New housing, public art plaza planned in Columbia’s BullStreet corridor
An $80 million housing project and an outdoor art plaza could be coming to the BullStreet area.
A proposal would grant the developer public infrastructure credits from Richland County in exchange for the development of new market-rate housing, as well as the construction of a nearly $20 million, 682-space parking garage and the creation of a public art plaza.
The art plaza would be 25,000 square feet, include a public “art walk,” and connect to an on-site art gallery, according to county documents. The project also includes the addition of 87 street parking spaces.
In addition to the $80 million for housing, the art and parking features are estimated to cost more than $22.5 million.
Tampa-based developers Framework Group will lead the project, according to a BullStreet spokesperson. That group has constructed housing across Florida, as well as a new project in Spartanburg called The Charles.
The Framework Group did not immediately respond to a request for more information Wednesday.
It is unclear exactly where the new housing and art gallery would be built. The document meant to identify the land the project will be built on had been left blank as of Wednesday morning.
The development will be inside or near the massive BullStreet restoration, according to county documents, which say the new parking garage is estimated to be 40-45% full with BullStreet’s eventual retail and restaurant customers.
The proposal passed through Richland County’s economic development committee and will be considered by the County Council, likely at its next meeting, July 26.
Neither County Councilman Paul Livingston nor the county’s director of economic development immediately responded to requests for further information.
The ongoing BullStreet redevelopment has included the construction of the minor league baseball stadium Segra Park, new townhomes and parking structures, and hundreds of new and upoming apartments including the massive Bennet at BullStreet and the renovation of the historic Babcock Building.
Retailers like REI and restaurants like Publico are already staking a claim at BullStreet, which is expected to become a bustling downtown commercial hub when the dust finally clears.
This story was originally published July 20, 2022 at 11:32 AM.
