It’s the weekend before Christmas and West Columbia is in a festive spirit thanks to a very good year for many.

The city is on pace in 2018 to record an 80 percent increase in the number of business licenses it issues.

“It has been a super busy year,” said Melissa Sprouse-Browne, who owns the Real Estate School of South Carolina, South Carolina Realty and The Marketing Division, in West Columbia.

“I’ve had five closings (homes sold) in the month of December,” she said. “Five closings in a month is always good, but it’s especially good for December.”

She also said West Columbia is a desirable location. And some of the big projects the city has embarked upon, are helping draw people.

“The home values in West Columbia are on an upward trend,” said Sprouse-Browne, who is the chairwoman of the West Columbia Beautification Foundation.

She said she was recently showing a house to a man in the New Brookland Mill Village. He told her that West Columbia’s new enabling park, that will be completed in 2019, is what drew him to the area. West Columbia has also broken ground on an interactive art park off of Meeting Street. The multi-million dollar Brookland complex opened in 2018, too. It will be completed in 2019.

“There’s just a lot of energy in West Columbia,” said Bill Mooneyhan of Mooneyhan Auto Repair in Triangle City. He said he is excited about the possibility of a Tax Increment Financing plan that would spur more investment for improvements to Triangle City, which is based on 12th Street, flanked by The Avenues.

Mooneyhan also said his business is growing at a rapid pace.

“We are finishing our third record-breaking year in a row,” said Mooneyhan. He expects to hire more people, and expand his building in 2019.

“We are attracting a lot of new people to West Columbia,” said Mooneyhan. He is on the West Columbia Planning Commission and the West Columbia Beautification Foundation Board.

“When I go to functions now, about half the people I see attending are new faces,” said Mooneyhan. “They are young, and there are couples coming. They like the location, the lower cost for services and the direction the city is moving in. This is the best side of the river.”

Sprouse-Brown said she sees a revitalization movement going on in West Columbia.

“People want to get in on the ground floor,” she said.

The exuberance in the community was apparent at the West Columbia Tree Lighting ceremony that was held Dec. 7, at the West Columbia City Hall. When it was over, the grounds of City Hall were glowing with the bright spirit of Christmas. And city leaders are aware of what is happening.

“I feel the city is moving in a direction that is unprecedented,” said West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton. All of the feedback I get is underpinned with an excitement and hopefulness that is uplifting. In this Christmas season, I feel very thankful for all that has taken place this year. And I really think the new year, 2019, will have even more good things in it for West Columbia. We have a lot of good people who work for the city, and our residents are the best. I’m also exited about the people choosing to move here. They know what we know. West Columbia is an excellent place to call your home.”

Because of the good year, and the positive direction of the community, both Sprouse-Browne and Mooneyhan are looking forward to a warm Christmas.

“At Christmas, I am most blessed,” said Mooneyhan. “It’s been a great year, and I believe it will just get better. West Columbia is truly where I want to be, and I feel real good about the future.”