COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland County Council has a regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7. The agenda contains at least five items of interest, three of which are codenamed projects featuring millions of dollars in investment by the county and yet-as-unnamed businesses.
What is known
Project Wichita will be a conventional multi-housing development located at 1409 Huger St., in Columbia's Vista District. The 5.88-acre site is the former SCANA Bus Depot adjacent to the South Carolina State Museum. According to information included on county council's agenda, this project represents an investment of $90 million for items such as
- the addition of a 643-space parking garage and 42 surface parking spaces
- relocation of utilities -- sewer, water and electric lines
- added sidewalks and area lighting
- a "pocket park" at the corner of Huger and Washington street
Should this project move forward, it would be the second housing development in the Vista area to be approved in the past year. In January, Columbia's Planning Commission approved a two-hotels and apartment combination to be built on the block bounded by Gervais, Wayne, Gadsden, and Pendleton streets.
Project Siquno is a $66 million proposed commercial development that would create market-rate housing. Since this is a first reading on the project, not many details are available -- mainly the address. However, certain items on the project's $7.5 million public infrastructure budget include public surface parking, public parks and walking paths, and water/sewer/stormwater improvements and impact fees.
Project Charlie Echo is described as a $16.5 million investment to expand an existing manufacturing facility and creation of at least 100 new, full-time jobs in the area.
In addition to these three codenamed projects, Richland County Council will also discuss approval of development of approximately 575 acres along Bluff Road at Longwood Road for the creation of a southeast industrial park; and the selective demolition of the former Dillard's location at Columbia Place Mall on Two Notch in order to facilitate the move of SS Departments of Social Services (SCDSS) and Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).
