Orangeburg Developments

[SimCity]

Hmmm, interesting. Both cities are also centers of higher education in their states as well. Orangeburg's advantage though is that it has connections to both Columbia and Charleston, the state's two largest cities.

That's true, Orangeburg has a decided advantage in being almost directly on the main east to west artery in the state and near one of the major interstate interchanges on the east coast. Of course Statesboro isn't too far from the I-16/ I-95 interchange either.Statesboro is 62 miles and 126 miles respectively from the nearest "large" cities of Savannah and Macon while Orangeburg is 75 miles from Charleston and 41 miles from Columbia. This is from one city center to another so the actual mileage is less when you're talking about traveling far enough to reach the metropolitian edge of a larger city. Funny, now that I think of it, I have seen a similar occurance in Orangeburg where there has been a siginificant increase in the number of medical offices near the Grove Park? shopping center. Overall, it looks like Orangeburg would have an advantage over Statesboro, especially in proximity to cities that are prospering economically.

[SimCity]

There was an interesting article in today's Times and Democrat about Orangeburg mayor Paul Miller pushing for more aggressive annexation.

Personally I hope that the city is succesful and onging with this. I have always wonder why the city limits were so constarined and why hadn't the city annexed the Prince of Orange mall/ Wal-Mart area and the I-95/ Hwy. 601 interchange area. Would it be worthwhile for a resident of Orangeburg county to be annexed into the city?

[krazeeboi]

The city definitely missed out in not capturing the Prince of Orange mall to Wal-Mart corridor. Look how much has come to that area in recent years. I posted a link to an article about a study that was done in Orangeburg that hightlighted aggressive annexation; it's on one of these pages. I'm glad that Miller is up to task here.

[krazeeboi]

Oh, we've got some GREAT news coming out of Orangeburg. After being vacant for nine years, the old Winn-Dixie building on Russell Street (the city's Main Street), and arguably the worst downtown eyesore, is set to become a restaurant/bar and retail outlet. 8,000 square feet of the 24,000-square-foot building will become the Garden City Restaurant. The restaurant will be complete with a dining courtyard (Palm Court Plaza), bar and small state-of-the art conference room for business gatherings and small parties.

In the projects second phase, an additional 8,000 square feet will be utilized for a retail outlet, where local artists will be able to rent space to showcase and sell their wares. Individuals will be able to rent about 600 square feet.

Fledgling business entrepreneurs John Campbell and his wife Deserie looked at various buildings in Orangeburg for more than a year before choosing the Winn-Dixie facility because of its size, its proximity to the colleges and universities and the ongoing downtown revitalization plans.

You guys don't know how happy this makes me. I've been brainstorming about what could be done on that property for a long time. Next time I go back home, I'll get some shots so you guys can see what an eyesore it is now and why I'm happy about the change. I especially like how these entrepreneurs, originally from Brooklyn but relocating to and retiring in Orangeburg, are citing the proximity Claflin and SC State universities as a significant factor here. About time urban development in Orangeburg was tied into the presence of the universities!

Woo hoo!

[Spartan]

Thats great news for Orangeburg. I look forward to your pics

[krazeeboi]

I just thought about something. Right across from this property is an old hotel which seems to have been constructed sometime in the 1920's or 30's and is one of the tallest structures in town. Perhaps the building could be rehabbed as apartments catering to the artists.

Picture by UrbanSoutherner:

[BrasilnSC]

That is really great news for my former home town. Is the Winn-Dixie building next to the bowling alley?

[krazeeboi]

No, but it's only a little ways down from it (less than a quarter mile).

[krazeeboi]

Some progressive news coming out of my home county.

The county is stepping up its efforts to demolish dilapidated structures. Step one was to create a crew specifically for demolition and cleanup activities. Until now, the county used public works crews, but only when their regular duties slackened. Step two will be for County Council to pass a set of ordinances giving the administration the legal tools needed to enforce the building codes.

This is welcome news, as this has historically been one of the county's week areas. Eliminating blight goes a LONG way in improving civic pride and decreasing potential criminal activity. I know of one house that has been dilapidated for many years now next to my grandmother's house, and I'm hoping that it will come down soon.

Also, the county is enforcing zoning for all unincorporated areas. The sticking points that remain include:

[Northerner]

Hi guys,

In July 2006 I have moved me and my business to Orangeburg County. I live in one of the small towns between Orangeburg and Columbia. I kind of like both Columbia and Orangeburg, although I do most of my shopping and business in Orangeburg cause it's a little bit closer to me than Columbia. I think the summers here are very hot, but not as humid as I was expecting.

I like the location of where I live, - it's between Savannah, Charleston, Columbia and Aiken/Augusta, and, of course, Orangeburg. In the wider sense Orangeburg county is about half way between New York City and Miami (545 miles to Miami and 627 miles to NYC).

By the way, Orangeburg county looks like a dog facing South-East, with dog's nose in Eutawville, dog's eye in Santee, dog's mouth in Holly Hill, dog's heart in Bowman, dog's ears in Elloree, stomach in Orangeburg, and, "unfortunately" the dog's peppermint in the town of North... well... that's where I live... :-)

My decision was taken solely and purely because of the cost of local real estate. I could find a nice, big house for very affordable dollar. I hope it works out for me and for the county as well, since I do an international business in over 200 countries of the world.

I believe in the Location and in the long term I notice South Carolina is developing into some kind of California of the East Coast.

John

Edited August 22, 2006 by Northerner

[krazeeboi]

Wow, welcome to UP! It's good to have someone recognize the strengths of my home county. I, too, think its location is pretty great--not too far from Columbia or Charleston, and from my parents' house in the southern end of the county I can get to Jacksonville in 3 hrs. and Charlotte in about 2

[SimCity]

Welcome to South Carolina and Orangeburg County Northerner. I live in Eutawville on the other end of Orangeburg County from you. I hope you enjoy the area as much as we do and that your business will continue to prosper from this location.

[SimCity]

Appearently the Santee real estate market is up picking steam according to this article in the Orangeburg Times and Democrat Sunday edition. I live ten miles from Santee and have a second job there and have noticed the rapid growth between Santee and Elloree. The area is really starting to come into its own. They are even building what appears to be a large office park near the intersection of Hwy. 301 and Hwy. 6

Who knows what Santee will look like in 10 or 15 years? Incidentally, the real estate agent interviewed for this article, Buck Travis, sold me the home I now live in back in 2002.

Edited August 27, 2006 by SimCity

[krazeeboi]

Santee is an underrated place and is one of the state's bright spots on the I-95 corridor. I know that many retirees are really drawn to the place. I imagine it will gain in popularity even more among "halfbacks."

[SimCity]

Santee is an underrated place and is one of the state's bright spots on the I-95 corridor. I know that many retirees are really drawn to the place. I imagine it will gain in popularity even more among "halfbacks."

I completely agree with you and you are probably right about the "halfbacks". Especially with Florida starting to "fill up" as they say and becoming increasingly congested and costly.

[SimCity]

The same NIMBYS who prevented Disney World from landing in Santee and helped defeat the proposed Cherokee Casino are now working hard to derail the inland port at Santee. I guess the prospect of decent paying jobs with a reasonable commute of less than 30 minutes is just asking for too much in a county with a 10% unemployment rate. According to the article the property will be able to house warehouses, a trucking facility, as well as manufacturing, and distribution facilities. The article also includes a map detailing the extension of Hwy. 301 to Hwy. 6 and a connector hwy. from the docking facility to Hwy. 6

Edited October 5, 2006 by SimCity

[krazeeboi]

This thing NEEDS to be built. I understand the residents' concerns, but in the end, Orangeburg County needs this. Will it be a magic bullet regarding high unemployment levels in the county? No, but it sure will help--a lot.

[Charleston native]

The same NIMBYS who prevented Disney World from landing in Santee and helped defeat the proposed Cherokee Casino are now working hard to derail the inland port at Santee. I guess the prospect of decent paying jobs with a reasonable commute of less than 30 minutes is just asking for too much in a county with a 10% unemployment rate. According to the article the property will be able to house warehouses, a trucking facility, as well as manufacturing, and distribution facilities. The article also includes a map detailing the extension of Hwy. 301 to Hwy. 6 and a connector hwy. from the docking facility to Hwy. 6

Wow, when will these people ever learn? I hope some of my relatives who live there are not part of this current movement. Krazee is right, O-burg badly needs this to bring jobs to the area. The absolutely insane gaffe of preventing Disney World should've clued people in by now that NIMBYism of this extent will significantly hurt your community in all aspects. Prevention of this development will only make the situation worse in their area.

[SimCity]

Well, when you look at the concerted opposition to the port expansion over the past three years in a more "progressive" and cosmopolitian place like Charleston than you can hardly expect any better from a rural area like this part of Orangeburg county. There's wasteful projects like the "Clyburn Connector to nowhere" and than there are projects with actual merit like this one.

[krazeeboi]

Unfortunately, the inland port idea proposed by CaroLinks has been nixed. The lengthy permitting process for the development wasn't economically feasible for the startup company. Instead, the company will proceed with plans to build an industrial park near Santee in eastern Orangeburg County.

[Spartan]

I guess thats bad, but I am still not clear on how it would be useful to have this. You still have to get the cargo on to barges, which would require a terminal of some sort in Charleston. I assume there are locks of some sort going up to Lake Moultrie and Marion? I say Beef up Charleston some more, and expand Georgetown to make it more useful. I would make more sense to do this around Monks Corner, or maybe Kingstree (using a different river!).

I applaud this company for wanting to take some trucks off of I-26 though.

[SimCity]

I guess thats bad, but I am still not clear on how it would be useful to have this. You still have to get the cargo on to barges, which would require a terminal of some sort in Charleston. I assume there are locks of some sort going up to Lake Moultrie and Marion? I say Beef up Charleston some more, and expand Georgetown to make it more useful. I would make more sense to do this around Monks Corner, or maybe Kingstree (using a different river!).

I applaud this company for wanting to take some trucks off of I-26 though.

The inland port/industrial park is not dead just the idea of using barges due in part to the forgotfulness of some people that the Santee-Cooper Lakes were originally designed for industrial uses not recreation. I.E. the existence of the locks on both lakes. Carolinks plans to continue with the inland port and focus on I-26 trucking and rail usage. It will probably be siginificantly cheaper to build a railyard from scratch than to build a new port terminal on Lake Marion from scratch. The company plans to purchase property near Santee in January and break ground in late February. This information was obtained from the Orangeburg Times & Democrat.

[tombarnes]

Is the Russell Street Inn still operating as a hotel, or is it apartments now?

[krazeeboi]

The Russell Street Inn is currently vacant. I would LOVE to turn that building into apartments. I don't think the demand for a downtown hotel is there yet (although with a little vision and some elbow grease, it could be).

[Captain Worley]

^Does O-burg try to get any Civil Rights tourists, being the site of the O-berg massacre? It is kind of grisley, but an important part of the history of SC.

Edited January 12, 2007 by Captain Worley