COLUMBIA, S.C. — Turning the old into the new. Columbia’s Design and Development Commission approved a new boutique hotel to go in the old fire department in Columbia’s Vista neighborhood. An old firehouse stands at Senate Street, a staple in Columbia history and soon to be part of its future.
“So the old Columbia Fire Department is going to be turned into a boutique hotel at some point in the next couple years,” Abby Anderson, the Executive Director of the Congaree Vista Guild said.
The building originally constructed between 1949 and 1951 will become a 60-room hotel, with a restaurant bar that could also serve as a new event space. Due to its historic façade, there will be some strict guidelines for the project. The building is protected under the Bailey Bill, which is a specific set of rules for restoring historic buildings.
“This is on the national register of historic places and so I know Scott Garvin and his team are involved and they’ve done a really great job of rehabbing different properties around the city but a lot of them here in the vista. And there’s a lot that’s going to go into that to try to make it historic,” Anderson said.
While architects and developers focus on the hand-crafted details, residents are focusing on impact.
“What's great about the fact is that we are re-innovating, redesigning repurposing buildings, and any industry that comes to Columbia South Carolina to support our gamecocks,” Brenda Mack said
Others said it’s a unique addition.
“I grew up in Columbia and we didn’t have any boutique hotels when I grew up so how fun is that I would totally stay,” Bev Colombo said.
According to the design proposal, the project will also transform the tower into more hotel rooms.