A previously vacant shopping center near Columbia’s Earlewood neighborhood is set for a transformation into a $93 million apartment complex, according to The State .
Central Baptist Church purchased the property at 301 Sunset Dr. in 2016 with community development in mind. The plan now is to construct 300 market-rate apartments and a 520-space garage, a collaborative effort between the church and Greenville-based Streams Development .
Construction is slated to begin in 2024, with completion aimed for 2026. The project’s price tag includes $1.2 million for site clean-up, with environmental remediation and removal of nearly 1,500 tires.
The initiative was unveiled during a forum orchestrated by Columbia Councilwoman Tina Herbert to educate religious and nonprofit entities on housing development on its properties.
The move follows a broader trend where local churches, like Word of God Church purchasing the Dutch Square Mall , leverage their holdings to foster community growth. Herbert’s forum underscored the collective effort required to develop such properties successfully.