There are two new parks being built in The River District, and the Brookland project, at the base of the Gervais Street Bridge, is almost complete.

With the construction of the Interactive Art Park on Meeting Street, and the Enabling Park, near Riverwalk, developers are moving forward with plans for more. 

The West Columbia City Council, Tuesday,  approved project plans to develop about four acres of property in The River District. 

The development will include:: 34 single-family homes. The residences will have one or two parking spaces,  depending on the number of bedrooms, and there will be a pocket park on Herman Street.

Joe Taylor, former South Carolina Commerce Secretary, is the developer. 

According to the plans, drawn by Allison Ramsey Architects, and submitted to the West Columbia Planning Commission: “The recent office and hospitality announcements in the immediate River District) area clearly demonstrate the viability and demand for a class A space with C-3 zoning as proposed on Center Street. These announcements and openings include a craft brewery and beer garden on Center Street (Salvage Craft Ale Works) a new jazz club on Meeting Street (Chayz Lounge)  and several restaurants (Cafe Strudel, Terra, Al’s Upstairs, and Black Rooster)  adjacent or near the new West Columbia municipal parking lot, (Interactive Art Park) all of which are only a short walk from the site.

“These are single-family homes, which will invite small kids,” said West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton. “The new homes will be affordable and adjacent to all the activity in the River District. You’ll be in walking distance of everything.”

The parcel of land is now zoned as Planned Urban Developed, or PUD to be used for a mix of single-family residences and neighborhood commercial uses.  It is bounded by Center Street, Herman Street, Augusta Street, Shuler Street, just off of State Street.

The stipulations for the PUD are: creative site design; improved appearance; compatibility of uses; optimum service by community facilities; and better functioning of vehicular access and circulation.

The development will also contain a commercial building.

“I think this a a wonderful addition to the River District,” said Bill Mooneyhan, a member of the West Columbia Planning Commission. “These houses will attract families and give us a calling card to bring in younger people. They will grow up in West Columbia, like I did. and find out how special our community is. I feel these homes are an investment that will pay off for us for generations to come.

Horton said: “The homes are an example of the momentum that is encompassing West Columbia, and generating excitement, and that is drawing development.”