Historic Congaree Vista Developments

[Spartan]

Its not particularly interesting, but its a solid design with street level retail. Looks good to me. Its quality infill.

[BrasilnSC]

I like it......it's simple, yet different. I love the large windows. Thank God it's not red brick.

[krazeeboi]

^Ditto on the red brick!

[krazeeboi]

A few shots from 12-25 (practically no traffic = good for taking pics)

SpringHill Suites

Lofts at Printers Square

Lady/Lincoln St parking garage

[waccamatt]

The Springhill Suites isn't looking as bad as I expected; at least it isn't stucco like most suburban motels.

[Spartan]

So its not taking up the entire block. That rendering was wrong. Thanks for snapping those pics Krazee

[krazeeboi]

Yeah, I'm glad that it's an all-brick facade. The hotel's massing was grossly exagerrated in the renderings. I wish something (shops, a restaurant) could have filled in the rest of the block along the Lady Street side.

Is it just me, or is it hard to believe that the Lofts at Printers Square is actually getting built?

I like the way the garage is turning out. Having commercial space on both sides is a really good touch, although I doubt that the uses on the Washington Street side will actually be commecial.

Another shot of The Pizza Joint:

I had no idea Club Fusion got some new makeup. I actually like the new getup:

It was a pink/rose color before:

[Spartan]

Wow it looked better before the paint job.

[waccamatt]

Fusion is now called "Ice"; I saw the sign when I drove by last night. I have no idea if it's still a gay bar, but judging by the new paint job, I suspect it isn't.

Edited December 29, 2008 by waccamatt

[emerging.me]

That new paint scheme for "Ice"... whatever it is... is EXTREME!! Wow. I am all for funkiness, but that is sort of nauseating. When did you take the pic?? I have an office right down the street and hadn't noticed the change -- don't see how I could have missed it!

Re: Lofts at Printer's Square... Yes, I am in disbelief that the project is actually moving forward. I don't believe any of the units have sold, but I did some asking around... There are apparently VERY DEEP pockets behind the project, so even in the current lending climate there was nothing that was going to stop the thing from going forward. I have a developer friend who jokingly says that it's going to be more of a sculpture than a residential structure. I have no doubt that it'll be pretty to look at, but it's also sort of a microcosm for all of the issues I have with Columbia's downtown renaissance.

[CorgiMatt]

The black accents I can live with. The red has got to go. Apparently color is not part of what has to pass muster in the Vista, or they painted it without permission, thinking it's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. I rode past and saw indications that it is no longer a gay bar, that the clientele has changed. Bright red brings out people's tempers, and I'm afraid it will become a hot spot in a bad way. All that notwithstanding, the building now screams to the point of separating itself visually from everything else in the Vista.

[johnpro318]

Fusion is horrible looking. One thing that I hate more than anything is painted brick. I think it also against Vista regulations.

The Lofts at PS, however, are exciting. I love the height it adds to that area. You can see it from pretty far up the street.

[krazeeboi]

I like Fusion because it breaks up the monotony in the Vista. I like brick, but there needs to be a bit more architectural diversity in the Vista.

[BryCola]

I like Fusion because it breaks up the monotony in the Vista. I like brick, but there needs to be a bit more architectural diversity in the Vista.

I road by Fusion at lunchtime today, and I actually don't mind the red and black brick. Very unique.

[Spartan]

If the red were darker.... say a more "garnet" color, then I could get into it. But whatever, I guess it adds some variety. Its definitely a building you'll remember.

[digital_sandlapper]

I wouldn't be surprised if the proprietors of Ice are told to paint over the garish red with a more subtle color. It is a bit too out there, IMO.

I am glad to see the neglected building get some attention, however. The inside is more upscale, a vast improvement over the nasty, sticky carpet, and overwhelmingly trashy Club Fusion. I wish this new urban nightclub much success . . after they tame the paint job a bit, that is!

[digital_sandlapper]

I just remembered what the new paint job reminds me of: Gerald's Tires, a chain in the Charleston area painted garish reddish-orange and black to stand out amongst the suburban landscape.

It might be okay for a loud service station in the slummier parts of a city, but this paint scheme is certainly NOT appropriate for the Vista.

[krazeeboi]

The opinions here about the new paint job here certainly run the gamut. At least there's something now worth talking about in the Vista from an aesthetic standpoint.

[scguy88]

What is going to be put into the building behind Wild Wings at the corner of Washington Street (I think it used to have a gym)? Whatever it is, the renovations look to be pretty far along and looks like restaurant/bar space.

[dobboard]

I rode by club Fusion last night and to be honest, I am on the fence as far as the new pain job is concerned.

It does add some variety to the Vista, but the bright red may be a bit much.

[CorgiMatt]

The opinions here about the new paint job here certainly run the gamut. At least there's something now worth talking about in the Vista from an aesthetic standpoint.

IMO there is a lot positive to talk about aesthetically in the Vista, and that building's new color ain't it.

[krazeeboi]

^Well, change "now" to "new" then.

[CorgiMatt]

^Well, change "now" to "new" then.

What do you mean?

Edited January 1, 2009 by CorgiMatt

[krazeeboi]

I'd said, "At least there's something now worth talking about in the Vista from an aesthetic standpoint." Change it to "At least there's something new worth talking about in the Vista from an aesthetic standpoint."

[krazeeboi]

Per The State, the new parking garage at Lincoln and Lady is now open for business, and the plans for the office/retail structure fronting the garage along Lady have been approved. The article also says that the city