Proposed Columbia apartments would add 800 beds near USC. What we know
A three-structure, 314-unit apartment complex is being proposed for Columbia’s Five Points area. The project, named Gregg Street Apartments, would replace a vacant Richland County government building as well as the New Ebenezer Baptist Church at 1236 Gregg Street, according to information submitted to the city of Columbia’s Planning Commission.
The plans include two five-story buildings, one three-story building and a 6.5-level parking garage, covering a combined area of more than 400,000 square feet.
Developers describe the project as a muti-family apartment complex in the documents submitted to the city, but the plans also specifically tabulate bed numbers for “3 and 5 story student housing.” Student apartments are often rented by bed, rather than by unit. The site plan lists nearly 800 beds across the three structures. The project’s applicant, Chandler Culbertson, told the Planning Commission Thursday that the apartment is being developed as a multi-family complex and is not specifically intended for students.
Overall, the project would create 200 three-bedroom apartments, 53 two-bedroom apartments and just over 60 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Other amenities planned for the apartments include a courtyard and pool.
The new housing would sit just down from existing student apartment complex The Station at Five Points, which sits at the corner of Harden and Gervais streets.
If approved, the major development would transform the section of Gregg Street between Gervais and Washington streets, as well as the section of Lady Street between Gregg and Laurens streets. Much of the surrounding area is currently undeveloped or vacant. But the New Ebenezer Baptist Church remains active, and has held its Gregg Street location since at least 1980, according to property records.
The State has contacted the New Ebenezer Baptist Church for more information about the development plans, and where or if the church would relocate.
The church also owns property on Crawford Road, just north of Interstate 20. Among those properties are roughly two-dozen single family homes and an 80-acre undeveloped lot, which the church has owned since 2008.
The plans submitted to the city also include seven identical letters of support signed by area property owners. Those letters state that the signees support the apartment development because they believe the project “will bring meaningful benefits” to the community, including “increased housing options … additional customers and foot traffic … [and] positive momentum for continued investment” in the neighborhood.
Columbia’s Planning Commission will consider the project’s application at a regular meeting Thursday.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 1:56 PM.
