The Station at Congaree Pointe: New mixed-use development set to revitalize Bluff Road

columbiasc.gov/columbia-empowerment-zone-announce-bluff-atlas-road-improvement-project/

A mixed-use development designed to transform the Bluff Road corridor

Earlier this week, Felicia Maloney, Executive Director of the Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc. (CEZ), Councilman Will Brennan, Columbia Mayor Pro-Tem, Sen. Darrell Jackson, and others provided the Bluff/Atlas Road community with a project update for the Station at Congaree Pointe. Announced earlier this year, the Station at Congaree Pointe is a mixed-use development designed to transform the Bluff Road Corridor. This development is led by the Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc. (CEZ) and is historic in nature as it involves city, county and state government as well as community-based non-profit organizations.

The Station at Congaree Pointe is a city-county-state-partnership that will serve as a catalyst for community activity and economic growth along the Bluff Road corridor. The project will be located on a parcel at the intersection of Bluff and Atlas roads.

Conveniently located just off Interstate 77 and four miles south of Williams Brice Stadium, this area is a gateway to Congaree National Park, South Carolina’s only national park.  This new, phased development will enhance the Bluff/Atlas Road area, and improve a main corridor into the City of Columbia.

Richland County will build the County’s newest Magistrate’s Office and a Sheriff’s Substation. This will be a 7,930-square foot facility.

Plans are being made for the new Municipal Court building and the Columbia Police Department’s Southeast Region Headquarters to be built on Bluff Road. The municipal court building will be a 35,078-square foot facility and CPD’s Southeast Region will be 11,530-square feet.

A federally qualified healthcare center under the auspices of Cooperative Health will be a major component of this project. A 15,000-square foot, state-of-the-art family health care center will be built to include primary health care, OBGYN, pediatrics, dental, and behavioral health services, as well as a pharmacy.

The Marketplace at Congaree Station is a multi-use 15,000-square foot building that will provide access to fresh foods while supporting food related entrepreneurs. The marketplace will look to offer regular access through sale of fresh fruits and vegetables, potentially through a farmers’ market. The building will also offer lower cost access to food entrepreneurs and food truck operators. This marketplace will contain five shared commercial kitchen stations.  Food truck operators can also receive access to secured parking, grey water disposal, and grease recycling. Lastly, the building will also have some type of cafe or restaurant space.

All of these buildings comprise Phase One of The Station at Congaree Pointe.  The Station at Congaree Pointe will also have community walking trails, and there is the possibility of installing an electric car charging station.

This project is made possible due to a collaborative effort between the City of Columbia, Richland County and the State of South Carolina, as well as local non-profit, community-based organizations.  The partnership is historic and will serve as the linchpin to future improvements and the redevelopment of the Bluff Road corridor.

Construction for the Station at Congaree Pointe is scheduled to begin in February of 2025.