Exclusive: ‘Mid-rise’ tower planned for Main Street
A Tennessee-based college-housing developer wants to build a residential tower — about 15 stories high — not far from the University of South Carolina’s Horseshoe.
Memphis-based EdR has plans to build a single-tower housing complex with parking near the intersection of Main and College streets.
A company representative said EdR has a contract to buy two properties at the site: a Sandy’s, a downtown Columbia hot-dog mainstay, and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry’s student center.
Representatives of Sandy’s and the Collegiate Ministry did not return requests for comment.
Susan Jennings, EdR’s vice president of corporate communication and marketing, said the deal is not yet sealed.
Jennings did not provide specifics about the development plans, which were not immediately available after office hours from the city Tuesday.
However, sources with knowledge of the project said the tower could be in the range of 12- to 15-stories tall, making the building one of the tallest south of the State House.
John Fellows, Columbia’s planning administrator, said EdR had submitted plans for a “mid-rise” residential facility compared to Columbia’s tallest building – the 25-story BB&T Building at 1201 Main St.
The plan now before the city for consideration also includes ground-level commercial and retail space, a parking garage and a “C-shaped” residential space on top of the garage.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said the deal would be a “significant investment” in the city, possibly in the $60 million range from a “reputable” developer.
EdR’s Jennings said her company looks for properties near robust college campuses to develop into housing projects. EdR has completed more than 30 student-housing projects since 1989, according to the company’s website.
The projects range from sprawling apartment complexes to high-rise towers, including a $64 million, 16-story housing complex built in Austin for the University of Texas’ Board of Regents.
Staff writer Sarah Ellis contributed. Reach Self at (803) 771-8658
Developer eyes Main Street
Memphis-based EdR has completed more than 30 major student-housing projects since 1989 in more than half of the United States, some in partnership with university systems.
▪ EdR owns and operates some facilities; it manages others.
▪ South Carolina is the last Southeastern state for the company to move into, according to a project map on the company's website.
▪ Its projects include The Reserve apartments near the University of Georgia in Athens, and Granville Towers, a facility at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
This story was originally published April 14, 2015 at 8:23 PM with the headline "Exclusive: ‘Mid-rise’ tower planned for Main Street."