Chicago developer still ironing out plans for high-rise apartment on Assembly Street

A Chicago-based developer is still working to bring a high-rise apartment tower to Assembly Street in downtown Columbia, despite withdrawing its plans before the city’s design panel last week.

Chris McKee, president of Clayco Realty Group, told The State newspaper the developer is “absolutely not” backing out of plans for the 260-unit, $70 million project, proposed for a site next to the Richland County Public Library’s main branch.

Clayco has missed the deadline to request design approval in January from Columbia’s Design/Development Review Commission, but the developer can give an informational presentation to the panel then.

McKee said the developer still is ironing out design issues for the project, called The Edge, with city planners. He would not say which specific aspects of the design still need to be addressed.

“We’re going to go when we’re ready, and we’re not quite ready yet,” McKee said.

City planners in November listed in the design panel’s agenda documents a “number of design concerns that need to be addressed” with the proposed 600-bed complex.

Those included a “jumbled pattern of windows” and “minimal detailing” on the building’s upper facade, city planners wrote.

McKee in November said Clayco is considering changing the window pattern, shortening the building from 14 stories to 12 and adding “texture and character” to designs for the project.

McKee said he expects the building will probably be filled primarily with students. He said a parking garage included within the complex could have up to 300 spaces.

McKee said the developer has not yet decided whether to apply for Columbia’s 10-year, 50-percent property tax break for new apartment buildings, which ends Dec. 31.

The credit has spurred a number of new apartment projects in Columbia, including several aimed at college students.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 12:26 PM.