What will be Columbia's next hot neighborhood? (West Columbia, Cayce: relocate, estate)

[Woodlands]

Voters may soon be able to decide how over $500 million in road/sidewalks projects will be spent over the next 8 years depending on whether or not this issue is added to the November Ballot/Referendum. One project that has been simmering for years that would get a boost if this referendum passes is a bridge over the tracks on South Assembly Street. If this bridge is built it would improve not only vehicular but pedestrian access to Olympia/ South Columbia from Downtown and USC. With new development occurring around Williams Brice, new apartments on South Assembly.. this would be a great way to begin to connect the downtown core with Olympia- South Columbia and the areas surrounding the stadium. This issue is of course not without controversy. There are several major road projects proposed for the suburbs, however; when the issue of sidewalks come up just about everyone in the older central city neighborhoods may make the case to try and get one. There are also many neighborhoods in the County that could benefit but feel that only those who live in the urban center will get priority.. so we will see if both sides can come together and play nice.


The State | 05/28/2008 | New roads would get bulk of $521.5 million tax plan (broken link)

[waccamatt]

I'd prefer to see most of the money spent on making the city more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists. Wide sidewalks and bike lanes should be a high priority. Widening suburban roads just encourages more sprawl, which I would prefer to see DIScouraged. I understand that South Assembly Street originally had an overpass over the railroad tracks until it was widened in the 50's. I would love to see all of Assembly Street go through a beautification program, all the way from Elmwood Avenue to Williams-Brice Stadium, as it could truly be Columbia's grand boulevard with a little TLC.

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I'd prefer to see most of the money spent on making the city more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists. Wide sidewalks and bike lanes should be a high priority. Widening suburban roads just encourages more sprawl, which I would prefer to see DIScouraged. I understand that South Assembly Street originally had an overpass over the railroad tracks until it was widened in the 50's. I would love to see all of Assembly Street go through a beautification program, all the way from Elmwood Avenue to Williams-Brice Stadium, as it could truly be Columbia's grand boulevard with a little TLC.

I agree that some money should and must be spent on pedestrian and bicycle facilities. However, as we are dealing with a county-wide program, it is inevitable that road widening further out will have to occur (if for nothing more than political reasons). There are bona fide safety and life-threatening hazards out in the suburbs like Hardscrabble Road that simply must be fixed (in addition to the genuine traffic and congestion problems). I will say many of these subdivisions and sprawl-development should not have been approved in the first place (and I'll take personal blame for contributing to that congestion as a Northeast Richland resident and commuter). The Wal-Mart at Killian and I-77 is a prime example of a project (that was recommended to be rejected by the county planning commission, no less) that should not have passed County Council without some commitment to improving the immediate circulation and highway interchange.

That being said, considering the County's needs, priorities, and financial and political realities, I think the 60-25-15 split between road-transit-pedestrian/cyclist is a good balance. I'm actually surprised it wasn't something like 75-20-5, so I'm glad there is at least more than lip service to progressive development of non-car facilities. Also, I would hope the City of Columbia would chip in with any funds for pedestrian/cycling facilities - after all they would be the main beneficiaries of such investments as opposed to the more "standards" road improvements out in suburban/exurban Richland County.

[Woodlands]

Glad to see that this building will be reused. It has long sat as an eyesore and the "hole" in the donut of redevelopment on the Vista's northern boarder. It looks like it will be a pretty neat place to hang out and grab a bite. Look forward to visiting when it opens...

The State | 06/02/2008 | Revival for historic building (broken link)

[Akhenaton06]

Senate Street is shaping up to be a nice mini-corridor in the Vista. Now if that lot just across from the old fire headquarters building could get developed in a pedestrian friendly fashion, the entire street could be a destination.

[Woodlands]

I was browsing the City Council minutes and noticed that Council met in Executive Session to discuss, among other things, the old Lincoln Street tunnel that runs between Taylor Street and Gervais Street. Over the years people have thrown around various ideas for this passageway from a pedestrian walkway to underground flea market, to a public art walk. I would be interested in what Council comes up with or decides to do with this.. as more development arrives on Lady Street it could definately provide an interesting challenge.

The section north of Taylor that passes by Finlay Park and goes up towards Elmwood Park is probably even more problematic. Other than a bike trail, not sure what else this area can become. Maybe the City could convert the section between the Laurel Street overpass and Taylor Street into an Extreme Sports complex and allow the walls of the corridor to be converted into rock climbing walls, add ramps and dirt mounds to portions of the old roadbed for bmx bikes (or whatever they are called now) to ride over or even ramps for skate boards. They could also add a water slide that one could access up above from off of Laurel Street and slide down to the base over a 100' or 200' stretch (By the way, there used to be something similar called the "zoom floom" or something to that effect on the hill side on the west of Two Notch the near the current Richland County Sheriffs Offices and behind the Mercedes dealership. Operated up until the late 70s early 80s.) They could make the entrance near Taylor Street interesting by installing a very large "Lord of the Rings" style gate over the current entrance that will give it a nice visual effect, as if you are entering Mount Doom. Oh well, I guess they will come up with something.....

[waccamatt]

LOL at Woodlands; I like the way you think.

I know the city talked about making part of the tunnel a stable for the horses used for carriage rides. I'm not sure if this has come to fruition.

[Woodlands]

The next time you can afford to take a leisurely Sunday drive along I 126 into Columbia...follow it all the way until it turns into Elmwood Ave, hit Bull Street and hang a right in front of the old State Hospital and then hang a quick left back on to Elmwood and follow it down to Barnwell Street. If you make a right on Barnwell... follow it all the way to Gervais Street.

The area bounded by Elmwood Ave (State Hospital) on the north; Barnwell or Henderson (which runs parallel to Barnwell) on the west; and the RR Tracks on the east probably represents another unique development opportunity for the City. I am not aware of the area being a part of any Planning/Redevelopment effort, but its tucked between USC/Five Points, the Landmarks District (which includes the Robert Mills House, Township Auditorium, and other notable structures), and the potential redevelopment of the State Hospital Complex on the north. To the east beyond the tracks you have Benedict College and the redevelopment of Saxon Homes (Drew Wellness Center and a future Grocery Store on Read and Harden) and the future redevelopment of Allen Benedict Court and the East Center City Redevelopment Plan which includes Waverly.

Some new development has taken place in this area, the City's Fire Station Headquarters/ Museum is here, and a medical office near Harden and Laurel. Above Taylor, there are also few multi family duplexes while south of Taylor there are several large single family homes, many in need of repair along Cherokee, Lady, Gregg, Washington Streets ... as well as a hodge podge of offices and industrial uses such as the large concrete plant. Its blocks from Woodrow Wilson's "childhood home" in addition to the Richland County Offices and Allen University. The area appears to have risen out of its proximity to the railroad since most of the uses above Taylor street within three blocks of the tracks are industrial types of uses. It was also part of the African American business community along Harden Street between Taylor and Laurel.. with several businesses such as a Movie Theatre, Hotels, and a small bank existing there at various times up until the 1980s.

The future of this area may hang in the balances with the future of the rail line that borders it. If this track is removed, as has been the subject of several plans, then the largest customer of rail service, the concrete plant, may move as well, thus ending the industrial era of this section of the community. If the redevelopment of the State Hospital occurs that would open up a wonderful opportunity to create a nice pedestrian corridor along Barnwell that would connect that complex with USC/Five Points. The residential areas below Taylor could improve and the small commercial node along Washington Street could continue to harbor small businesses and restaurants. the area above Taylor that is somewhat more industrial could cater to artists and possibly some inexpensive gallaries. The old concrete facility could be cleaned up with a HUD Brownfield Grant and potentially purchased by Benedict College for future campus space, which would support the rise of a mini retail district at the intersection of Taylor and Harden Streets..which already has a Subway and the old College Corner could be redeveloped in a similar manner. Hopefully as these surrounding areas redevelop, it will have a positive impact on this section of our city as well.

[Akhenaton06]

You've got a point. That particular part of the city seems to be the "forgotten" part, but its location is great. A really great opportunity could potentially open there, particularly if the Bull Street project gets off the ground any time soon. I'd imagine something of an extension of that project built in a new urbanist fashion.

[Woodlands]

Next time your driving up/down Taylor Street heading to/from the bustling city of Forest Acres, just as you past Gonzales Gardens and Providence Hospital you will see a very short and non descript street called Manning Ave. If you drive down Manning Ave it appears as if it is the separation between two worlds.. the somewhat affluent Forest Hills from the much less so Lyon Street Neighborhood. The street is one of a few in Columbia that is a constant reminder of the division of income/class and often race. Many neighborhoods in Columbia, particuliarly your newer subs are fairly inclusive and intergrated or in the case of those that are gentrifying there is a "grey area" where conditions of homes begins to deteriorate or improve the further in/out of a neighborhood or are sometimes a "hodgepodge" pattern as a rehabbed home sits next to one that is need of repair or vacant as new owners move in or existing owners fix up their properties.

Manning Ave seems more like a boundary in more ways than one. I do not know the history of this street but even the age of the housing seems to differ from one side to the other with the Lyon Street side appearing to be home built predominately in the 40s (?)or 50s(?) and Forest Hills more the 60s(?) and 70s(?) eluding to the typical pattern of growth from City to suburban that occurred during this era. THe State did an article some time ago that highlighted the stark differences between the two sides of Manning Ave and noted how residents bordering Manning on the Forest Hill side opted to erect walls or privacy fences to screen out their western neighbors and some of the problems blight was associated with the area. Forest Hills also has more of a suburban design/street layout while Lyon Street Neighborhood is your typical city grid. The Lyon Street neighborhood has definately felt the impact of the deterioration of Gonzales Gardens particuliarly in the 80s when crack and other drugs made the name of this complex and others in Columbia synonymous with crime. However; it looks like things are beginning to look up for Lyon Street.. The proposed Gervais Street streetscaping and the City's continuing investment in "East Center City", Benedict College redevelopment/Two Notch, Providence Hospital, the the eventual demolition of Gonzales Gardens should help the neighborhood pull itself up and maybe Manning Ave will become a more of a neighborly street instead of just a connection between Gervais and Taylor and a boundary between two neighborhoods and two worlds.