ORANGEBURG, S.C. — 761 Russell Street is currently home to the Orangeburg Pecan Company, but there is a proposed housing development that might be moving in.
On Thursday, a Georgia-based development company proposed that the Orangeburg City Planning Commission rezone the property to be able to build a multi-family housing complex.
The planning commission approved that request. However, there are many steps before this idea would become a reality. City council needs to have three readings before it could be passed.
City Administrator Sidney Evering says there is a need for a variety of housing in Orangeburg.
“We certainly hope there is going to be more investment downtown. That’s the plan in terms of revitalization. We want condos, apartments, we want people living in our downtown so it will be vibing and thriving,” Evering said. “We have a tremendous need for housing, market rate, work force, affordable, all the above, particularly work force housing to target our young professionals, teachers, law enforcement, folks that are maybe just starting out. So, we welcome all housing developers to look at Orangeburg.”
Evering says having options for those who work in Orangeburg is a top priority.
“We did a housing study where over half of the housing stock in the city of Orangeburg was built prior to 1980,” said Evering. “And so again we have a tremendous need for housing across the board, not just affordable but workforce market rate housing because a lot of folks that work in Orangeburg live outside of Orangeburg, and we want to make sure they have opportunities to live where they work and play.”
City Council has called a special meeting at 6 pm on Thursday April 24 for the first reading.
