Cason Development Group adds Historic Columbia Awards

Two projects by Cason Development Group, one of Columbia’s fastest growing real estate developers, were recently honored with 2023 Preservation Awards from Historic Columbia. These continue a string of Preservation Awards for Cason Development Group.

The adaptive reuse of The Klondike Building at 1813 Main St. was the winner in the Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration category, and 2901 Rosewood Drive, the residential transformation of the former Rosewood Church, was the winner in the Revitalization category.

“We are thrilled to have our work recognized by Historic Columbia for the preservation of these unique buildings. Our teams spent a tremendous amount of time and energy on these projects making sure they were restored appropriately while making them attractive to new residents and commercial users,” said Frank Cason, president of Cason Development Group

These were the fourth and fifth Historic Columbia Preservation Awards for Cason Development Group since the firm’s founding in 2015. Earlier awards were:

• 2020 Preservation Award Adaptive Use for 2144 Sumter St. — The former Dave’s Transmission Shop was transformed into office and restaurant space. The property is currently home to Cason Development Group, Closet Factory Showroom, and Il Focolare Pizzeria.
• 2018 Preservation Award Adaptive Use for 2238 Sumter St. — The 12,000- square-foot building, the home of Dunn Electric Co. from 1945 until 2000, now houses Indah Coffee, Circa Barber Shop, Carolina Pottery and Columbia Printing and Graphics.
•  2016 Preservation Award Adaptive Reuse for 1209 Franklin St. – Home of the popular restaurant The War Mouth, the building was adapted form a former auto repair shop and storge facility. The project was Cason’s first adaptive reuse project and the first in the Cottontown neighborhood, whose commercial area has seen tremendous revitalization thanks to the efforts of Cason Development Group.

The Klondike Building restoration converted the former office building into 28 market rate apartments. The building is owned by Cason Real Estate Holdings and Cohn Corporation, and was a joint project of Cason Development Group and Cohn Construction Services. Davis Architecture was the project architect and Rogers Lewis the preservation consultant.

Originally built in the 1970s, 2901 Rosewood Drive was home to Rosewood Church until 2019, when Cason Development Group purchased the property for redevelopment. Garvin Design Group was the architect and preservation consultant, and Boyer Commercial Construction was the contractor. Now known as 5th & Sloan, the church building and attached education building were turned into 49 new apartment units. An existing building, across Sloan Street from the church, was converted into retail space, soon to be home to Masa Mexican Street Food and Rosewood Family Dental, and an adjacent retail building houses a Starbucks. Three short-term rental apartments are above the new retail building and are available for booking.

Each year Historic Columbia celebrates Preservation Month through an awards program recognizing notable examples of preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration projects that have maintained or added to Columbia and Richland County’s historical, architectural, and cultural heritage.

5th & Sloan Exteriors

The 1813 Main St. and Rosewood projects also received 2022 Golden Nail awards from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce earlier this year. The Golden Nail is given to a business or property owner “for exemplary contributions to the physical character of the greater Midlands
through cosmetic or commercial means such as restoration of a façade, historic building, or re- purposing of a blighted space during the previous calendar year.”

About Cason Development Group

Cason Development Group is a commercial real estate development firm located in Columbia, South Carolina, focused on projects in the Columbia area as well as retail-focused development in and around South Carolina.

Cason Development Group LLC, 2144 Sumter Street, Suite B, Columbia, SC 29201