Historic Congaree Vista Developments

[CorgiMatt]

Until every parcel of land in Columbia is built out to the corner with no gaps anywhere, the trade off will be that you can look across the way in places and see other buildings blocks away. You won't be able to when we live in a maze. Yes, I'd rather have the maze, but my glass will always be at least half full.

[digital_sandlapper]

The weeds were part of its charm? They were more like the signs of the lazier, younger generation trying to run the store. At one time there was never a weed on the place. That was when it was charming.

I didn't mean the weeds were charming, just the old location vs. the newer one in 5 Pts with its forlorn interior was charming. The old Hiller in its heyday was the sort of unselfconscious "real deal" that we seldom see today. And there the old buildling sat, in all its white-with-red-stripes glory, until somebody renovated all the charm out of it. Oh well.

Speaking of renovations, does anyone have any inside info or speculation on when (or even whether) the building Whit-Ash occupies will get a much-needed facelift? It is certainly one of the last buildings in the Vista that hasn't been touched (but needs it).

[dobboard]

Speaking of renovations, does anyone have any inside info or speculation on when (or even whether) the building Whit-Ash occupies will get a much-needed facelift? It is certainly one of the last buildings in the Vista that hasn't been touched (but needs it).

I have no idea what they are waiting for. Why would you purchase high-end furniture from a place that looks that poor from the outside? Blast the paint off of the building and it will look very nice.

[waccamatt]

I have no idea what they are waiting for. Why would you purchase high-end furniture from a place that looks that poor from the outside? Blast the paint off of the building and it will look very nice.

I thought they mostly sold discount furniture? Nonetheless, the building needs to be renovated.

[CorgiMatt]

Whit-Ash's owner takes pride in being eccentric and obstinate. I talked with him at length one day, and he showed me where he once begain having the white paint blasted from the side of the building until the city made him stop while they drew up and approved architectural guidelines for the Vista. He got mad and took an "I'll show them attitude," and has never touched it since. And I don't expect he will. Even if he would just replace those shutter things on the upper floor(s) with fake windows or paint them some color besides white it would make a big difference.

[breed]

The rising gas prices might end up turning our country around. As far as I'm concerned, I prefer dense development. It's more fun to have a lot of people around, there will be restaurants, bars, etc. within walking distance and we will become a more social people again. The suburbs have been bad for our country in many ways.

I don't see the suburbs going anywhere... it's alot easier for suburbanites to change their patterns of consumption (fewer trips, more telecommuting, better MPG cars) than to completely revolutionize development patterns. That's not to say things won't be getting development more efficiently, but I definitely don't think that the suburbs are going to be dead.

Lets keep in mind that there will always be suburbs, its just that the way they are built is starting to fundamentally change. By "European" we are really just talking about poor people being pushed to the fringes of town and the wealthy in the center. The suburbs of the future will have more urban centers in them too.... but thats assuming that SC can attract jobs to urban centers and not crappy suburban office parks.

In general, Europe is most decidedly not segregated into rich in the middle and poor on the fringes. At least not in any way that is comparable to economic segregation in the United States. It is common for members of different economic classes to reside on the same urban block.

[digital_sandlapper]

Whit-Ash's owner takes pride in being eccentric and obstinate. I talked with him at length one day, and he showed me where he once begain having the white paint blasted from the side of the building until the city made him stop while they drew up and approved architectural guidelines for the Vista. He got mad and took an "I'll show them attitude," and has never touched it since. And I don't expect he will. Even if he would just replace those shutter things on the upper floor(s) with fake windows or paint them some color besides white it would make a big difference.

Oh no, hate to hear that he has such an attitude--that's not helping him any. How old is he getting to be these days?

Seriously, the building WILL be a beaut one of these days once someone with some sense buys it up. Take this tour of the Vista, courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives & HIstory, and you will see it stands out in its ugly duckling (for now) status:

http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/richlan...40070/index.htm (there are 2 pages of photos)

This site is cool in that it gives the age of each building, although not much else. Some of those buildings are quite ancient. Kudos to Columbia for adaptive reuse!

[krazeeboi]

Wow, a few of those buildings are over 150 years old!

[krazeeboi]

Seven three-story town homes are planned in the unused portion of the Confederate Printing Plant building that also houses Publix. Homes in 521 Gervais will start at $630,000. Construction will start this month and is set to be complete in March. Homeowners will have a front door opening onto the Gervais Street sidewalk and a back door opening into the Publix parking lot.

[CorgiMatt]

To get technical, the back doors will open onto the walkway that lines that part of the Publix parking lot. The reason I bring this up is that already, at breakfast this morning, a couple of people at the table next to us said, "I wouldn't want to live where my back door looked onto the Publix parking lot." I sternly replied, "It's called city living."

[Spartan]

Its about time. Personally, I wouldn't mind being 50ft from my grocery store. That would make my life less complicated.

[BrasilnSC]

This is exciting! I like how the front doors will face Gervais, since that side of the building seems void of life. What a great addition. With City Club almost finished, Lofts at Printer's Square, Brownstones on Pulaski, and Canalside all under construstion, that's a nice increase in residents for the western part of the Vista.

I hope to see something announced for the Kline site soon.

[krazeeboi]

I had actually forgotten that Publix doesn't take up all of the building. I think that it would be preferable if another retailer located in the unused portion of the building, but this is a progressive proposal as well. It will certainly be most convenient to those who choose to purchase a unit there. And I agree, Brasil, about this bringing a bit of life to the Gervais side of the building.

[Captain Worley]

It is going to be really interesting to see how these units sell.

[johnpro318]

I had actually forgotten that Publix doesn't take up all of the building. I think that it would be preferable if another retailer located in the unused portion of the building, but this is a progressive proposal as well. It will certainly be most convenient to those who choose to purchase a unit there. And I agree, Brasil, about this bringing a bit of life to the Gervais side of the building.

In the article, it says that commercial or office can't locate there for lack of parking spaces.

[waccamatt]

To get technical, the back doors will open onto the walkway that lines that part of the Publix parking lot. The reason I bring this up is that already, at breakfast this morning, a couple of people at the table next to us said, "I wouldn't want to live where my back door looked onto the Publix parking lot." I sternly replied, "It's called city living."

Exactly. Imagine how convenient a location that would be? Within a 5 minute walk of dozens of restaurants, credit unions, banks, a grocery store, retail stores, etc. If you worked within walking distance you'd almost never need a car.

[krazeeboi]

In the article, it says that commercial or office can't locate there for lack of parking spaces.

Whoops, I guess I missed that part. Well if that weren't the case, I think retail would be preferable. But I think I read that even with the residential units going there, there's still something of a shortage of parking. Two spaces per unit? I suppose the Publix parking lot could be utilized for extra guests.

[dobboard]

This is exciting! I like how the front doors will face Gervais, since that side of the building seems void of life. What a great addition. With City Club almost finished, Lofts at Printer's Square, Brownstones on Pulaski, and Canalside all under construstion, that's a nice increase in residents for the western part of the Vista.

I hope to see something announced for the Kline site soon.

It still hurts to look at the last set of renderings for the Kline site prior to the project being put on hold. That would (will?) have been one heck of a development.

Edited July 17, 2008 by dobboard

[waccamatt]

It still hurts to look at the last set of renderings for the Kline site prior to the project was put on hold. That would (will?) have been one heck of a development.

Eventually that site will see development. This is an example of how much it hurts South Carolina that all of our big banks were bought out. Who are B of A or Wachovia going to be more likely to speculate on, in terms of inancing, a project in Charlotte or a project somewhere else? The answer is obvious. The Kline project would have been too big for a singular bank currently based in South Carolina.

Edited July 17, 2008 by waccamatt

[MI2SC]

Hey guys,

Long time lurker on the boards here. I don't know if anybody has posted the taste of the south renderings, but they are up now on capitol places website. It's a major improvement for the intersection. If only something happened across Senate St. as well.

Sean

[waccamatt]

Yes, they were posted several weeks ago.

[krazeeboi]

Hey Sean, welcome to the forum!

We were on top of that story as soon as it broke. This will be a wonderful addition to the Vista and will help to establish Senate as something of a "mini-corridor." I've said the same thing about the lot directly across from the site.

[emerging.me]

I missed those Fire Station renderings the first time. Glad you reposted! I'm such a nitpicker... that gaudy signage takes a giant dump on the simple '50s modern architecture.

Edited July 19, 2008 by emerging.me

[BryCola]

Hey Sean, welcome to the forum!

We were on top of that story as soon as it broke. This will be a wonderful addition to the Vista and will help to establish Senate as something of a "mini-corridor." I've said the same thing about the lot directly across from the site.

I heard a juicy tidbit tonight. I had dinner with a buddy of mine that is doing the graphic design for the "Touch of the South" place. He had a meeting with them this week, and they told him that the lot across the street is going to be a "W" hotel. This is pretty reliable info, but I have no idea when an official announcement might come.

[krazeeboi]

Wait a minute, a W? Isn't that a step up from a Westin? That would be awesome. And that would definitely take some of the Hilton's shine away as the convention center anchor hotel, but in a way that's needed since the height restrictions in the Vista didn't allow the Hilton to have as many rooms as it should have had.

I would assume that, with the Hilton only being a year or so old, the Sheraton just openeing, and SpringHill Suites and Staybridge Suites being under construction, this would be a future development...unless there are some plans in the works to expand the convention center and bring more meetings to Columbia or something. Even so, from my perspective (and take that for what it's worth), it wouldn't seem feasible to build a new hotel downtown just yet.

I missed those Fire Station renderings the first time. Glad you reposted! I'm such a nitpicker... that gaudy signage takes a giant dump on the simple '50s modern architecture.

Wow, I actually think it looks pretty tasteful and fitting. But I'm no art or architecture major.