A historic campus near downtown Columbia is about to be empty. What could it become?
The Lutheran Theological Seminary located just outside of downtown Columbia is about to vacate its 17-acre campus along North Main Street.
The Seminary is owned by Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina, which announced earlier this year its intention to leave its Columbia campus by Jan. 1, 2025 and relocate those services to the main campus in Hickory, North Carolina.
“The move will save about $2.1 million per year,” in operating and maintenance costs, the university said in a statement announcing the move.
But what will happen to the large campus once the seminary relocates? The property has not yet been listed for sale, but a spokesperson for Lenoir-Rhyne University said their intention is to “take a thoughtful approach to the sale.”
“We will prioritize a buyer who will utilize the Columbia campus for a similar purpose, such as education or community service,” said Cat Serrin Niekro, Lenoir-Rhyne VP for Advancement and Communications in an email to The State. “We believe this approach will ensure the campus continues to be a valuable asset to the neighborhood and honor its history.”
The campus is nestled between Monticello Road and North Main Street in the Seminary Ridge neighborhood. The seminary’s first building, Beam Hall, was built in 1911. Today, the campus is comprised of more than half a dozen buildings.
Sabrina Odom-Edwards, president of the North Columbia Business Association, said she is optimistic about the site being repurposed in the near future. She agreed with Lenoir-Rhyne’s goal to maintain the campus for an educational use. She added that whatever the campus becomes, she just does not want to see it sit for years waiting for the exact perfect use.
“What we don’t want is an empty space,” she said.
Odom-Edwards added that she hopes the property is sold as one property rather than being broken up into smaller parcels.
This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
