15% into the project, what’s done, in-progress + up next?

With all the recent (national 💁) buzz Cola’s been getting, it’s no secret that our city is on the up-and-up. Right off Bull + Elmwood St. in downtown Cola is the BullStreet Neighborhood, a 20 year, 181-acre mixed-use development project (on the former grounds of the S.C. State Hospital) that plans to be a city within a city: home to the first urban gigabit community in S.C.; local + national retail shops, restaurants + entertainment (zoned for 3.3M sqft of commercial use); residences (zoned for 3,553 units) + more.

So, why the naysayers? Some think development is coming along too slowly + too much taxpayer money is at stake; some cite the current condition of parts of the site; and some ask about those 41 businesses that “were promised” (but: they actually weren’t promised).

However, as of May 2017 (3 years into – or 15% of – the 20-year development), 60% of the site (105+ acres) has been sold or is currently under contract, and $35M+ of private funding has been invested. And last year, Spirit Communications Park generated $806,144 in direct taxes paid.

Here’s a look at what’s already been built at BullStreet + what’s planned for the future. ⬇️

Already done ✅

✅ Bakery at BullStreet || Renovated bakery from the former hospital, home to SOCO community (a.k.a. our house – s/o to our SOCObros + the unlimited coffee – and no, we don’t sell cupcakes here) – which is expanding to fill the entire building this year

Winner of Historic Columbia 2017 Preservation Award (along with that Palmetto Compress we’re obsessed with)

✅ First Base Building || A.k.a. that huge glass building next to the ballpark, home to Ogletree Deakins law firm, Founders Federal Credit Union + soon-to-be home to TCube Solutions software company (target move-in date Fall 2017)

Food trucks visit once per week (it’s lit 🌭)

The FBB is the largest private office building built in Cola since 2009.

✅ Spirit Communications Park || A.k.a. home of the Columbia Fireflies (+ Tebow), named 2016 Ballpark of the Year by BallPark Digest, and a rentable event venue + a public park, open daily (7 a.m.-dark) for running, chilling, etc. when no games/events are happening

The design of the plaza out front is a crescent moon + palmetto tree (state flag, reinterpreted) only fully visible from an aerial view.

The ballpark’s retaining wall is made with bricks from old buildings.

✅ Parker Annex || A.k.a. this renovated building (made with some bricks from old buildings) with a TBA office tenant

✅ 2 miles of brand new roadways + infrastructure with water, sewer, power, gas + internet under the roads

The City of Columbia does not have a financial obligation for roads + parking garages until BullStreet has built commercial uses that needs them – a.k.a. good news for City taxpayers.

Happening now ▶️

▶️ TownPark at BullStreet || 28 luxury townhome community by TerraNova Group + The Moore Co., with 2-3-bedroom townhomes with roof decks, garages + private courtyards, from $300-400K

This is the first residence to BullStreet, to be positioned behind the old Laundry (across the street from the Bakery), next to the Parker Annex

▶️ Merrill Gardens senior living community || 196-unit active senior living facility with rooftop deck + sports bar, 24-hour dining, staffing + scheduled transportation

New construction is in progress now

It’s a $37 million development on $1 million/acre land – a.k.a. a major upgrade.

Coming soon ⏩

⏩ Chef Scott Hall’s Bone-In Barbeque restaurant is opening in the historic, renovated Ensor Building in Fall 2017, which also has room for an office tenant 👀

According to recent stats, there were 16 retail deals in all of downtown Cola in 2016, and just 4 so far in 2017 – one of which is Bone-In Barbeque at BullStreet

⏩ Central Energy Facility will be renovated + house popular, contemporary Downtown Church

⏩ Planned Babcock Building renovation for 190 residential apartments

⏩ Planned 16-acre UofSC Health Sciences campus for new medical school + research center

⏩ Planned 20-acre City of Columbia public park with a pond, dog park, walking trails, playing fields + more

Okay, you’ve read about it – now watch it come to life. ⬇️

Want to see BullStreet for yourself? Come visit us at SOCO or take a long lunch break in the Adirondack chairs at the ballpark. We’ll be here.
-Sam