COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann welcomed the public to Woodland Park for the first of three town hall meetings, where the mayor discussed the state of the Columbia, and what’s next for the capitol city.
“Opening up opportunities for more housing is a big portion of what we’re trying to do. We’re looking around across our city. We need 16,000 units in the next decade. (Currently) there are 2,100 empty lots across our city,” Rickenmann.
Housing was just one of a number of topics that Rickenmann discussed during his address to residents. The mayor said over $2 billion worth of investment is coming to Columbia, courtesy of new development.
“We have well over $500 million worth of development right now, just through September. And if we look at the future with what’s come through the economic development committee, we’re going to have another $1.8 billion coming out in our community,” Rickenmann explained.
Members of the public were able to address their own concerns with the mayor. One gentleman in attendance asked the mayor what could be done about uninhabited homes, whose owners barely skirt by existing ordinances. Mayor Rickenmann said it will take looking at the legalities of the ordinances.
“It’s something that we need to spend more time in. I wish I had a better answer for you, but it’s starting to creep up more and more. I think we’ve got to figure out legally, do we need our state legislators help, or how do we change the system to address those issues, in a timely manner,” the mayor pondered.
Rickenmann said his office is working hard to make the city more walkable.
“(Look at) The greenway. The connectivity when all is said and done and you can go from Granby Park, all the way to the dam and back. And there will be 27 miles of trails that will be connected into the city,” he said.
The mayor said the biggest need for Columbia is resident engagement.
“We need our citizens to be engaged. We need feedback. We need to know when things aren’t being done. We can’t be everywhere and see everything. We need that engagement,” Rickenmann said.
Rickenmann will host a business-focused version of his town hall at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
The next town hall for residents will be Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Busby Street Community Center.