victory

This is a solid adaptive reuse of an existing eyesore, just around the corner from me. Should be up and running next summer. https://columbiabusinessreport.com/news/energy/84222/

I could have placed this in rails to trails, but since the proposed development is in NE Richland County, I opted for this thread. I am always a fan of safe walking spaces, which this would be. Right now, that area has no sidewalks, even. I hope it gets built.https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/new-richland-greenway/101-42646235-96cb-4011-bca4-7010d1ffab73

Another win for the riverfront. https://www.abccolumbia.com/2023/10/30/sanctuary-at-boyd-island-now-open-to-public-offering-views-and-artwork/

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/congaree-river-tar-cleanup-complete/101-4eb12a86-831f-4993-8bdc-c0253f49ce0c Plans for the crown jewel riverfront park can now proceed. Google Sasaki plan for Columbia urban development. This plan, commissioned years ago, is still in play, and being executed in other areas of the city such as the work currently being done on South Main.

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/dot-sc-malfunction-junction-columbia-i20-i26-makeover-schedule/article_756dd9c8-7736-11ee-ae95-9745345a845c.html Speeding up the timeline.

Saw the sign is up (with red slipper) at the old Yesterday's site. https://www.rubybrunch.com/location/ruby-slipper-columbia-sc/

https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/music/new-brookland-tavern-moving-to-cotton-gin-building-in-five-points/article_0c368ca8-6ede-11ee-ac58-2f5dc8947a4d.html New Brookland Tavern closing shop OSR, and relocating to Five Points. Hopefully this might be the start of live music in the district again, like during the Hootie days (although more hardcore, I suspect).

I did, too. The only thing though is this parcel, on paper, appears to be on a slope. Because of this, the structure might appear shorter when viewed from the river, looking back towards the city. I was surprised by its height, as pretty much nothing gets built in the Vista taller than seven stories.

https://www.wltx.com/article/entertainment/places/new-hotel-trundle-in-vista/101-4d70d1ed-9ff8-4adc-9c8e-0ff53dfee89b This hotel has been reported, but I don't think it had been stated earlier the hope was to make it another Trundle boutique hotel. More on the new 11 story full service hotel with rooftop bar and adjoining apartments.https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/expansion-for-columbias-vista-district/101-a1a5034f-545c-4726-b073-bf03520f52d9#:~:text=According to paperwork filed with,star full-service hotel amenity.

https://columbiabusinessreport.com/news/real-estate-commercial/84112/ A new restaurant on Gervais. Still need to try the Dragon Room. Has anyone been?

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/west-columbia-revamping-meeting-street-into-a-walkable-retail-district/article_e70b4ece-a89e-11ed-af7e-2fa395b1e4ce.html 10 years ago, I could not have conceived of this plan amounting to much. West Cola, in the mind's eye of a Cola resident, has always been that place that exists between the airport and downtown, and which has always seemed industrial and run down. The politics are different OSR (other side of the river), too, thus the interest in, and political will for, urban redevelopment, seems out of place there. However, in the last few years, starting with the riverfront park, Black Rooster and booming housing developments (also Savage Craft Brewery and Weco Biergarten), the area seems ripe for development. Land and taxes surely must be cheaper than the Cola side. I think this plan might actually bear some real fruit, and I am excited to see what comes of it.

https://columbiabusinessreport.com/news/real-estate-commercial/84056/ Next door to the Scout site.

Just got back to Cola from Greenville, where I was visiting my daughter. I asked if she was in the mood for some carbs, and she said "yes". We had a late lunch at Coastal Crust, which we had visited before. I think their pizza is delicious. Our other go to pizza spot is Sidewall, near the new government complex, but I believe they are closed on Sunday. Anyway, the West Village is really cute. We then walked a block over to Poe West (I think its called), and had a beer at Bauernhaus. We looked at each other, thinking, this place must be closed. It was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, and there was only one car in the parking lot. Went in, had a beer, which was ok. Greenville is doing great things. I think the areas that aren't walkable from Main Street, such as this, will have a harder time. It's a small area, but has character. Please work on Dunean next. My daughter is going off to college next year, and won't live there much longer, but its close proximity to the West End, Main St, and West Village should make it prime for gentrification. Right now, it is on par with Olympia in Cola (same sort of sketchy, but could be cool, old mill village). BTW, on my way back to 385, I saw Indigo or maybe it was spelled Indaco, on Main. Good food?

https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/arts/feature/new-west-columbia-mural-depicting-brookland-melds-history-with-the-current/article_3d4aebde-5338-11ee-a015-8fa562883898.html New mural in New Brookland (West Cola).

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/business/topgolf-considering-columbia-area-location-along-interstate-26/article_67d89084-57d1-11ee-946f-4b859b0dbb52.html Top Golf coming to Columbia?

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/how-new-scout-motors-plant-affect-the-state-south-carolina-autos/101-f0821eb6-bcf4-4fad-a5ac-15a2701c3af7 Scout's impact will reverberate throughout the Midlands, with lots on ancillary businesses, as well as more housing, restaurants, retail, so forth and so on.

Oh wow! BMW's a much larger operation then. I hope Scout gets its permitting in order soon. They're expecting the first car to roll off the line in 2026, and there's quite a lot of work to be done.

https://www.wistv.com/2023/09/18/scout-motors-host-presentation-planned-sc-manufacturing-site/ More on Scout Motors' plans. They will have 4,000 employees, excluding vendors or others who contract. How many employees does BMW in Greer have? Just curious. Seems the two projects may be similar in scope and size.

Yes, I agree. My initial post on this lamented the renderings and the Ohio developer's statement they were going to make it look European and/or New Oreleans- like in its architectural style. That immediately raised a red flag. Would they be talking about something that looks like that Italianate looking development on 385 near downtown Greenville? The renderings are same old, same old, generic, boxy, lacking in interesting features. We have enough of that. Having said that, I am supportive of something in that spot, which is just an eyesore on one of Columbia's primary gateways to downtown.

https://www.wltx.com/article/money/huger-250-housing-development-columbia-south-carolina-apartments/101-cc49bf12-1d7d-48f3-9328-db0c8c3e4af6 More on the proposed 250 new apartments on Huger, with emphasis on this not being more student housing, but geared to older professionals, who want to be able to walk to restaurants, shops, etc.

https://www.wistv.com/2023/09/14/city-columbia-holds-groundbreaking-ceremony-launch-finlay-park-revitalization/ More on the Finlay Park work. Interestingly, Kirkman Finlay, Jr., whose father, formerly mayor of Columbia, Kirkman Finlay, Sr, is interviewed. He wants to be sure the park, named after his father, gets turned around.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/construction-finally-begins-long-awaited-152221771.html Groundbreaking took place today.

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/columbia-to-expand-saluda-river-access-with-land-donation-from-dominion-energy/article_e24faf18-5250-11ee-8009-9bfc8c9da06d.html/?tpcc=colasocial Exciting news about the Saluda and Congaree Rivers. Apparently, in addition to an extension of the existing trail, work should commence soon on Williams St, which, when completed, will allow development of a first-class city riverfront park.

https://columbiabusinessreport.com/news/hospitality-and-tourism/83986/

https://news.yahoo.com/another-250-apartments-proposed-columbia-153309698.html In looking at the renderings, I struggle to find the "European and New Orleans' style architecture" the article mentions. The developer is from Ohio, and probably doesn't know what that even looks like, much less do they even have any real intent of doing that. It will be good for the continued density on Huger, which is one of the busiest arteries in town, and the gateway to downtown. However, I am withholding judgment until after September 24, to see what they actually roll out.