New houses are going up across the Midlands. These are the latest developments

Hundreds of new homes, town homes and apartments are in the pipeline across the Columbia metro area, from Irmo to Lexington to southeast Columbia.

Here’s a rundown of the major residential projects that have moved through approvals and construction in recent months.

• Shady Grove, Irmo: American Community Developers is seeking rezoning to build 200 apartments, 90 duplexes and 40 single-family homes on 67 acres off Shady Grove Road, with the apartments restricted to affordable housing for at least 30 years. The Irmo Planning Commission approved the project May 11, but town council must still sign off in two separate sessions.

• Neighborhood pushback in Irmo: A petition opposing the Shady Grove development gathered more than 1,100 signatures in less than a week, with neighbors citing traffic concerns near Dutch Fork High School and asking the town to wait for a traffic study before approval.

• Woodland Townes, Lexington: Connelly Development plans 50 town homes — 33 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom units — on nearly 9.5 acres at Old Chapin Road and Snelgrove Road, replacing the 30-unit Lakeland Apartments and the former Jaycee Hut. Lexington town council unanimously approved a first reading April 6.

• Congaree Pointe homes, Columbia: Developers want to build 182 single-family homes on about 44 acres west of Atlas Road and north of Bluff Road, adding to the under-construction Station at Congaree Pointe hub. Columbia’s Planning Commission is considered the subdivision April 9.

• State funding boost: The South Carolina Senate’s $15.3 billion budget includes $3.75 million for the Congaree Pointe development and $5 million for the Congaree Riverfront District in Columbia, plus $2 million for intersection improvements at Sunset Boulevard and Hope Ferry Road in Lexington.

• Monarch Manor, Columbia: Transitions Homeless Shelter has converted office space across from Dutch Square Mall into 11 ADA-compliant senior apartments, with plans to build 44 total units. The next 11 are financed by a $3.2 million forgivable loan from the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund and begin construction in coming months.

• Senior housing demand: South Carolina’s senior population is expected to double by 2030, and a resident relying solely on the federal government’s Supplemental Security Income program would need to spend 122% of monthly income to afford a market-rate one-bedroom, according to a 2025 state report.

• Brighton showdown: Lexington County Council gave initial approval to transfer 200 acres in the Brighton Business and Technology Park to Brighton Capital Partners LLC for a $20 million mixed-use development that backers say could bring more than 2,500 jobs, a library, amphitheater and retail village to the Chapin area. But the town of Chapin currently has a freeze on sewer taps that could slow construction.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.