Caleb Bozard

Columbia holds off approving 250-home development surrounding elementary school Columbia’s Planning Commission has hit pause on approving a Great Southern Homes subdivision surrounding Annie Burnside Elementary off of Garners Ferry.

Columbia's Planning Commission pushed back a final decision on approving a 243-home subdivision just off of Garners Ferry Road until a later date, amid traffic concerns from neighbors.

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Dozens of new apartments planned just off Columbia's North Main Columbia Housing is planning to demolish and expand the Dorrah Randall affordable housing development, adding dozens of new apartments.

Columbia’s public housing authority plans to demolish and expand an affordable housing complex along North Main Street, as the authority is expected to soon name a new CEO.

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Proposed plans for a 200 home subdivision encircle a Columbia school A developer has proposed a 243-home subdivision off of Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, on a block already occupied by Annie Burnside Elementary School.

A developer is proposing a 243-home subdivision off of Garners Ferry Road and surrounding an east Columbia elementary school.

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Columbia lists first of several downtown properties it hopes to sell, redevelop The City of Columbia has listed two downtown office buildings for sale, along with concepts for redeveloping them into retail and apartments.

The City of Columbia has listed the first two of a series of office buildings it wants to sell for redevelopment. City leaders have published concepts of what they hope new owners will do with the properties.

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Ten years on, Columbia is finally set to begin repairing 2015 flood damage to canal and water supply A decade later, Columbia Water is set to begin work to repair damage to the Columbia Canal from the historic 2015 flood, as well as make improvements.

Columbia's water department has cleared its last federal hurdle to begin repairing damage to the Columbia Canal that nearly crippled the city's water system during the 2015 floods. 

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Residents returning to Cayce neighborhood after chemical leak spurred evacuations A chemical leak at a Cayce, South Carolina, waste management plant forced evacuations of the Midlands city’s Avenues neighborhood.

City officials are allowing residents to return to their homes after evacuations surrounding a Cayce waste management plant.

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‘It just kept raining:’ It’s been 10 years since the 1,000-year flood drowned Columbia Ten years after flooding devastated parts of Columbia and the Midlands of SC, leaders and residents reflect on the destruction and compassion of the ordeal.

From tales of destruction to memories of rescuing neighbors in johnboats, here’s how some local leaders and residents remembered the historic “1,000-year flood” of 2015, 10 years later.

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Misconceptions of a Civil War general’s time in Columbia persist, historians say The burning of Columbia during the Civil War was likely not entirely Sherman’s fault, historians say, despite what many were taught in the 150 years since.

Misconceptions about who or what is to blame for Columbia’s burning during the Civil War are among many that continue to shape how the conflict is remembered across the South, historians say.

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Forest Acres looks to rezone former mall land to make way for redevelopment Forest Acres has taken steps to rezone the former Richland Mall site to make way for plans to redevelop the property into apartments and retail space.

Forest Acres has taken the first step to approve new zoning for the former Richland Mall site, paving the way for new retail and hundreds of apartments on the property.

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Feds considering sale of 2 downtown Columbia properties A federal board is meeting with locals to consider selling the Strom Thurmond Federal Courthouse in Columbia. The buildings could be eyed for redevelopment.

Two federal buildings on Assembly Street could soon be the newest additions to Columbia's downtown real estate market, as the feds look to offload underused buildings and the city is hoping to revitalize old properties.

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Columbia has plans for road improvements along riverfront. Developers aren’t waiting for them. Developers are building apartments and hotels along Huger Street to take advantage of the planned riverfront park, before traffic fixes can be made.

Developers are jumping to build student housing and hotels along Huger Street, taking advantage of Columbia’s planned riverfront park nearby. The growth is coming before road improvements for the park have been made.

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Five Points apartments move forward, threaten to displace church Plans for a 314-unit apartment complex on Gregg Street outside of Five Points in Columbia are moving forward. The plans threaten to displace New Ebenezer Church.

Plans for a five-story, 314-unit apartment complex near Five Points are moving forward. The construction appears to necessitate displacing a local church.

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Scout Motors expands Blythewood facility with new supplier park, promises 1,000 more jobs Scout Motors announced a $300 million expansion to the company’s Blythewood electric vehicle manufacturing plant. It’s expected to add 1,000 jobs.

Scout Motors will invest another $300 million in building a supplier facility on its 1,100-acre Blythewood campus, the company announced Sept. 18.

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Cayce airport hotel controversy leading to neighborhood drainage improvements Residents of the Cayce Churchill Heights neighborhood are getting relief for drainage issues amid a controversial Fairfield Inn project.

Pushback from residents over a controversial Cayce hotel development has led to a neighborhood getting potential relief from longstanding drainage issues.

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'What's that?': A guide to downtown Columbia's construction sites Over half a dozen large construction projects are underway or planned in downtown Columbia. New student housing, hotels and offices are on the way.

Columbia leaders are touting downtown investments as multiple large-scale projects on new housing, hotel and office developments are planned or underway. Here’s the status of some of the most prominent sites.

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City considering selling parking lots near Colonial Life Arena Columbia’s City Council is considering selling two parking lots near USC's Colonial Life Arena and Greek Village to an unknown buyer.

Columbia City Council is considering selling two large parking lots near Colonial Life Arena and the University of South Carolina's Greek Village. The lots have been previously highlighted by the university for development.

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Taller buildings could be coming to the BullStreet District City officials have approved a plan to allow taller buildings in the BullStreet District redevelopment, to rival the Babcock Building near Columbia’s downtown.

A proposal to allow taller buildings in parts of the BullStreet District is moving through city channels, changing existing guidelines meant to keep new development from overshadowing the historic Babcock Building.

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Mexican restaurant, short-term rentals coming to historic building in Columbia’s Vista A historic building on Gervais Street in Columbia’s Vista nightlife district is slated to be converted to a new Mexican restaurant and short term rentals.

A local developer is bringing a new Mexican restaurant and short-term rental apartments to a historic building in the Vista. The development comes as the neighborhood continues to evolve into one of Columbia’s premier entertainment districts.

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Over 100 homes approved for a growing neighborhood, as area schools look to keep up The Cypress Bend subdivision will bring 122 new homes along Columbia’s growing Interstate 20 corridor, as Richland Two schools struggle with overcrowding.

Over one hundred more homes have been approved for a growing area of Columbia along the I-20 corridor, as the Richland Two school district looks to rezone to account for growth in the area.

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More than 300 new apartments proposed in downtown Columbia near Five Points A developer has plans to build over 300 new apartments near Five Points in downtown Columbia. The project would displace New Ebenezer Baptist Church.

A developer is submitting plans for a three-building, 314-unit apartment complex at the intersection of Gervais and Gregg streets, just outside the Five Points neighborhood.

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Long-vacant public housing high-rise in Columbia slated for redevelopment The vacant Marion Street Highrise tower is being redeveloped by a new owner, according to city permits. Columbia Housing left the building in 2021.

The former Marion Street Highrise senior public housing complex appears to be lined up for redevelopment, over four years after seniors were forced to move out.

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Forest Acres wants to limit growth on residential streets. Neighbors are trying to stop it. Forest Acres residents are opposing a zoning change the city says will better protect their neighborhoods from commercial development.

Forest Acres officials are proposing zoning changes they hope will better protect neighborhoods from encroaching commercial development. The neighbors are pushing back against it.

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Construction begins on 200-unit apartment complex at busy riverfront intersection in Columbia Construction has begun on a new apartment complex at the corner of Blossom and Huger streets near Columbia’s Congaree riverfront.

Crews have begun construction on a 174-unit apartment complex at the intersection of Blossom and Huger streets, bringing another apartment building to the busy intersection and gateway to downtown.

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A new Burlington Coat Factory is coming soon to a busy shopping center. Here's where. A new Burlington Coat Factory will open in Fall 2025 on Garners Ferry Road in Columbia SC, in a space formerly home to a Big Lots store near Interstate 77.

A new Burlington Coat Factory will soon open along a busy Columbia corridor near Interstate 77.

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New restaurant coming to former Panera Bread off Forest Drive in Columbia A new Metro Diner is coming to the vacant Panera Bread off of Forest Drive in Columbia, near Fort Jackson and Interstate 77.

The former Panera space off of Forest Drive is slated to host a new restaurant that shares a name with a national diner franchise.

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Lights shine again as nonprofit looks to restore Orangeburg Civil Rights landmark Leaders relit the sign at a historic bowling alley where the Orangeburg Massacre began. It’s a major step in bringing the property back to service.

Congressman Jim Clyburn relit the sign outside Orangeburg's All Star Bowling alley in an Aug. 25 ceremony. The building is being restored to bring bowling back to the city and memorialize the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre.

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Batesburg-Leesville's embattled mayor, 2 incumbents not seeking re-election. Here's who's running. Batesburg-Leesville Mayor Lancer Shull is not seeking re-election amid state ethics violations. Several are seeking his seat in the Lexington County town.

Candidates for Batesburg-Leesville’s mayor and town council say growth and government transparency are top issues going into an election certain to shake up town hall.

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After sitting vacant for six years, city of Columbia sells Five Points building — at a loss City of Columbia, SC lost thousands of dollars in plans to buy and redevelop the 2221 Devine St. office building in Five Points, which it sold in May 2025.

A new office tenant is moving into the 2221 Devine St. office building in Five Points after plans for a hotel and apartments failed. For six years, the city spent thousands on upkeep as the building sat vacant.

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Prominent smoothie chain to open new location in Forest Acres A Tropical Smoothie Cafe location is planned for a Forest Drive shopping center in Forest Acres, SC, anchored by a Lowes Foods.

The City of Forest Acres has approved plans for a new location of a national smoothie chain in a popular shopping center.

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Here's who's running for election in Cayce, Lexington, West Columbia this November Several city and town council seats are on the ballot in November in Cayce, Lexington and West Columbia as candidates tackle growth and transparency.

Several incumbents in Cayce, Lexington and West Columbia are up for reelection this year, with many facing challengers. Here's a look at some of the top races this November in the fast-growing county.

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