No takers (yet) on prime downtown location

The sign outside of the building along Assembly Street states that the former Veterans Administration Regional Office Building is on the auction block. The GSA Auctions site, handling the sale for the US General Services Administration, shows no bidders as of yet.

The building is described as having 85,000 rentable square feet on 0.677 acre at the corner of Assembly and Laurel. GSA Auction lists a minimum bid to start at $750,000.

There are covenants attached to the property in that the building, which some developers seek out because it brings a uniqueness to a property. The Veterans Administration Regional Office Building is considered to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as it is Columbia’s most intact example of mid-century modern architecture, being completed in 1951.

The artwork on the front of the building is a site-specific piece created in 1952-53 by Edmond Amateis, a Beaux-Arts trained sculptor, that depicts a theme of Agriculture featuring Thomas G. Clemson (yes, THAT Clemson). The granite sculpture is considered to be part of the building and must remain and be maintained at the current location.

Inside, according to property details listed at the auction site, “spaces on the upper four floors feature an open floor plan with stucco covered terra cotta tile partitions. Original solid core wood doors with glass or louvered sections and metal hardware are present throughout the building.”

Interested parties can tour the building 1-4 p.m Wednesday, Dec. 6, and 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Dec.7.

This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 4:15 PM with the headline "No takers (yet) on prime downtown location."