A Half Billion Dollars in Development Coming to the Vista

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — More than half a billion dollars worth of development is coming to the Vista. Part of it includes at least five ongoing student housing projects with over 3,000 students expected to call the area home. “It’s amazing to know and prepare for what’s coming,” says Sarah Lewis, Executive Director of the Vista Guild. Lewis says this is an exciting time for one of the city’s thriving hospitality districts. “It’s the connectivity piece. It’s the walking, biking, pedestrian style atmosphere that we want to see this, you know, urban-mecca feel to the downtown area,” says Lewis Work is already underway on some of the projects including the Moore School of Business, various hotels, and the University of South Carolina’s Alumni Center. But, not all of the development is from the ground up. The Palmetto Compress building, City Market and the Adluh Flour building, all historic properties, will be refurbished into “high density mix use.” Those buildings will include a mix between businesses, retail, some residences and some dining. Just across Huger Street, we learned this week the old Kline Steel property will also be developed. “We’re kind of filling in our gaps. Right now you’ve got Huger and Gervais kind of open space and so you’re not sure if you feel that you can cross the street and walk to the State Museum and walk to Edventure and walk to our river. When you start putting these developments into place, you really connect the whole city,” says Lewis The South Carolina State Museum’s new planetarium is also part of the development, it will open August 16, 2014. As for the rest of the development projects, we’re told you will see completed projects in the next 1-3 years.