How I Go Columbia: Fred Delk
Fred Delk has served for 19 years as executive director of the Columbia Development Corp., which has worked for the past 30 years to develop the Congaree Vista and the south Columbia area of the city.
In that role, Delk has dealt with a range of projects, including upscale commercial and residential development. Most recently, the corporation purchased and sold the 100-year-old Palmetto Compress Warehouse, a 320,000-square-foot mill property that will be renovated into a mixed-use historic preservation project. Other CDC projects include Columbia’s Governor’s Hill, Vista Commons Apartments, the Publix grocery store and the renovation of 701 Whaley.
Numerous organizations have recognized Delk and CDC for their work.
EAT: The Columbia food scene is always getting better. Locally owned restaurants are developing top-notch chefs, and organic and locally sourced food and dining culture is making its creative mark on the Midlands. My favorite restaurant is always Motor Supply in the Vista, especially for a business lunch – great food and a daily changing menu. Comfort food at Yesterdays in Five Points is an old family standby. We also have fun offerings for international food – Spice Junction and Delhi Place for Indian with my daughter Audrey. I really like watching the young families and children on Friday nights at Casa Linda.
PLAY: My wife, Elaine, and I are always on the hunt for art and antiques. We stop nearly every weekend in West Columbia at the antique malls. The Vista has so many great artists and galleries – most of them are personal friends, so those are fun stops. Vista Nights on each third Thursday, I always end up at Lewis and Clark to see what kind of lamp or robot Clark Ellefson has created and have a glass of wine. My favorite yearly event is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Five Points. All of goofy Columbia goes by in an hour – from the Kudzu Queens, local media, beauty queens, the drill squad power drills, kids and the politicians, you can see it all in one fun event.
LISTEN: I am excited to see Jackson Browne at The Township coming up in January. James Taylor at Colonial Life Arena was one of the best shows of recent memory. When the choir from Charleston sang, the audience was truly moved. It is great that Columbia is getting more national acts and local music. I like to see an occasional show at Art Bar or New Brookland Tavern or at the Unitarian Universalist Coffee House. I am proud of local young bands like Toro Y Moi and always enjoy the annual Jam Room Festival. We have a surprisingly good music scene in Columbia; we should build on it more.
DRINK: A glass of wine is great. I am no wine connoisseur, so even inexpensive works for me. In Columbia, a lot of new opportunities are available – brew pubs, micro-breweries, tasting rooms and distilleries. I am really excited about the rehabilitation of the historic Curtiss Wright Hangar at Owens Field for the new Hunter Gatherer Brewery. Copper Horse Distillery brings vibrancy near the river and shows off a cool old building in an area where arts will bring the first part of development to this part of the river.
SEE: I love showing off our accomplishments and the $1.3 billion in new development downtown. Historic preservation and the unique community that we are developing makes for a great place to live. The new students living downtown have created a fun and vibrant atmosphere. The river is our greatest future asset. Columbia is getting great, and the next few years, it will be even better.