Man-made beach, lagoon & hundreds of new homes moving ahead in this Columbia neighborhood
Two years ago, developers promised to build a beach and a man-made lagoon somewhere in Columbia. Now, the plans are moving forward.
A six-acre planned housing community is being built north of Interstate-20, at the intersection of Fairfield Road and Crane Church Road. More than 1,000 new homes are planned for the new Oak Hills subdivision, which would sit adjacent to the existing Oak Hills Golf Course.
The beach and lagoon would be south of the golf course. The beach will span 1.5 acres and the lagoon will be roughly 3 acres. The private equity firm Broadstreet is leading the project, and is partnering with the Miami-based company Crystal Lagoons for the beach portion of the development and Contender Development for the housing.
Another 1,000+ homes are part of other subdivisions planned by Contender Development around the new lagoon.
“The Crystal Lagoons at Oak Hills will provide exceptional, safe and enjoyable recreational spaces for all ages,” said Broadstreet President Joseph Baldassarra in a statement Wednesday. “We’re excited to create a destination that will not only enhance the quality of life for residents but also become a focal point for the entire region.”
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has approved permits for the project, and construction on the lagoon is expected to begin in early 2025, according to a press release.
Tennis courts, a kids’ zone, a “wedding peninsula,” waterfront restaurants, shopping, water sport rentals, a park and a luxury hotel are also part of the project plan, the release notes.
When Broadstreet announced the lagoon project two years ago, it said it could build up to three Crystal Lagoons in South Carolina. Columbia’s would be the first.
Crystal Lagoons touts itself as an eco-friendly company, writing on its website, “by having an idyllic beach close to home you won’t need to take an airplane or travel by car to a distant beach thereby lowering the carbon footprint.”
This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 11:51 AM.
