544 replies to this topic

[Spartan]

It will be similar to Riverplace, but not the same. Once these places are done I bet the comparisons could be similar though.

[The_sandlapper]

This is great news! It's about time they stopped talking about it and did something.

[vicupstate]

The_sandlapper, on Jan 5 2005, 11:30 AM, said:

This is great news! It's about time they stopped talking about it and did something.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can say that again!  The city bought this property from the state in 1995.  Personally, I will believe it when I see it.

[emerging.me]

OK... I heard back from Fred Delk at the Columbia Development Corporation. He said I should contact Jim Gambrell at the Office of Economic Development, so I've done that. I emailed him asking about the CanalSide proposals and the Canal Front concept (since they say on their website that a concept has been completed for that area). We'll see if anything turns up.  I don't know why The State or WIS hasn't been on this already.

[Spartan]

Awsome. Thanks for investigating this emergine.me!

[waccamatt]

It's about time Canalside moves forward. That property is a gold mine. Whoever gets to develop it is lucky!

[emerging.me]

True. I haven't heard back from Gambrell yet, but if I don't by Monday I think I'm gonna give him a call.

[krazeeboi]

The latest on CanalSide is that more residential and less commercial is planned.

It will not be a gated community.

[TruantSpeakEZ]

krazeeboi, on Jul 12 2005, 04:06 PM, said:

The latest on CanalSide is that more residential and less commercial is planned.

It will not be a gated community.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CanalSide is useless now.  I think they messed up bad on what could have been a really nice urban community/district.

[emerging.me]

RE: CanalSide...

I am actually okay with this... the idea of the retail being only things that would naturally be supported by the neighborhood. I don't mind that at all. I just hope the development is planned nicely and that the esplanade is easily accessible to everyone.

As I understand it, Canal Front/City Dock will have some shops and stuff. That could be the shopping/entertainment component of riverfront development in Columbia. And there are also big plans drawn up for commercial/entertainment component of the Canal Place neighborhood (down towards River Drive) -- it's just a matter of finding a developer that's willing to go along with the plans for the commercial/entertainment portion.  On a side note, the houses they've built in the first phase of Canal Place are some of the ugliest homes I think I've ever seen.

Edited by emerging.me, 12 July 2005 - 07:30 PM.

[krazeeboi]

TruantSpeakEZ, on Jul 12 2005, 07:26 PM, said:

CanalSide is useless now.  I think they messed up bad on what could have been a really nice urban community/district.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why do you feel that it's useless now? I agree that the city did mess up in trying to develop it, but now that has been rectified (sort of), so I think the whole thing is still salvagable.

[Spartan]

Guys, we had about 4 different Canalside threads floating around. I decided to merge them all plus the more recent posts in the Columbia Developments thread to here. Lets keep all posts concerning the development of Canalside here.

TruantSpeakEZ, on Jul 12 2005, 07:26 PM, said:

CanalSide is useless now.  I think they messed up bad on what could have been a really nice urban community/district.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

emerging.me, on Jul 12 2005, 07:48 PM, said:

RE: CanalSide...

I am actually okay with this... the idea of the retail being only things that would naturally be supported by the neighborhood. I don't mind that at all. I just hope the development is planned nicely and that the esplanade is easily accessible to everyone.

As I understand it, Canal Front/City Dock will have some shops and stuff. That could be the shopping/entertainment component of riverfront development in Columbia. And there are also big plans drawn up for commercial/entertainment component of the Canal Place neighborhood (down towards River Drive) -- it's just a matter of finding a developer that's willing to go along with the plans for the commercial/entertainment portion.  On a side note, the houses they've built in the first phase of Canal Place are some of the ugliest homes I think I've ever seen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

krazeeboi, on Jul 12 2005, 08:51 PM, said:

Why do you feel that it's useless now? I agree that the city did mess up in trying to develop it, but now that has been rectified (sort of), so I think the whole thing is still salvagable.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now, as for the plan to make Canalside more residential, I think this is a great idea. Think about this- 700 homes. Say you get an average of two per home, that means 1400 new citizens in downtown. Think of what that will do for the Vista! I imaging alot more restaurants and bars/clubs etc will want to locate. This may be the key to pulling development towards Huger.

[waccamatt]

I'm ready for Canalside to start. I wanted to buy a home in Canalside, but I got tired of waiting. Instead I bought a house in Earlewood Park....4 1/2 years ago! I'm disappointed about no Sax or Brooks Brothers, but 1400 or so new Vista residents will definitely spark new commercial development nearby. Keep your eyes open for development in the block bounded by Taylor, Hampton and Huger...there are a few old houses in that block and it is a PRIMO location! I understand someone has been trying to buy up all of the parcels in the block.

[emerging.me]

Thanks, Spartan! I like keeping it neat.

I agree that this is good news. As long as there are some neighborhood-support related business establishments in there that should be fine. I actually don't like the idea big-time shopping in CanalSide. I think, despite the various fumbles and missed opportunities, that it's going to be a great place to live and that it'll do wonders for urban life in the area.

I would love to see those new plans! I'm going to make a call to the Assistant City Manager about seeing the Canal Front/City Dock plans tomorrow, so maybe I'll ask about this also.

[Spartan]

waccamatt, on Jul 12 2005, 11:39 PM, said:

I'm ready for Canalside to start. I wanted to buy a home in Canalside, but I got tired of waiting. Instead I bought a house in Earlewood Park....4 1/2 years ago! I'm disappointed about no Sax or Brooks Brothers, but 1400 or so new Vista residents will definitely spark new commercial development nearby. Keep your eyes open for development in the block bounded by Taylor, Hampton and Huger...there are a few old houses in that block and it is a PRIMO location! I understand someone has been trying to buy up all of the parcels in the block.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I seem to recall hearing that block (the 4th side is what would also be Williams St, were the grid continued correctly) is being held up because a church has to be moved. Moving that type of thing is not something that you can just 'do.'

emerging.me, on Jul 12 2005, 11:41 PM, said:

Thanks, Spartan! I like keeping it neat.

I think, despite the various fumbles and missed opportunities, that it's going to be a great place to live and that it'll do wonders for urban life in the area.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No problem I agree. The simple fact that it is not gated is its best feature

[waccamatt]

Spartan, on Jul 12 2005, 09:50 PM, said:

I seem to recall hearing that block (the 4th side is what would also be Williams St, were the grid continued correctly) is being held up because a church has to be moved. Moving that type of thing is not something that you can just 'do.'

No problem I agree. The simple fact that it is not gated is its best feature

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ain't that the truth!

[emerging.me]

waccamatt, on Jul 12 2005, 11:39 PM, said:

I'm ready for Canalside to start. I wanted to buy a home in Canalside, but I got tired of waiting. Instead I bought a house in Earlewood Park....4 1/2 years ago! I'm disappointed about no Sax or Brooks Brothers, but 1400 or so new Vista residents will definitely spark new commercial development nearby. Keep your eyes open for development in the block bounded by Taylor, Hampton and Huger...there are a few old houses in that block and it is a PRIMO location! I understand someone has been trying to buy up all of the parcels in the block.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I heard the same thing. I actually priced that little white church a while back, just out of curiosity. It's going for $125,000 -- as is the vacant lot next to it. Then you've got two parcels where those two old homes are, and a parcel for that brick church along the back, and I think one other -- maybe two. I know the Columbia Development Corporation would like to snag that old white church building and stick it down in the Riverfront Park next to the little red schoolhouse, but I don't know if they're actively going after it.

[waccamatt]

emerging.me, on Jul 12 2005, 10:13 PM, said:

I heard the same thing. I actually priced that little white church a while back, just out of curiosity. It's going for $125,000 -- as is the vacant lot next to it. Then you've got two parcels where those two old homes are, and a parcel for that brick church along the back, and I think one other -- maybe two. I know the Columbia Development Corporation would like to snag that old white church building and stick it down in the Riverfront Park next to the little red schoolhouse, but I don't know if they're actively going after it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any thoughts on what would be an awesome development for that block? A hotel? A little set of shops?

[Spartan]

Not a hotel. What I would like to see is a mid sized office buliding on Huger with smaller mixed use retail shops with residential apartments above. They would be oriented towards Canalside. The key factor in that block is how they reroute Taylor. 3 lanes of one way traffic is intimidating. I have crossed the section of taylor at Huger where it is 5 lanes. Its not an easy thing to do at all.... They need to somehow accomodate pedestrians better in that area in general.

[krazeeboi]

OK you guys, it's official: the city has confirmed the sale of the CanalSide site to the Beach Co. of Charleston for $6 million.

The first component of the development to go on sale is single-family lots.

The city withdrew a requirement that the developer include affordable housing in the plans. Instead, Coble said the city will use revenue from the sale to offer low-cost mortgages for housing in CanalSide and elsewhere in the city.

Speaking of an arts district, although the current vision of CanalSide is great, I also think that the riverfront property would have been cool for that too.