Following years of potential plans for the Capital City Stadium on Assembly Street, a 310-unit apartment complex, The Ballpark, is waiting for its final federal permit to begin development. Connecticut-based Weddle Real Estate Investments will also include 20,000 sqft of retail space in the complex + will assist the city and county with flood control efforts in the area.
If you’ve been in Columbia for ~8 years or more, you may remember attending a Capital City Bombers or Columbia Blowfish game at the baseball stadium.
And if you’re newer to the area, or just aren’t that into baseball, we’ll give you a short run down. The Capital City Stadium was built in 1927 by Barney Dreyfuss, who owned the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over the years, the Columbia Comers, Columbia Reds, Capital City Bombers, and the Blowfish played at the stadium.
Most recently, the Capital City Bombers called the stadium home from 1983 to 2004, when the team moved to Greenville. From 2006-2014, the Columbia Blowfish used the stadium over the summers and marked the end of the stadium’s history.
Following approval of the final necessary permit, Weddle Real Estate Investments will first begin flood control work, beginning at the Congaree River. This aspect of the project will include removing an abandoned railroad trestle, cleaning out Rocky Branch Creek, and adding a culvert (think: water tunnel) to help water flow to the river + is expected to take 8 months.
Demolition of the stadium and construction of the apartment complex will begin after the flood control work + is estimated to be completed in 2023. According to The Post and Courier, potential tenants have already expressed interest in the retail space, including a gym and clothing store.
