Innovista

[krazeeboi]

Although this is not directly related to Innovista, I thought this bit of news would best fit here. A hydrogen fueling station to service a fuel-cell bus that will debut in Columbia next year and a fleet of hydrogen-powered cars the following year could be under construction soon near the city

[digital_sandlapper]

Surely you jest. Blossom St near the river...

Oh, yeah--duh! I love that place, how could I have forgotten it?

[Captain Worley]

Digital, maybe you were more familiar with the building under the previuos owners

I make sure I bring that up to my wife every time we go there.

[Zihuatanejo]

Nice article on Innovista. It's hard not to be optimistic after reading this. It states that Columbia has "a continuum of innovation unlike anything else in the Southeastern Innovation Corridor."

[krazeeboi]

Even more interesting is that the write-up is the result of a visit to Columbia from a Greenville delegation. It pays for all of our cities to know what's going on in other areas of the state. Sometimes inspiration and good ideas can be found in your own backyard.

[krazeeboi]

Taken 9/1

Horizon block:

Biomedical block/Discovery Plaza:

[digital_sandlapper]

Digital, maybe you were more familiar with the building under the previuos owners

I make sure I bring that up to my wife every time we go there.

No, I just had a momentary lapse . . that's what happens when you get old . . . I go there a lot to eat, so shoulda known.

I do remember it being a bar many years ago that didn't last very long (the kind you tease your wife about). That was not the first tennant for the building though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was originally a Pizza Inn. Does anyone remember what Millennium was originally?

[waccamatt]

The building was originally Stadium Steak House and was open for years.

[Captain Worley]

Yep, Stadium Steak House was originally where the Biscuit House is now, but the opposite end of the building. Then it moved to where the Millenium Buffet is now. I'm pretty sure they moved in the mid-seventies.

Has anyone figure out what is going behind the Millenium yet?

[CorgiMatt]

Here's a nice piece of news for Innovista's research campus, for Columbia's knowledge economy, and for USC's standing with the Carnegie Foundation as a university of "very high research activity."

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7029722

[krazeeboi]

That's a pretty large grant.

[BrasilnSC]

I don't know if this pertains to Innovista, but I'm sure it's a USC project. There is some construction happening on Sumer St, behind the 300 Main engineering building and next to the machine shop. Any one have a clue??

Edited September 6, 2007 by BrasilnSC

[CorgiMatt]

I don't know if this pertains to Innovista, but I'm sure it's a USC project. There is some construction happening on Sumer St, behind the 300 Main engineering building and next to the machine shop. Any one have a clue??

That area is where the USC school of dance is supposed to be relocating to. There were some issues with the soil or something like that that had to be worked out. There also might have been some delay because of the budget, but that general area is where it is going.

[Firefox]

That area is where the USC school of dance is supposed to be relocating to. There were some issues with the soil or something like that that had to be worked out. There also might have been some delay because of the budget, but that general area is where it is going.

I am not sure if that is the school of dance but I do know for a fact the new band hall (to replace the buildings on main)will either be or will also be located at the same location. The building next to the band hall called UTS Annex will relocate offices into the new Horizon center (insider information), from the power plant to wheat street will be leveled, unknown what will take its place, the Sumter street parking deck UTS main and the corner power plant will remain.

Edited September 8, 2007 by Firefox

[BrasilnSC]

Very cool. Thanks.

[CorgiMatt]

Now we know what will be built on the corner of Assembly and Pendleton streets.

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/174088.html

[krazeeboi]

Boooo...something more significant should be built there. I'm disappointed.

[CorgiMatt]

I've thought all along that whatever was built there should not be very high, because from the Blossom Street Bridge angle we can't have anything blocking the view of the capitol dome or competing with it on the skyline. I'm glad to know it will be on a scale to avoid that clash.

[krazeeboi]

It's not so much the height for me; it could have been the same height as Carolina Plaza and I wouldn't have had a problem with it. I just wish it were at least another research-oriented building, a building whose purpose actually fits in with Innovista.

[CorgiMatt]

Since the building will be the gateway to Innovista from the north, and since it likely will house the offices of advancement and market media or whatever the article says, I think the location is appropriate and should look good. And as far as the alumni aspect of it is concerned, the higher profile should help immensely with USC's fundraising efforts.

[krazeeboi]

I have no doubt that it will be aesthetically pleasing.

Now if only something significant would come to the old Heart of Columbia motel site...

[waccamatt]

I have no doubt that it will be aesthetically pleasing.

Now if only something significant would come to the old Heart of Columbia motel site...

I'm hoping if occupancy rates at the Hilton are high, that another mid to high-end hotel will build in that location.

[krazeeboi]

Given its proximity to the convention center, the Hilton will pretty much be a self-sustaining hotel. The Hampton Inn already had one of the highest occupancy rates in the chain even before the convention center was built. I think in a few years, another hotel within close proximity to the convention center would be feasible.

[Spartan]

Is the HOC motel not part of the Innovista mass rezoning?

[krazeeboi]

I thought the area targeted for the blanket rezoning had Huger as its eastern border. It didn't stretch as far as Assembly, I know that much.