Pressure Washing in Huger, SC

Two highly-visible, long-time vacant lots on Columbia’s Huger Street have since 2023 been slated to see new development, but so far, nothing has been built.

So where do those projects stand today?

Plans for a 250-unit, seven-story apartment tower on a 2.5-acre portion of the former Kline Iron and Steel property are moving forward. Site plans for the project have been approved, and Trinity Partners earlier this week announced the sale of that property to Silver Hills Development is now final.

But building permits for the project have not yet been issued, the city of Columbia confirmed.

“Because of that, we do not have a confirmed timeline for construction to begin,” a city spokesperson said.

The State has contacted the project’s developer to learn more about the construction timeline but did not immediately hear back.

It’s unclear what the status is for a separate project next door at the former SCANA bus garage site. In 2023, a $100 million apartment project dubbed Huger Flats was approved to receive tax incentives by Richland County. That project is set to take up nine acres on the former bus garage property across the street from The Nine student apartments. It’s also expected to include new sidewalks, a pocket park and a 643-space parking garage. The city of Columbia said it has no information on that project.

The State has reached out to Stratus Property Group, the entity listed on the county tax incentive documents, for more information.

New development on Huger Street has boomed in recent years: one new hotel at the corner of Huger and Gervais streets is now operational. A separate hotel project at Senate and Huger streets is also underway. Student apartments on either side of the Blossom Street intersection are also currently under construction.

The Greene Street bridge project, which connects Greene Street to Huger Street, was finished in Dec. 2022. Another road project is in the works between Huger Street and the Congaree River.

That road project will extend the currently dead-ended Williams Street between Blossom and Senate streets, and city leaders expect it to lead to more development near the Congaree riverfront.

Once that roadwork is finished, the city plans to build a “world-class” park on the river’s edge. The City of Columbia is currently considering several high-profile designers for that park.

The property, located at 101 Blessing Lane and previously owned by the des Francs family, consists of two adjoining parcels totaling approximately 628 acres. It was acquired by OSI and Berkeley County in November for $15.2 million, made possible in part by the generous bargain sale offered by the des Francs. Over the next two years, OSI will hold a portion of the property and lease it to the County, eventually donating the entire property to the County.

The project is being funded by the Berkeley County Greenbelt Program, established through the One Cent Sale Tax referendum voters approved in November 2022, along with the following additional partners:

“The Blessing Property’s iconic Southern landscape in the Cooper River Historical District makes it an ideal space for a Regional County Park. To preserve and protect this land from development and make it available for public access is a huge early success for the Greenbelt program and Berkeley County residents.” – Nick Yoder, Berkeley County Greenbelt Program Director

“Many conservation-focused partners collaborated on this initiative, and Berkeley County was proud to be one of them. We are excited to gain ownership of this large acreage, showcasing our rich history and rural character. Berkeley County remains committed to investing in the County’s Greenbelt Program, preserving our beautiful spaces and expanding recreational opportunities for all.” -Johnny Cribb, Berkeley County Supervisor

Blessing Plantation boasts one mile of waterfront property along French Quarter Creek, close to where it feeds into the East Branch of the Cooper River. It also has an existing dock and four dwelling structures—one of which is a historic mid-19^th century home. The larger parcel is primarily wooded with access roads and a historic African American church and adjoining cemetery.

“The protection of Blessing is a triumph for conservation, community, and history. By working together, we are saving an ecologically vital landscape and creating new ways for people to connect with nature and South Carolina’s heritage. The new county park will be a place where families gather, wildlife thrives, and future generations learn the tremendous value of conservation and environmental stewardship.” – Nate Berry, Chief Land Protection Officer, OSI

“The Cooper River stands among the rare places in America where aesthetics, history, and ecology come together in such a remarkable way. With growth pressures mounting in the greater Charleston region, we have a limited window to ensure these irreplaceable places endure.”– Raleigh West, Director, SCCB.

Nearly 200 acres of the property were previously protected by a conservation easement held by the Lowcountry Land Trust.

“Blessing is a testament to what can be achieved when communities, landowners, and conservation organizations unite around a shared vision. We are proud to play a role in ensuring that this ecologically vital property will remain protected and accessible for all.” – Matt Williams, President and CEO, Lowcountry Land Trust

“The des Francs family bought Blessing Plantation in 1987, initially as a timberland investment. Our late mother, Louise, chose to turn the property into a family home where over the years we have enjoyed family gatherings, holidays, weddings, christenings and a celebration of her life. Our family essentially has had the honor of being the stewards of this beautiful historic property for roughly forty years. The family is no stranger to conservation projects. With the creation of the Francis Beidler Forest in Four Hole Swamp in 1974, the designation of the Congaree National Monument in 1976, and the addition of several ongoing large landscape mitigation projects on the nearby Fairlawn property, the family’s conservation footprint currently amounts to roughly 10,000 acres, with more to come. We would like to thank the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Open Space Institute, the Berkeley County Greenbelt Program, Lowcountry Land Trust and American Forest Management for making this significant conservation project come to fruition. We are delighted that Blessing Plantation will now be open for recreation and enjoyment of the public. We are especially thrilled that Berkeley County has agreed to name the main house after our beloved mother, Louise Carton Colas des Francs.” Edouard des Francs

Berkeley County plans to make the property a passive park and likely use an existing historic structure as an event space.

The County will solicit public feedback and create a master plan prior to any finalized plans for the property.

Few places in America boast the historic, cultural, and environmental riches of the Cooper River corridor. An immense 48 square miles in size, the area has been shaped by the industries, historic preservationists, faith-based organizations, natural resource agencies, private landowners and conservation groups that have worked for more than three decades to permanently protect nearly 60,000 acres. This work forms an almost unbroken 30-mile protected corridor on both sides of the East and West branches of the river.

While much has been accomplished, the corridor’s unprotected properties still face intense development pressure. Until now, Blessing Plantation had been one of a handful of remaining critical unprotected properties, leaving the character and integrity of the Cooper River Historic District at risk.

Founded in 1974, the Open Space Institute (OSI) has been a partner in the protection of more than 2.5 million acres in the eastern U.S. OSI’s Southeast office, established in Charleston in 2014, has been a partner in the protection of more than 210,000 acres across the Southeastern United States, the vast majority of which will be open to the public. Visit OSI online at openspaceinstitute.org/southeast.