there is absolutely no need for that street to have cars between the State capitol and Blossom. We've discussed that before on this forum: create a horizontal urban park with trees, fountains, benches, art-works, little platforms for music performances, etc, etc. It would be unique for Columbia and much of the South, and attract attention - besides being beautiful!

I couldn't find this - can you send the link? Thanks.

If he is or was on the city council, you would think that he would understand the importance of those pieces of land as the "entrance gate" to the downtown and the capitol area. You would think that he would want to be a good citizen and create something special there - rather than a surface parking lot. If not, you would think he would sell it to someone who would build there. Is there not any way to pressure him to do the right thing with that land? Civic pressure, political pressure, anything?

Interesting article on the economic impact of sports stadiums: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/are-pro-sports-teams-economic-winners-cities

So, does anyone know who actually owns that land?

FYI: Interesting things happening all around us: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2015/02/28/greenville-wants-build-elevated-rapid-transit-system/24178727/

Oh, wow! You are correct that lot TMS # 08916-07-01 is not the one on Pendleton St that we are talking about next to the Public Health building. You are correct - that is the work that was done on College Street across from the School of Music. But- look at the lot on Pendleton that is, as you say, a staging area for Holder. It may be that - but they are also moving dirt around there. I saw it on Friday. I don't actually think that Southernborn was referring to the lot diagonally across from the Statehouse as the Phase 2 of Holder - I think that was just unclear in his post. We probably need some clearer way to discuss all these properties. In any case, it is great that so much is happening in that area right now. We seem to be confused, but it is "good confusion"!

Aha! Finally - looking up that TMS I find: "for installation and maintenance of asphalt pavement, concrete curb, gutter, landscaping and an irrigation system". So, no building - just upgrading the lot, I guess. Thanks, Spes.

This is rather confusing since there are so many dorms in development right now. The one SouthernBorn mentions above is diagonally across from the state house, as he indicates. But across the street from that is a lot that is blocked off from view (next to the Public Health building) where they seem to be moving dirt. Not sure what is happening there - are they just moving dirt to clean up asbestos? Or is something going to be built there?

Yes, you are talking about the corner of Assembly and Pendleton. I was also wondering what they are doing there. I thought that the potential new private dorm was across Pendleton on the other side of the street. I am not sure if they are just cleaning up the dirt on this block (next to the Public Health building) if it had asbestos, or if they are actually building something - if so, I hadn't heard anything about this.

An end to train delays in the Midlands? http://www.thestate.com/2014/09/25/3704530/midlands-leaders-press-for-state.html?sp=/99/205/&ihp=1 It's about time! (I don't know why the full link doesn't copy here, but just go to the State paper for the article).

Do you think it is truly realistic for people to drive to Columbia to go to the zoo or the state museum, and then have the energy to go to a water park on the same day? Maybe you don't have kids, but that is a lot to do with a family on one day. And if they are staying over night it is starting to get to be a very expensive trip. Not realistic to me - sort of like the new baseball stadium...If someone really wants to go to a water park, there are a few others not far away. Is this really worth the expense? How about fixing the sewer system, or taking care of the train track problems first.

What building? The one on Assembly, Pendleton, and Park street? When will they start construction?

This does really look nice - hopefully it will really happen. Looks like they did an extensive traffic study - was that really necessary for an urban project on Assembly? Hopefully the city doesn't put people through too many hoops, and that they make it possible to bring to fruition.

A lot has to do with the type of materials that will be used - we don't need the "ticky-tacky" look in the Innovista. Frankly this picture makes it look "cheap and ugly" - not what we need in the Innovista. It seems a bit like the apartment complex on Assembly and Whaley, which looks like it may fall apart in a few years…Let's hope for something more solid looking that will be around in a 100 years, like some of the historic buildings.