New 100-Room Hotel Approved for Columbia’s Vista

In Columbia, the Vista neighbourhood will soon see a new addition to its burgeoning cityscape – a multi-story, 123-room hotel on the intersection of Huger and Senate streets. This development venture has recently secured the green light from the city’s Design and Development Review Commission after contention over access points to the hotel’s parking zone.

City’s Approval and Requests

This forthcoming hotel, which was first proposed in 2020, received an initial nod from the city authorities in November. However, property ownership was transferred thereafter and the new developer has spent some time revisiting the project through city channels. In June 2021, the Design and Development Review Commission gave its approval conditional to the removal of Senate Street entrance to the parking area. Nevertheless, the developer appealed to the commission to review this decision, asserting that eliminating this entrance would pose impracticalities to the development.

Traffic Concerns

Considering the requirements of The State Department of Transportation concerning the installation of a concrete divider on Huger Street, this would preclude right-turn access into the parking area. As per the project’s applicant, the elimination of the Senate Street entrance could add to the area’s congestion and arguably detriment traffic management.

The Commission then approved the plan with the Senate Street access by a 4-1 vote. It had previously approved the parking access via Huger Street. However, this proposal met with discontent from certain residents of the nearby City Club neighborhood and a member of the commission who voted against the project citing pedestrian safety concerns on Senate Street due to the additional access.

Details of the Planned Development

The hotel’s blueprint includes a lobby, a fitness centre, and a dining area accompanied by a covered patio on the first floor. Also, the structure will provide room for 121 parking spaces within a surface lot. While initially, it was conceived as a five-story building with 130 rooms, the current design had to be revised due to various considerations.

The site, purchased by Huger Senate Hotel Associates in 2021 for a total of $2.2 million, included two vacant lots and a commercial building which was subsequently levelled.

Revitalizing the Innovista Design District

The prospective hotel contradicts some elements of the city’s proposed long-term plans for the Innovista Design District. The city envisions streets in the district, including Senate Street, to be redesigned to accommodate more pedestrian and bike traffic, while directing vehicles through existing major thoroughfares like Huger.

The construction of this hotel forms part of ongoing initiatives to advance urban development in the city, particularly close to the Congaree river, and is expected to contribute to businesses and pedestrians alike. Despite some concerns voiced by nearby locals, the steady growth in Vista promises to enhance Columbia’s profile as an increasingly vibrant place to live, work, and visit.