114 replies to this topic

[Spartan]

There is an interesting article in The State today that highlights 6 areas that USC is likely to expand into.

Of particular interst to me are these:

• Addams bookstore property on South Main
  
• Ballpark site near Colonial Center
  
• Burger King site on College Street

The USC Development Foundation is buying the land that Addams is on, and will lease it to an Atlanta devleloper who wants to create a residential & retail project. So long as Addams will have a home in this new facility I don't mind. That and the development of the Horizon center accross the street would really change the way that area looks.

The Ballpark site itself isnt that important, but the remainder of the bullet point is....

"Why it’s important: USC wants Greene Street to be the school’s new Main Street, stretching from the Horseshoe to the Congaree River. But Greene is broken at the railroad tracks near the Colonial Center. USC officials would like to see a bridge built over the tracks to make the connection unbroken"

That is very exciting to me. I have been saying that Greene St needs to be restored for some time now

Finally, the old BK site. That is just a horrible eyesore, and I don't understand why it hasn't been redeveloped yet. What a great place for a real restaurant (not fast food). Or better yet, a small building with a restaurant on the groundfloor and some residential (ie student) units above it.

[CorgiMatt]

Spartan, on Feb 12 2006, 02:17 PM, said:

There is an interesting article in The State today that highlights 6 areas that USC is likely to expand into.

Of particular interst to me are these:

• Addams bookstore property on South Main
  
• Ballpark site near Colonial Center
  
• Burger King site on College Street

The USC Development Foundation is buying the land that Addams is on, and will lease it to an Atlanta devleloper who wants to create a residential & retail project. So long as Addams will have a home in this new facility I don't mind. That and the development of the Horizon center accross the street would really change the way that area looks.

The Ballpark site itself isnt that important, but the remainder of the bullet point is....

"Why it’s important: USC wants Greene Street to be the school’s new Main Street, stretching from the Horseshoe to the Congaree River. But Greene is broken at the railroad tracks near the Colonial Center. USC officials would like to see a bridge built over the tracks to make the connection unbroken"

That is very exciting to me. I have been saying that Greene St needs to be restored for some time now

Finally, the old BK site. That is just a horrible eyesore, and I don't understand why it hasn't been redeveloped yet. What a great place for a real restaurant (not fast food). Or better yet, a small building with a restaurant on the groundfloor and some residential (ie student) units above it.

At least the BK has finally been razed.

[vicupstate]

I assume that since the Addams Bookstore project is being leased from USC, that it will be apartments, not for-sale units, at least initially.  The down side to that (and the rest of these USC purchases) is that these properties will leave the tax rolls.

Columbia has a lot of untaxed property.  Of course the Bull Street project going private will be a big help in that respect.

[Doug L]

vicupstate, on Feb 13 2006, 09:09 PM, said:

I assume that since the Addams Bookstore project is being leased from USC, that it will be apartments, not for-sale units, at least initially.  The down side to that (and the rest of these USC purchases) is that these properties will leave the tax rolls.

Columbia has a lot of untaxed property.  Of course the Bull Street project going private will be a big help in that respect.

First of all, all this property is NOT being purchased by USC but by the USC Foundation.  There is a huge difference between the two.  The properties in question will NOT leave the tax rolls until it is actually transfered to USC at the time of construction of a new project; then it will be RE tax free.

The big problem I have with the aquasition of all of this property to be held by the foundation until USC is ready for it is that they let their properties fall into disrepair.  There are a number of rotting down buildings that USC Foundation owns and is sitting on.  They keep their taxes low by letting the properties go derelict.  They have a tendensy to be very bad neighbors.

I also hate that they destroyed the old Radison Hotel building and THEN announced that it will remain a vacant lot.  What a waste!  What a disgrace!  What bad, bad neighbors!  They also announced that they (USC) will not build any new towers.  More and more 'squat' buildings.

[krazeeboi]

I'm a little uneasy about the foundation holding on to prime, downtown property. It really seems as though USC is almost trying to take over DT Columbia. I'm glad that Innovista is a public/private venture though.

[Spartan]

Doug L, on Feb 13 2006, 08:45 PM, said:

First of all, all this property is NOT being purchased by USC but by the USC Foundation.  There is a huge difference between the two.  The properties in question will NOT leave the tax rolls until it is actually transfered to USC at the time of construction of a new project; then it will be RE tax free.

The big problem I have with the aquasition of all of this property to be held by the foundation until USC is ready for it is that they let their properties fall into disrepair.  There are a number of rotting down buildings that USC Foundation owns and is sitting on.  They keep their taxes low by letting the properties go derelict.  They have a tendensy to be very bad neighbors.

I also hate that they destroyed the old Radison Hotel building and THEN announced that it will remain a vacant lot.  What a waste!  What a disgrace!  What bad, bad neighbors!  They also announced that they (USC) will not build any new towers.  More and more 'squat' buildings.

But these buldings are not unattractive buildings. I don't see why USC can't have solid mid-rise structures. I look at Strom or the new School of Health as examples of quality construciton that is both low-mid rise and still visually attractive.

[sonofaque86]

Soon downtown will just be USC

[Doug L]

Spartan, on Feb 14 2006, 01:49 AM, said:

But these buldings are not unattractive buildings. I don't see why USC can't have solid mid-rise structures. I look at Strom or the new School of Health as examples of quality construciton that is both low-mid rise and still visually attractive.

There is no doubt that the new USC buildings are attractive and yes quality.  It is, however, unproductive to announce and follow through on a program that disqualifies towers as a part of the mix!  As the midtown real estate becomes more and more expensive it behooves all developments to consider going up; instead USC is choosing to artificially escalate RE costs by gobbling up excessive amounts of land and then just letting it go to waste until THEY are ready.  Bad, bad, neighbors!

[vicupstate]

As far as the Vista goes, there are height restrictions anyway.

[CorgiMatt]

vicupstate, on Feb 14 2006, 12:37 PM, said:

As far as the Vista goes, there are height restrictions anyway.

But an 8-story office building for the corner of Huger and Gervais just cleared its first zoning hurdle at City Hall the other day.  And the mayor in his state of the city address said the city needs to review its height limits in the Vista.

[Doug L]

vicupstate, on Feb 14 2006, 01:37 PM, said:

As far as the Vista goes, there are height restrictions anyway.

Restrictions can be changed!

[TheCarolinaKing]

Change'Um Change'Um Change'Um!

[Spartan]

I'm sorry, but  Ijust don't think the lack of skyscrapers will detract from Columbia's downtown. There are many great cities out there that don't have a ton of skyscrapers downtown. (Charleston, DC, London) Besides, isn't a tower for S Main in the works?

There is plenty of space for towers in Columbia. If USC is to be succesful then it will have to expand. The city and downtown is very much tied to USC, just as USC is tied to downtown. I think that the success of one will be the success of the other.

[krazeeboi]

It was stated on another thread that the impression wasn't given that the tower to be built by Holder Properties on S. Main would be a high rise.

I have no problem with Innovista being primarily a mid-rise development, if that's what's being referenced. As long as we get good street level retail that will generate pedestrian activity, I'm all for it. Unfortunately, that is exactly the thing that towers in Columbia DON'T do.

[Doug L]

krazeeboi, on Feb 14 2006, 10:33 PM, said:

It was stated on another thread that the impression wasn't given that the tower to be built by Holder Properties on S. Main would be a high rise.

I have no problem with Innovista being primarily a mid-rise development, if that's what's being referenced. As long as we get good street level retail that will generate pedestrian activity, I'm all for it. Unfortunately, that is exactly the thing that towers in Columbia DON'T do.

I agree that a tower just for the sake of a tower generates no pedestrian traffic, however, properly done towers could be the panacea for midtown.  I refer specifically to the multi-purpose building wherein every new tower would include street level retail, parking either above the retail or below ground, and above floors designated  in groups to offices, research, class rooms, and/or living space.  Any of these combinations would work very well to increase density in our city and generate more pedestrian traffic.

This particular type of building would work best east of Assembly Street on top of the hill, however, having an occasional high rise, even in single family home neighborhoods, as an exclamation point is very attractive (See  Toronto).

[Spartan]

What what you say is very true Doug, it is not plausible in Columbia- at least not at this point.

[Spartan]

There is a new building coming to the Innovista part of campus. "On Friday, September 14, the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved a site at Pendleton and Assembly streets for an approximately 100,000-square-foot Alumni Center, setting the stage for final approval by the full Board."



Here's the link: http://www.mycarolin...lay.asp?CID=304

Thats a crappy sketch, so I'm hoping some better site plans and renderings will be made available soon.

[Spartan]

This thread is for the discussion of USC construction projects including the proposed School of Law, the SC Honors College, other new dorms, renovations, etc. Anything that comes up that is not considered a part of Innovista or Athletics Master Plan.

Here are some links to other discussions:
USC Athletic Facilities Master Plan
USC Baseball Park
Innovista

[Firefox]

How many guys have seen the new tower crane up at the Honors college site?    Told you guys they would put one up

[TheCarolinaKing]

Yes!    I saw it today.  I wondered, as I approached the area, what the heck it was for.    I was really begining to miss those big metal things.    Its quite exciting.  Can't wait to see the finished project and the effect it has on the various views.