Historic Landmark Getting Facelift

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C., —

It’s been a cotton processing plant and a self storage facility and with interested investors city leaders say it won’t be long before the Palmetto Compress building gets an overhaul.

Mayor Steve Benjamin held a news conference Tuesday afternoon announcing plans to turn the now vacant brick structure to a high end hotel, retail space, restaurant space, and lofts. Mayor Benjamin says not only will the move help attract more people to the Vista, but it will also generate more money for the area.

The goal is to maintain the structural integrity of the century old building while utilizing it’s rich history.

It’s been an issue met with criticism from some area business owners who initially expressed angst over the use of money generated from the city hospitality tax to purchase the property. An issue Mayor Benjamin addressed head on.

“when we voted to save this historic landmark there were plenty of people who said it was a waste of money…The value of this building adaptively reused I think it will exceed anything that could be put on this dirt in lieu of this building.”

City officials say there are several investors are currently interested in the property. The project could be completed in as little a two years.