WATCH: Columbia Mayor on what’s next for Bull Street Project

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – The Columbia Fireflies are filling seats at their brand new Minor League Baseball Stadium. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said the project, which was mostly paid for by the city using $29 million dollars, was finished on time and on budget.

The stadium is just phase one of one of the largest land deals in Columbia’s modern history. The retail phase of the “Commons at Bull Street” starts to take shape this summer.

Benjamin said developers are sinking $300 million dollars to make it happen. They need to fill 400,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Benjamin said out of about 90 spaces, several dozen leases have been signed.

“Lots of shops that are going to make a lot of people happy here, and maybe some people unhappy,” he said. Benjamin says those range from local businesses, to major national chains, many of which are not yet located in the state. He says the public should know who they are by July.

“The feedback we’re getting from the developer is that people are excited about being there,” Benjamin said. “So if there’s some place you think you might want to be, on the front end, I’d encourage people to reach out.”

It’s the city’s job to make sure the developers follow the terms of their agreement, but other than that, Benjamin said he’s confidant developers will follow through on signing high-quality tenants.

This development was aggressively debated before city council narrowly pushed it through. The mayor said since the baseball stadium has come to fruition, he’s heard from former critics who say they’re impressed.

The overall project is projected to take 20 years. Less than two years in, and Benjamin said 54 percent of the property is contracted out.

The next big challenge for council, Benjamin said, is figuring out how to connect Bull Street to the historic district, city center and through the Vista.