mr. chips
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Posts posted by mr. chips
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23 minutes ago, CLT_sc said:
Another good PandC article on development in West Columbia....this area has tremendous value and will continue to build out. New restaurants are coming and taking advantage of being on the river with skyline views.
What a shame that the Charleston paper is doing more reporting on Columbia than the State!
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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.
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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.
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39 minutes ago, mpretori said:
Also the city simply can't afford a light-rail at the moment. People think Columbia/Richland government is rich for some odd reason.
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.
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4 minutes ago, growingup15 said:
So your idea is old school and invalid.
Because it's bad in one city doesn't mean it won't work in another. Also these high ways were built in the 60s and 70s. Now with modern day planning it could work perfectly.
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.
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37 minutes ago, growingup15 said:
That seems very old thinking right there. What Columbia is lacking is a full connector in Downtown. For a city is size I'm surprise it haven't happened yet or been considered yet.
I really believe a connector through town elevated with green Space below it will correct neighbourhoods in Columbia
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!
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1 minute ago, carolinagarnet said:
USC really should have made a decision on the long-term strategy for the area before building the business school with elements from the Coliseum. The building could have looked much more like the Koger Center had the school not forced the architect to blend glass with brutalist columns and concrete. The building has grown on me, but it was definitely not Vinoly's best work.
I totally agree!
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3 hours ago, TKJones said:
On a side note, I'd really like to see USC stop building nearly everything out of that sand-colored brick. As modern as most of the buildings near that intersection are, the area as a whole still looks very bland.
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.
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I'm in favor of a mixed-use development at Gervais and Assembly that incorporates parking (as one will almost certainly have to), but I don't think that very high-profile intersection should host a standalone parking garage with retail on the ground floor. That would be among the hugest missed opportunities in the city's development history IMO.
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?
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Well, secondary only in the sense they are not primary arteries into and out of our city. I think Lady St would be a prime candidate. I think the new and improved Greene Street with Foundation Square, and hopefully soon, a bridge spanning the railroad tracks allowing people to travel from the heart of campus to the river. There are others. I think Lincoln, from Finlay Park to the fraternity row, would be a great people-first street.
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!
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On another site they have the design info on Kline City Center, we've been waiting on. In my opinion it lacks a lot of the bang we were hoping for, and what seemed to have been captured in earlier renderings. These appear to be reflective of a myriad other developments I've seen from Nashville to Charlotte. Regardless, it will add density, both structurally, and in people. It will apparently be built in phases with the corner parcel reserved for a hotel (the last parcel developed).
So, has anyone seen any plans for the apartments/condos that are supposed to be built across Gervais from Kline (near the McD's)?
I couldn't find this - can you send the link? Thanks.
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Papadea, if I remember correctly was on city council, and professionally, may be a real estate guy.
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?
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Interesting article on the economic impact of sports stadiums:
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/are-pro-sports-teams-economic-winners-cities
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FYI: Interesting things happening all around us:
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I'm sorry Southernborn, but you have mistaken the geography of my my comment entirely. The fenced off lot I am addressing, across Assembly from Wells Fargo & beside the school of public health, is not the site slated for the second phase of the student apartments. The holder apartments are not even remotely diagonal to the state house, and I'm sure you will notice that if you closely examine the link you have shared. Student housing will not be going onto the lot I am referencing. It is indeed a staging area for the holder projects; all one has to do, is simply walk by, and survey the scene - loads of building materials. Plus, it helps to have been a student with contacts to confirm.
& Yes, University Tower (the mid-rise you mention) has been announced for the vacant lot across Pendleton, neighboring both the Bernstein & Bernstein law office and tin roof. The last time I was nearby, this lot remains open and not fenced off.
Also, the pavement, irrigation, drainage, curb, etc work mentioned by another forum member has been completed, and for some time. The work was mostly completed directly behind the school of public health, including the addition of catch basin behind the expanded parking area.
Thanks for the discussion guys, and I hope this clears up any confusion.
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"!
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hilarious how much confusion this has caused. Lot is TMS # 08916-07-01. you'll notice that there is nothing on the interwebs about it
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.
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Wrong lot still. We're talking about between assembly and park street on Pendleton. Diagonally across from the state house. And yes the lot you're talking about is slated for development as another student housing project starting in the spring of 2015. It is phase 2 of USC's joint development with holder properties.
See Proposal here for the lot you're talking about:
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?
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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.
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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).
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This would more so be something to do for people in other parts of the state who would already be traveling to Columbia for some other reason, like visiting the zoo or the state museum.
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.
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I like it:
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.
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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.
Five Points
in Columbia
Posted · Edited by 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.