Re-development of the Main street area (Columbia, Wade Hampton: condos, hotel, townhomes)

[davey123]

Originally Posted by Intergalactic

The Whig and the bar in the Sheraton are built into old bank vaults? That's cool...

Where is the Whig?

[Intergalactic]

In that old white highrise building across from the State House, 1200 Main Street. It's in the basement directly under the WOLO TV newsroom.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...04.69,,0,-6.45

[mettler]

They need to re-open the underground.

The Whig | Columbia SC

MySpace.com - the whig - 83 - Male - COLUMBIA, South Carolina - www.myspace.com/whigsc

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by mettler

They need to re-open the underground.

The Whig | Columbia SC

MySpace.com - the whig - 83 - Male - COLUMBIA, South Carolina - www.myspace.com/whigsc

Yes, that would be awesome. For those new to the area, back in the 1970's a number of bars and restaurants were located in the basement of the Arcade Mall Building. There are a number of offices, retail stores and a couple of restaurants in the 2 floors of the Arcade above ground.

The Arcade above ground (on a holiday):





The former "Downunder Columbia". As you can see, it would take a lot of new plumbing and TLC to reopen the complex:

[Intergalactic]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Yes, that would be awesome. For those new to the area, back in the 1970's a number of bars and restaurants were located in the basement of the Arcade Mall Building. There are a number of offices, retail stores and a couple of restaurants in the 2 floors of the Arcade above ground.

The Arcade above ground (on a holiday):

The former "Downunder Columbia". As you can see, it would take a lot of new plumbing and TLC to reopen the complex:

Wow, a picture really is worth a thousand words. I had heard of this, but I never would have thought that Columbia could harbor a place like that. As soon as I saw it I thought it needs to be on the National Register of Historic Places, but I looked it up and it already is.

Anybody feel like writing the Wikipedia article for it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...edit&redlink=1

[davey123]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

The former "Downunder Columbia". As you can see, it would take a lot of new plumbing and TLC to reopen the complex:

These are some nice pictures. When I first came to Columbia, someone told me that this underground section is quite extensive. I'm not sure how large the "Downunder Columbia" was, but this person seemed to suggest that it was much larger than many people realize. Are any of you aware of whether this is true or not?

[Columbiadata]

There were rumors of an extensive tunnel system throughout downtown including tunnels leading from the basement of the State House, but there is no such extensive tunnel system.

[chiboy7]

Main Street is amazing. Very nice area, very alive.

[Columbiadata]

When were you there, chiboy7? I noticed a lively buzz there today around the Columbia Museum of Art, the Mariott and the Sheraton, as well as on the capitol grounds. Groups of people were sitting on Boyd Plaza (museum) and walking up and down the street. People are finally catching on. When the Tower at Main and Gervais is complete we should see a big boost. Another very important thing is that as the beautiful trees that are only in their third or fourth growing season mature into a canopy, the crowds will undoubtedly pick up because more businesses will be drawn to the ambience.

[Woodlands]

WOW I have always heard about that place but never been down there. How did you get down there to take these photos or are you an Urban Explorer..You wonder per todays building codes if they would ever let a bunch of people drink and hangout down there... Fire safety, ingress and egress requirements may prevent anything like that from happening down there...

Whats going on in the TAPPS building... Is it fully occupied? I went several years ago to the open house for those apartments... They had a nice suite up on I believe the second floor Main Street side of the building that had a nice view.. it was very open and bright and the Tapps emblem was inscribed in the middle of the living room from back in the old department store days. Very cool.. even then the rent back then the rent for the place was pretty outrageous.. dont remember what is was though, but I do remember being taken aback.....