Projects Archive
From Residential to Restaurant, Art Galleries and Historic Buildings, the Columbia Development Corporation has helped lead the way with the development of the Vista area. Through Public-Private Partnerships, Loans, Grants, Creative Assistance Packages and Perseverance the CDC has worked with dozens of developers to meet the goals of sustainable development of the Vista.
This archive of CDC Projects and Partnerships should provide an overview of the successes of the Columbia Development Corporation over the past 20 years.
Publix Grocery Store
The old Confederate Printing plant built between 1863-1864.
Now Publix Grocery Store.
The Columbia Publix Grocery Store is the winner of the 2005 Special Achievement Award for Economic Development from the International Downtown Association. This award winning project has helped spin off hundreds of millions of new residential development in the Columbia City Center.
On a major intersection in the Vista can be found one of the most unique adaptive reuse of a historic building in South Carolina. The Publix Grocery Store is an award-winning project, which has spurred incredible growth of new residential, much of it within blocks of the new store. For nearly 150 years the Confederate Printing Plant has dominated a key corner in the Vista, where most Confederate money was printed as well as bonds and handbills. Later converted the liquor warehouse for the states dispensary system the huge building was eventually abandoned and sat vacant for nearly 35 years.
When local develops at Holmes Smith Developments walked through the old building they saw potential for a project beyond a normal adaptive re-use. Their vision would result in a much-needed grocery store, and spur residential and commercial development throughout the Columbia City Center.
Today the new Publix Grocery Store serves the new residential development and surrounding neighborhoods, and provided a great stopping off point for suburban residents on the way home after work. The project is also proof of the advantages of historic preservation and adaptive reuse.
The Columbia Development Corporation has won several significant awards for this project, including the prestigious Special Achievement Award for Economic Development from the International Downtown Association. Click below to see the award application and supporting materials.
Cover Page
Application
Support Pages Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9
The developer of the Publix is Holmes Smith Developments.
The Seaboard Airline Railroad Station
The Blue Marlin Restaurant
The Seaboard Airline Railroad Station built in 1905.
Now the Blue Marlin Restaurant.
In the early days of the transformation from industrial to commercial in the Vista, the few restaurants that occupied the area needed a boost. Creation of new, upscale dining and related establishments could help spur the next development wave. The CDC acquired the old Seaboard Airline Railroad Station and renovated the building. The CDC then leased this building to the Blue Marlin Restaurant for 8 years, even restoring the building after a terrible fire, and finally sold the property to the restaurant's founder. The Blue Marlin restaurant helped pave the way for other eateries. The Vista, with over 40 upscale dining facilities, has earned a reputation as one of the finest dining and entertainment districts in the state.
The Public-Private Partnership
The Transformation of the Seaboard Airline Railroad Station to the Blue Marlin was a public private partnership in its purest sense. CDC acquired the property and renovated the exterior, funded with a conventional bank loan. The lease on the building repaid the loan, and provided additional revenue to the corporation. The building was purchased after 8 years under terms negotiated at the beginning of the lease. Historic Preservation Covenants and a pedestrian easement were placed on the property prior to its sale.
Arts
Early in the Vista's development, the CDC assisted in the creation of arts-related business and opened the Vista Studios. The 12-artist studio began with a grant from CDC and the SC Arts Commission, which supplemented lease rates for artists for the first 5 years. Now, nearly 15 years later, the studios still provide studios and galleries for working artists, preserving a vibrant and creative presence in the center of the neighborhood. The Vista Studios still operates at its original location as Studio 80808 at 808 Lady Street.
Support and strengthening of the arts community early on became a key to the growth and development of the Vista district. That support resulted in the Vista being the location of dozens of artists, galleries, and studios. The creative edge of the Vista also attracts other design professionals. Architects, graphic designers, web designers and advertising agencies abound in the area.
Residential Development Projects
A downtown district is only successful if people live there. Residential development of the city center is a top objective of the Columbia City Council and the Columbia Development Corporation. Over the last 10 years, the CDC has proven the viability of residential development in the city center with public-private partnerships, such as Parkside Apartments and Vista Commons. These two projects provide rental residential opportunities to over 250 families, adding to the vibrancy of the area. CDC has played a role in many other developments in the Vista area increasing the buzz about downtown living!
Renaissance Plaza
Just behind the new Publix Grocery Store on Lady Street you will find Renissance Plaza, a new residential condominium project with a combination of live-work and owner occupied residences. CDC played a role in this project through the purchase of much of the land the project currently sits on, and holding it exclusively for residential development. Now 77 residential units occupy this former industrial property, and those residents make the neighborhood sustainable and active.
Parkside Apartments
Parkside Apartments, a highly successful condominium complex, is the result of a partnership with the Beech Company. The partnership used CDC land and a cash contribution to create the 65-unit property overlooking the beautiful Finlay Park. CDC later agreed to sell its portion of the partnership to convert the property from rental to owner-occupied. Parkside Apartments is 100% occupied.
Vista Commons Apartments
The Vista Commons Apartments, a gated, upscale residential project, includes financial involvement and a partnership with the CDC. The CDC contributed land, cash and deferred loans to get Vista Commons off the ground. A partnership with the developer will repay all of the Corporation's investments, and part-ownership in the complex will provide future income for the corporation.
Governor's Hill
Owner-occupied residential is also a key priority for sustainable development in the city center. The CDC developed Governor's Hill, a 30-home neighborhood situated in a blighted parking lot overlooking Finlay Park. Now sold out, Governor's Hill has proven the viability of upscale residential in the city-center. The 22 homes that occupy the neighborhood add over 12 million dollars in tax base to the area, and more homes are being constructed. The CDC put together the land development plan, manages the project, sold the lots, and reviews house plans for compliance with the covenants and restrictions.
Arsenal Hill
In its commitment to encourage single family residential, the CDC has been working with residents of Arsenal Hill, a historic neighborhood adjacent to the Governor's Mansion. CDC has made crime elimination and the restoration of blighted properties top priorities. The organization also is making property available for new residential development while carefully preserving the historic diversity of the neighborhood. The Corporation owns more than 30 lots in this neighborhood, and planning is underway for housing development for all income levels. Local developers will partner with the Corporation to build homes of appropriate scale and appearance for this historic area.
Historic Preservation
Over the past twenty years, CDC has initiated other significant projects. The organization was the catalyst to save the Big Apple, a religious and cultural structure that has served as both a Synagogue and an African-American nightclub that gave the Big Apple Dance its name. CDC moved this historic building when it was threatened with demolition and renovated it. The property is now preserved under the ownership of the Historic Columbia Foundation.
National Guard Armory
CDC also saved the old National Guard Armory on Assembly Street from demolition by purchasing the building and holding it until a development deal could be brokered. The building is now redeveloped into architecture offices.
North Carolina Mutual Building
The preservation of the North Carolina Mutual Building, a historic African American insurance company headquarters, was assisted by studies and loans to private developers who saved that property. CDC provided a bridge loan to the developer for the amount of the historic tax credits; this loan resulted in the preservation and adaptive re-use of this important building.
The Columbia Development Corporation has participated in dozens of development projects in the Vista. From environmental and geo-technical studies to a design study to determine the feasibility of residential units, the CDC has always been on the front line of Vista area development.
