A new 4-star hotel and apartment complex could be coming to the Vista
What could be the largest hotel in the capital city, along with nearly 200 new apartments and an underground parking garage, could soon be built near the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
The proposal from longtime Columbia developer Ben Arnold’s Arnold Companies comes several months after Arnold’s plans for a much larger project in the same location fell through.
The massive project, dubbed Vista Depot Hotels and Apartments, is the latest attempt to add hotel rooms around the convention center. Arnold’s proposal would entail a 301-room hotel, a 183-unit apartment complex and a 380-space subterranean parking garage.
It would see the first-of-its-kind dual-branded Hyatt House and Hyatt Centric hotel built at the intersection of Gervais and Wayne streets in downtown Columbia’s Vista district. Arnold is hoping to build a 4-star, full-service hotel and says when finished, it will be the largest hotel in the capital city.
The California-based architecture firm Kollin Altomare Architects is also involved in the project.
Arnold had previously been in talks with Columbia and Richland County leaders for a much larger project that would have involved expanding the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center along with constructing three luxury hotels and a massive parking garage.
That project had an estimated value of $511 million but relied on city money to expand the convention center and city and county assistance on paying back the cost of building the parking garage.
That deal fell through when Richland County leaders balked at the cost of the parking garage after several months of back and forth.
Arnold’s new proposal is still a massive development for Columbia. The hotel portion of the development promises roughly 10,000 square feet of rooftop restaurant and bar space with a retractable roof for indoor and outdoor options.
In addition to the 301 new hotel rooms the project aims to develop, Arnold also plans to build 183 market-rate apartment units behind the hotel modeled after another of his projects, The Palms apartments.
“We feel like Columbia can handle more of that kind of housing,” he said of The Palms, which opened on Lady Street in April. Arnold said that project has been successful, with tenants ranging from empty-nesters to downtown workers.
The proposed apartment complex, called The Residence at Vista Depot, would be on the southwestern portion of the property, facing Wayne and Pendleton streets, and offer studios and one and two-bedroom units.
A pool terrace, yoga studio, fitness center and dog spa would also be included in the apartment building.
A 380-space garage would be built to support the apartments, the new hotel and Vista traffic in general. The garage would be below the new apartment complex, Arnold said.
Just behind the apartments, the University of South Carolina is developing another student housing complex at 737 Gadsden St. That combined effort will also see Wayne and Pendelton streets improved, Arnold added.
Construction on the Vista Depot complex could begin in early 2024, though Arnold says high interest rates and rising construction costs may delay the project. Still, he said he is positioning himself to move forward.
Between the hotel, apartments and parking garage, Arnold says the project will create 1,600 construction jobs and 160 permanent jobs.
Arnold said his previous plan for the trio of hotels to support the convention center would have benefited Columbia more, but “that opportunity went out the door.”
He believes the new project will still be an economic engine for Columbia while providing something the city doesn’t currently have: a full-service 4-star hotel. He added the hotel may still help support the convention center.
The city’s Planning Commission will consider the proposal at a Jan. 12 meeting. The city’s Design/Development Review Commission also will consider the project at a Jan. 19 meeting.
It’s unclear how Arnold’s proposal could impact future plans to expand the city’s convention center.
When expansion plans were still on the table, the state gave the effort $9 million. Later, when the deal fell through, Columbia had to return the money.
Arnold owns about 12 acres around the convention center, and his new project will be built on about 6 acres.
Local leaders have been split on whether an eventual convention center expansion is still in the cards. At least some local leaders still want to see it happen in the near future.
This story was originally published January 4, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
