COLUMBIA, S.C. — Across from Anothny Wrifford’s office space is 2221 Devine Street -- a building that sits vacant with a now public parking lot. He remembers just a few years ago when the building was full of office workers.
“It was bustling,” Wrifford said, “every office was occupied. When I left for home, there were still lights on.”
Since then, the city has used the address solely for free parking spaces close to Five Points. However, Wrifford wishes the building was being used to accommodate offices like his.
“There are businesses up and down five points that might like to use those spaces,” he said.
According to City of Columbia District 4 Councilman Joe Taylor, there are many more vacant lots and buildings that the city owns and doesn't use.
“There's a piece of real estate on North Main Street that would make a great neighborhood,” said Taylor. “There’s half-acre lots, acre lots that are owned by the city.”
On Tuesday, Taylor proposed a 5-year plan for Columbia that would focus on selling those vacant lots. He says the next step for the city involves taking inventory of all the vacant or unused spaces. He notes the city will likely hire an individual who will be tasked with deciding how the land will be used.
“That's not a person to be a real estate agent, it's to inventory things we have, get them in front of brokers, in front of developers,” Taylor said.
At Council’s meeting on November 1, both councilmembers Tina Herbert and Will Brennan agreed that the spaces should be inventoried and then used to make more money for the city.
“The fastest and smartest way to grow is by looking within and what we can bring to the table, then getting developers and investors to partner with,” Brennan said.
As for 2221 Devine Street, Taylor says that space could be used to help local businesses too.
“Put that back in private hands,” he said, “and make that a Class A business building to bring day time traffic to support the shops in Five Points.”