County will waive Gonzales Gardens demolition waste fees if city commits funds to project
When Columbia’s oldest public housing development comes down as soon as this fall or early next year, Richland County might allow up to 27,000 tons of debris from the demolition to be dumped for free in the county’s landfill.
The Columbia Housing Authority has asked the county to allow it to dump the waste from Gonzales Gardens without charge. But County Council on Tuesday indicated it will only do so if the city of Columbia makes a definite financial commitment to the project.
If the county waives the $18.50-per-ton landfill tipping fee for the Gonzales Gardens debris, it could forgo as much as $499,500 in revenue.
In addition, the volume of debris from Gonzales Gardens could amount to nearly a year’s worth of material in the landfill, shortening its lifespan, which is currently estimated at 10 more years. The landfill collects about 30,000 tons of waste per year.
However, as much as 70 percent of the 27,000 tons of demolition debris could be separated from the waste and recycled by the county for its own use, solid waste director Rudy Curtis said.
Council members on Tuesday said they will agree to waive the tipping fees for an amount up to 50 percent of Columbia’s contribution to the demolition project, which is estimated to cost more than $2 million, contingent upon the city and the housing authority signing a written agreement with the county.
At the request of the housing authority, the city of Columbia is considering contributing about $1 million from the upcoming year’s budget to help pay for the demolition. But the city has not officially committed any money.
The Housing Authority received the OK from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in December to demolish the 75-year-old Gonzales Gardens complex, located off Forest Drive across from Providence Hospital. There are plans – but no funding yet – for a new $60 million residential development, which could include commercial elements, on the 19.5-acre site.
The housing authority hopes to relocate the more than 600 Gonzales Gardens residents and begin demolition of the 30-building complex by the end of the year.
Reach Ellis at (803) 771-8307.
Other council actions Tuesday
▪ County Council received a closed-door update on the ongoing investigation by the state Department of Revenue into the transportation penny tax program.
▪ Council gave first-reading approval to an ordinance temporarily waiving building permit and plan review fees for flood recovery efforts and waiving business license fees for volunteer organizations assisting in flood relief. After two more council votes, the ordinance will be in effect through June 30, 2017.
This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 9:01 PM with the headline "County will waive Gonzales Gardens demolition waste fees if city commits funds to project."