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Hasn’t he had that chance already? Lol But of course now he has a full term. We’ll see.
I saw no basis for the optimism expressed in this fluff piece of journalism. I'm not aware of any previous civic involvement unless you count housing ordinance violations resulting in thousands of dollars in revenue for the City of Columbia. Maybe since he has made millions from student rental properties, he might want to enhance his legacy and pay back his hometown as well as his alma mater with some major developments like these other governors did for their hometowns.
I saw no basis for the optimism expressed in this fluff piece of journalism. I'm not aware of any previous civic involvement unless you count housing ordinance violations resulting in thousands of dollars in revenue for the City of Columbia. Maybe since he has made millions from student rental properties, he might want to enhance his legacy and pay back his hometown as well as his alma mater with some major developments like these other governors did for their hometowns.
Yeah agreed, he’s given no reason to hope for any preferential treatment. If anything, I expect him to double down on the Rock Hill and Lowcpuntry-Upstate strategies since manufacturing is his strongest base.
Yeah agreed, he’s given no reason to hope for any preferential treatment. If anything, I expect him to double down on the Rock Hill and Lowcpuntry-Upstate strategies since manufacturing is his strongest base.
Henry is like the dog that’s been chasing the UPS truck his whole life. Now that he’s finally caught it, he doesn’t know what to do with it.
He has never been much of a leader so I don’t really expect that to change. It’s a shame, his heart is in the right place but he just lacks the courage to bring about meaningful change.
I really like the idea of incentivizing new mixed income housing. Places that require a percentage of affordable housing often have an alternative contribution mechanism whereby developer can just contribute to the Housing Authority Trust Fund. This doesn’t solve the problem, it just finds more Section 8 housing (which causes major NIMBYism). They also generally have enough built-in demand that the requirement won’t harm new construction.
Columbia of course is not in this position. Mo Baddourah’s argument that we should incentivize conversion of existing inventory is flawed because:
1. It’s difficult to repurpose market-rate apartments to affordable apartments since rental periods often end in different months. The conversion period would be very long,
2. Introducing affordable housing to an existing property may change its marketability, and
3. The management companies most interesting in converting would likely have the least desireable property.
Columbia does not seem to suffer from the issue of overbuilding, so this seems like a great way to attract new development and get private developers to solve part of the affordable housing crunch.
I wonder if it would be cheaper or more feasible to relocate the track that runs thru North Columbia/Eau Claire and close the track that runs through USC Five Points by building a double track in the middle of 277? both tracks could enter the medial of 277 near Fontaine Road and travel in the median down to Palmetto Richland right before it turns into Bull Street then divert back into the existing track that runs over North Main and around Elmwood Park and into the below grade corridor in the Vista. I have no idea if it is possible from an engineering perspective but it would move both tracks out of residential and commercial areas and by putting it in the highway maybe you could eliminate some of the "red tap" since its already a noxious use that exist today. There are RR tracks in Highway medians all over the country.. seems like this would be an appropriate place with the proper safety walls and dozens of at grade crossings would be eliminated
That's a great idea. I wonder if the overpasses are tall enough to allow rail underneath? The biggest challenges (besides the funding) would probably be right of way for the connections. Once you get into town, there's not much undeveloped land....
Henry is like the dog that’s been chasing the UPS truck his whole life. Now that he’s finally caught it, he doesn’t know what to do with it.
He has never been much of a leader so I don’t really expect that to change. It’s a shame, his heart is in the right place but he just lacks the courage to bring about meaningful change.
I really like the idea of incentivizing new mixed income housing. Places that require a percentage of affordable housing often have an alternative contribution mechanism whereby developer can just contribute to the Housing Authority Trust Fund. This doesn’t solve the problem, it just finds more Section 8 housing (which causes major NIMBYism). They also generally have enough built-in demand that the requirement won’t harm new construction.
Columbia of course is not in this position. Mo Baddourah’s argument that we should incentivize conversion of existing inventory is flawed because:
1. It’s difficult to repurpose market-rate apartments to affordable apartments since rental periods often end in different months. The conversion period would be very long,
2. Introducing affordable housing to an existing property may change its marketability, and
3. The management companies most interesting in converting would likely have the least desireable property.
Columbia does not seem to suffer from the issue of overbuilding, so this seems like a great way to attract new development and get private developers to solve part of the affordable housing crunch.
Agreed..contributing to a trust fund of sorts or offering incentives for substandard complexes to make improvements in exchange for remaining affordable while increasing the quality of the housing stock would be a good idea.. There are a half a dozen or so problem substandard complexes that could stand to be improved and remain affordable.. At the top of the list is Carver Village on Beltline and "bethel bishop" that is behind Carver along 277.
I am also a little surprised that the City doesn't try to incentivize industrial development. There are a couple of industrial parks near I-20 and I-77 that at in the city that could spur new investment that could provide jobs for residents of these new affordable housing developments. Rehabbing or building complexes near jobs, shopping and along transit routes is critical.
I also wonder if this would be helpful to Columbia Place Mall? They don't need those large oceans of parking any longer.. And, if Richland County did in fact acquire those anchor stores before the fall of their Renaissance Plan it could provide an incentive for someone to potentially take it off of their hands and develop it into a tax revenue generating property. Columbia Place could become a mixture of retail, light manufacturing, and housing.. but it may need to be annexed first.
I can’t remember which post it was under, but someone mentioned a Starbucks going next to the new Circle K off exit 101. Well there’s now a sign up for what going along with the Starbucks. An East Bay Deli.
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