What will be Columbia's next hot neighborhood? (Lexington, Lancaster: crimes, house)

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

Cayce had been pushing to develop the 12th Street corridor since an interchange was added to I-77 beltway. I am sure that some new businesses will move down there to be close to SCANA and take advantage of the additional traffic that it creates. I wonder if access to 77 was a factor since it may be easier to get on and off at 12th Street than to manuver 126 to downtown???

Hopefully the Palmetto Center will attract another/other downtown office tenants since it is in an ideal location. I wonder if the City is going to build a skywalk from the new garage to the Palmetto Center garage? I remember Charlotte had a network of skywalks that would carry people from one building or parking garage to another (it may still be intact.. not sure). ..I think most cities, with the exception of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, are getting away from skywalks since it impacts your street level pedestrian traffic?

You're right, Woodlands, most cities are refraining from skywalks because it takes people off the streets. Minneapolis is a unique case because it is so outrageously cold during the winter. I'd like to see the Palmetto Center renovated to include street level retail. It is in the perfect location for street level retail because it is sandwiched between 2 hotels and is a half block from the Art Museum. New highrises downtown should not be allowed without at least some street level retail (and I'm not referring to bank branches). The Taylor to Blanding block is ready to take off with the Nickelodeon's move and Mast General Store's future opening in the old Lourie's building.

[Woodlands]

Potential Fed funds to continue the redevelopment of Allen Benedict Court and the Gonzales Gardens in the center city. The replacement of these units with mixed income housing would be huge for the Waverly neighborhood and Columbia. There is interesting discussion here on the relocation of residents and the impact it could have on Richland #1 if they resettle outside of Richland #1. Obviously the district is concerned about the lose of students and thus potential lose of $ to the District, but ultimately if the residents decide to relocate to a home or apt. in Richland #2 or Lexington Richland 5.. that may be good for them. Additionally, the loss would only be temporary since once the area redevelops you would have a mix of incomes living in this zone that I believes supports AC Flora and maybe CA Johnson zones.


U.S. funds could rebuild Allen Benedict Court - Breaking News - The State

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

Potential Fed funds to continue the redevelopment of Allen Benedict Court and the Gonzales Gardens in the center city. The replacement of these units with mixed income housing would be huge for the Waverly neighborhood and Columbia. There is interesting discussion here on the relocation of residents and the impact it could have on Richland #1 if they resettle outside of Richland #1. Obviously the district is concerned about the lose of students and thus potential lose of $ to the District, but ultimately if the residents decide to relocate to a home or apt. in Richland #2 or Lexington Richland 5.. that may be good for them. Additionally, the loss would only be temporary since once the area redevelops you would have a mix of incomes living in this zone that I believes supports AC Flora and maybe CA Johnson zones.


U.S. funds could rebuild Allen Benedict Court - Breaking News - The State

The Waverly/Allen/Benedict area has made huge strides in the last 10 years. It's really great to see this neighborhood make a tremendous comeback.

[LexingtonDad]

I heard a rumor that Columbia College is talking to Benedict about selling them their entire campus. Columbia College then would move to a site off 378 in Lexington county. With Benedict's financial problems it is kind of hard to believe but then again I have heard that Benedict's size due to being pretty much landlocked keeps them from reaching a critical mass in students that would allow then to benefit from economies of scale.

Anybody else hear anything about this?

[waccamatt]

That's the first I've heard of it. Benedict could build up so I doubt they would consider moving. It would be a lot more cost effective to build taller where they are than to move the campus.

[LexingtonDad]

Not move the campus, just add classes and housing a bus-able distance away. The people talking about it are probably not ones to know if it is a serious discussion or not but I do know that Columbia College is suffering due to it's location. Some parents (and students) are hesitant about their daughters living in such a challenged community and the school thinks their attempt to draw post graduate degree seekers to night classes is hindered by their location.

And there is a lot of open land still available in Lexington county.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by LexingtonDad

Not move the campus, just add classes and housing a bus-able distance away. The people talking about it are probably not ones to know if it is a serious discussion or not but I do know that Columbia College is suffering due to it's location. Some parents (and students) are hesitant about their daughters living in such a challenged community and the school thinks their attempt to draw post graduate degree seekers to night classes is hindered by their location.

And there is a lot of open land still available in Lexington county.

Thats news.. I have not heard that.. It would be unfortunate for Columbia College to move out of the City (i.e bad for Cola, though good for Lexington) There are several efforts under way to revitalize North Main Street/College Place and progress has been made.. though there is still work to be done. The Lutheran Seminary also contemplated moving out of the City a decade or so ago and ultimately decided to stay in part because the city stepped up their efforts to improve the area around the campus which is also on North Main Street. The area around there campus was challenged as well.... 10 to 15 years ago. Today Seminary Ridge is a triving community with an active neighborhood association.. the Eau Claire Town Hall is widely utilized for various events as is the Mansion off of Monticello on Wildwood Ave (cannot recall the name) also in Seminary Ridge. I can see the City doing the same with Columbia College if they even mention that they are considering moving.That being said, I think there is hope for the North Main Street area over time.. and Cola. College is very active in redeveloping the community and if they increase their efforts it would certainly pay off....

Benedict should attempt to acquire the property across Harden Street/ Concrete Plant and expand the campus in that direction. Additionally, they should be sitting down right now.. if they are not already, and talking with the Housing Authority on if/how they could lease or "co- habitate" on both Allen/Benedict and Gonzales Gardents sites..They receive HBCU funds which are HUD dollars and the stimulus money will likey come via a HUD program. They should come up with a creative proposal on the creation of a mixed use community that could include residential and educational facilities that could serve residents and students. .There are certainly "town and gown" problems that are inherent in mixing single family areas and colleges.. but I am sure that there are some best practices that could be identified where the proper seperation of uses could be intergrated onto the same site. BC currently provides a variety of afterschool, summer, and child care programs that could benefit residents living in the adjoining neighborhood.. so I am sure a creative solution could be developed that could be a win win for all.

[LexingtonDad]

I think the seminary will move within the next decade anyway. They constantly lose students due to the neighborhood and especially to the schools in the area. More and more of their students are second career people with kids and they are looking for a school that offers the package not just for them, but for the whole family. Have you driven around the seminary in the last couple of years? They built some nice modern apartments for incoming students and can't rent them because so many refuse to live on campus.

[Columbiadata]

You assume the area won't be any nicer within that time. The president of CC is all about community improvement and good relations between the college and neighborhood. I would be extremely shocked to hear she is for moving to the country. She believes in a door-to-door, block-by-block community, with education at the center of it.

[Columbiadata]

The next hot neighborhood in Columbia will be the Harrison Road-Covenant Road area between Glenwood Road and Two Notch Road. We live here and some really cute little houses have sold for solid prices in the last couple of months. We love the price now on the one next to us. Some old houses from when it was called Harrison Road for a reason (not street) have been fixed up and are for sale. A realtor told us the other day that the market for smaller single-family homes has been hot and that she has had some recent closings. It's a clean, quiet area that is eight minutes to the Koger Center and three miles from the capitol. It's between dowtown and Forest Acres, a mile from Providence Hospital, near shopping, and convenient to Forest Drive, Two Notch, and Beltline, and within a quick drive to Five Points.