City of Columbia takes first step towards partnership with The Kessler Collection to redevelop Washington Square property

Today, Columbia City Council gave first reading to a contract of sale of the Washington Square Office Building and Washington Plaza Parking Garage and Retail Shops. This reading is the first official action of a transformative partnership with The Kessler Collection to redevelop the Washington Square property into a signature Grand Bohemian Hotel, bringing the City’s first four-star luxury hotel to the Capital City. This marks another significant milestone in the City’s efforts to strengthen Columbia’s downtown as a premier destination for culture, business, and urban living.

The project will deliver the newest Grand Bohemian Hotel in the country and the 12th Kessler Collection property in The Kessler Collection portfolio.  Known for its distinctive blend of art, culture, architecture, and hospitality, the Grand Bohemian brand has become an iconic placemaking force across the Southeast, with celebrated properties in Greenville, Asheville, Charlotte, Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine, Orlando, Birmingham, and more. Each hotel is uniquely designed with museum-quality art, cultural programming, and experiential amenities that elevate the surrounding community.

For Columbia, this partnership represents the arrival of a true Kessler Collection flagship, bringing world-class design and a highly curated cultural experience to one of the City’s most recognizable downtown buildings. The redevelopment includes the acquisition and transformation of the Washington Square office building and the Washington Plaza parking garage and retail shops, located at Main and Washington Streets. Long recognized for their brutalist-style architecture, these structures offer a unique canvas for adaptive reuse, and the City is confident that The Kessler Collection’s creativity and expertise will bring renewed energy and distinction to this prominent corner of downtown.

The project reflects an estimated $70 million investment and encompasses a comprehensive redevelopment that will introduce luxury accommodations, upscale dining, a full-service spa, an art and fine jewelry gallery, museum-quality art collections, a ballroom and corporate event space, and cultural programming, including an annual Salzburg-inspired Christmas Market. The development will also include an enhanced retail experience designed to support hotel operations, attract high-quality tenants, and contribute to the vibrancy of Washington Street for both residents and visitors.

The modernization of the existing parking deck will provide approximately 450 spaces, supporting hotel guests, retail users, and surrounding businesses. The City has agreed to an acquisition price of $2.9 million, and the redevelopment will occur in phases to ensure thoughtful planning, preservation of architectural character, and meaningful community benefit.

The arrival of a Grand Bohemian Hotel in Columbia represents a major economic catalyst, bringing new visitors, supporting job creation, increasing tax revenue, and encouraging adjacent development. Grand Bohemian properties across the Southeast have consistently elevated the profile of their host cities, strengthened local business ecosystems, and contributed to long-term quality of life improvements. Columbia’s hotel is poised to generate similar momentum, reinforcing the City’s evolution into a dynamic, walkable, culturally rich urban environment.

“This partnership proves what happens when a city leads boldly and refuses to settle for less,” said Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “Our team was intentional in how we positioned Washington Square because we knew it had the power to elevate the Capital City. Our City Council, City Manager and executive leadership team, to include our office of Economic Development and Trinity Partners, stepped up and leaned in to make the vision a reality. The Kessler Collection’s decision to invest here shows that Columbia is stepping confidently into its next chapter – and others are taking notice. This is a defining moment for our future.”

“We are excited to work with the City of Columbia to bring a Grand Bohemian Hotel to your community,” said Richard C. Kessler, Chairman and CEO, The Kessler Collection. “The enthusiasm and quality of the City’s leadership gives us confidence in our investment.”

City officials emphasized that while the redevelopment of Main Street and the downtown core marks a significant milestone, it represents only one component of a broader and more comprehensive development strategy. The City’s jurisdiction stretching from Elmwood to Blossom and Pickens to the River, along with several annexed areas, encompasses neighborhoods and commercial districts that are experiencing meaningful momentum. Columbia is working diligently and strategically to identify the right partners and investors for specific communities, buildings, and districts. Each project is carefully evaluated to ensure long-term value, equitable growth, and alignment with the City’s vision of fostering vibrant, connected, and resilient places across the entire landscape.

As referenced during last July’s press conference to announce the City of Columbia Municipal Complex and the Core Spaces development, City Manager Teresa Wilson emphasized how this project fits into the City’s broader vision, stating, “We are delivering on the commitment to elevate and grow our City through meaningful partnerships. The Washington Square redevelopment is the next catalyst project in our overall GROWTH strategy. The Kessler team understands the City’s vision, and their emphasis on culture, entertainment, and quality of life is in direct alignment with the experiences we want to create for our communities.”

As the capital city of South Carolina, Columbia continues to position itself as a strong and forward-moving organization, operating a $750 million enterprise with more than 2,200 employees across 22 departments. The City delivers over 100 essential services to a diverse and expanding population, including more than 145,000 residents, 60,000 higher education students, 7,000 businesses, and 400,000 water and sewer customers, while welcoming more than 17.3 million visitors annually. With an operating budget exceeding $474 million, a capital budget of more than $115 million, and active grants totaling over $150 million, Columbia remains committed to investing in infrastructure, public safety, cultural amenities, economic development and housing opportunities that strengthen the entire community.

This redevelopment reflects the City of Columbia’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful growth and strategic public–private partnerships that enrich our urban core. Building on recent transformative projects, such as the new Municipal Complex, the surrounding infrastructure improvements, and the addition of mixed-use residential and commercial developments, the City continues to reshape downtown into a dynamic place where residents, students, businesses, and newcomers can truly live, work, and play. Each initiative demonstrates how collaborative investment and visionary redevelopment are elevating the cityscape, strengthening the City’s economic future, and reaffirming Columbia’s position as one of the Southeast’s most thriving and forward-looking communities.

Second reading on the contract of sale is scheduled for January 6, 2025. If approved, design and planning efforts will begin, with additional updates to be shared as the project advances through its multi-phase development timeline. The City of Columbia looks forward to welcoming this landmark investment and the new opportunities it will bring to our entire community.

For more information on this property redevelopment, please visit https://growth.columbiasc.gov/portfolio/washington-square/.