Columbia, SC urban transformation projects 2025

Columbia continues to transform with varied urban development plans, with projects focused on integrating new housing, improving public spaces, and enhancing city infrastructure. The State has followed the city's development trends closely through the first half of 2025.

A new townhome in West Columbia, South Carolina on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 1: VACANT LOT NEAR A COLUMBIA COLLEGE SET TO BECOME NEW HOUSING. WHAT TO KNOW

The project would hold up to 16 families, according to plans filed with the city of Columbia. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

The Gervais Street bridge spans the Congaree River on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 2: FINALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE? CITY ENVISIONS PARK, APARTMENTS, DINING ON COLUMBIA RIVERFRONT

Columbia leaders know the city isn’t taking full advantage of the three rivers running alongside it. A new project could help change that. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

The cupola of the historic Babcock Building at the former South Carolina State Hospital before it was destroyed by fire in 2020, left, and the restored cupola on the same building in the BullStreet District that was renovated into apartments. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 3: A DECADE IN THE MAKING: HOW COLUMBIA’S BULLSTREET DISTRICT IS GOING FROM DREAM TO REALITY

As apartments multiply and restaurants announce on the sprawling BullStreet site, the University of South Carolina’s planned new medical school could take the project to the next level. | Published February 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

A sign is posted on a vacant lot in Columbia’s Lower Waverly/Martin Luther King neighborhood where the city of Columbia will soon help build a new home. It is part of a project the city is leading to build new homes on vacant lots across Columbia. Feb. 26, 2025. By Morgan Hughes

NO. 4: COLUMBIA IS BUILDING NEW HOUSES ON THESE LONGTIME VACANT LOTS. WHO ARE THEY FOR?

Columbia is providing $2.2 million to build the houses in a historic city neighborhood | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

Fans make their way down George Rogers Boulevard before the Gamecocks’ game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on Saturday, November 4, 2023. By Sam Wolfe

NO. 5: 200 RENTALS PLANNED FOR SPOT NEAR USC STADIUM. RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT LACK OF SIDEWALKS

The new residential project would replace offices that were once home to The State newspaper. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

The former site of the Midlands Arts Conservatory has been targeted for new apartments for senior veterans. By Provided

NO. 6: NEW APARTMENTS FOR SENIOR VETERANS PLANNED ACROSS FROM BUSY COLUMBIA PARK. WHAT WE KNOW

The developer plans to invest $1.2 million into the new Columbia apartments. | Published March 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

Formerly a state office building, the City of Columbia purchased 2221 Devine St. in 2019 for $3.8 million, but attempts to redevelop the site have fallen through. Now, the city is again hoping to sell the building. By Provided

NO. 7: COLUMBIA PLANS A $2M SALE OF VACANT FIVE POINTS SITE. WHAT WILL IT BE?

Columbia purchased the property for almost $4 million in 2019. While the city once envisioned it becoming a hotel, it’s now preparing to sell it at a loss. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

Paul Lindley and his son, Ezra Lindley, 5, look at the mural that artist Ija Charles is painting at 1401 Main Street 4/6/21 By Tracy Glantz

NO. 8: HOW WILL TWO NEW COLUMBIA HIGH-RISES IMPACT AN ICONIC MAIN STREET MURAL?

The 180,000 square foot artwork painted in 2021 commemorates Columbia’s Black business district on Washington Street, active during segregation. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

Renderings for planned apartment towers on Columbia’s Main Street, 22 floors for student apartments and 26 floors for market-rate apartments. Developer Core Spaces, which also did The Hub across the street, is behind the project.

NO. 9: SEE RENDERINGS FOR NEW HIGH-RISE HOUSING TOWERS ON COLUMBIA’S MAIN STREET

The project would fill a current parking lot in downtown Columbia. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

The city of Columbia wants to build something on nine acres of undeveloped land along where the next leg of the Vista Greenway will be located. By Morgan Hughes

NO. 10: COLUMBIA HAS 9 ACRES OF SPACE ALONG A FUTURE GREENWAY. WHAT SHOULD IT BUILD?

Among ideas from Columbia residents on how to give the mostly empty property new life are building housing and attracting a grocery store. | Published May 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

NO. 11: COLUMBIA CONSIDERING 6 DESIGNERS FOR RIVERFRONT PARK. SEE THEIR PAST WORK

The proposed park promises access to Columbia’s untamed riverfront. Designers vying for the project have shaped hundred-million-dollar developments in major U.S. cities. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

The Piggly Wiggly on Devine Street was also known as the “Social Pig.” By Tracy Glantz

NO. 12: FORMER ‘SOCIAL PIG’ GROCERY SITE IN COLUMBIA SELLS FOR $7M. WHAT WE KNOW

The Columbia property was home to a Piggly Wiggly supermarket for decades. Now a well-known developer has purchased the site. | Published May 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

Developers are planning a historic renovation of former Whit-Ash furniture properties in Columbia’s Vista neighborhood, all of which are historic landmarks tied to early 20th century Columbia.

NO. 13: HISTORIC COLUMBIA FURNITURE STORE TO BECOME LUXURY LIVING, DESTINATION DINING

The three Columbia properties are all over a century old and most recently housed Whit-Ash Furnishings. | Published June 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Morgan Hughes

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.