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93º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:16 a.m. | Sunset 8:39 p.m.

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Millions to be poured into Lake Murray

Initial steps have been taken to turn a cove of Lake Murray into a destination resort community

Lake Murray from an aerial view. | Photo by COLAtoday team

Lexington Town Council took initial steps to approve a new destination resort community that will potentially come to Smallwood Cove on Lake Murray — a project that has been in the works since 2012, according to Mayor Steve MacDougall.

The 93.53-acre property would include a marina, hotels, retail space, homes near Beekeeper Court and North Lake Drive, and is expected to take ~15 years to complete.

The project is set to be a shared public + private economic development, with $733 million to be donated from private developers.

Smallwood Cove.PNG — Land use concept plan for Smallwood Cove. | Rendering from the Town of Lexington

Town Council and other developers are hoping this undertaking will support destination tourism, provide access to lakefront properties, and generate tax revenue and economic benefits — one of those benefits being the creation of ~400 jobs.

Construction would likely begin in two years and The Regional Conference Center, which has already received $6 million to build from the State of South Carolina, could be completed by 2028.

Click the button below to see the development guidelines for Smallwood Cove, including the Executive Summary, area breakdown, zoning, parking, drainage basin analysis, and more.

Read the full plan here

Asked

Can you relate to the sentiment of feeling like “empty nesters” when students leave for the summer?

We’re sad to see them go, but we can’t be too upset about less traffic, right? Do you agree? Share your bittersweet thoughts about the students leaving during the summer with us at the button below.

Join the conversation

Events

Thursday, May 4

Chamber Crawl 5K at Saluda Shoals Park | Thursday, May 4 | 4 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park, Cattail Shelter 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia | $15-$30 | After your walk, relax with food, beverages, and a Chamber Crawl concert by SC Phil musicians.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Thursday, May 4 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Budweiser Thirsty Thursday ($1 fountain sodas, $2 domestic draft beers & $3 craft draft beers and cocktails) // Human Cannonball Appearance pres by Columbia College*

Friday, May 5

Ribbon Cutting: ModWash | Friday, May 5 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 102 Harban Court, Columbia | Free | Welcome ModWash to the neighborhood with a ribbon-cutting and a light lunch.
Art on State | Friday, May 5 | 5-10 p.m. | State Street, West, Columbia | Free | Enjoy the view of the city’s skyline, dine, stroll, and immerse yourself in local art + vendors.

Saturday, May 6

Strawberry Pick & Play at Clinton Sease Farm | Saturday, May 6 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Clinton Sease Farm, 382 Olde Farm Rd., Lexington | $12 | Head out to Clinton Sease Farm for a day of fun during the delicious strawberry season in Lexington.
Lexington County Ag + Art Tour | Saturday, May 6 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Lexington | Free | During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to see first-hand where their food comes from, watch artists in action, enjoy local musicians, and learn more about rural life.
Pickin’ & Piggin’ BBQ Cook-off at Saluda Shoals Park | Saturday, May 6 | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park, Cattail Shelter 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia | $15 | Enjoy all-you-can-eat barbecue tasting from 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. or until it runs out.
West Columbia’s Meeting Street Artisan Market | Saturday, May 6-Saturday, March 22 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a boutique shopping experience, park, play, eat + explore at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every Saturday.*

Sunday, May 7

Art in the Garden | Sunday, May 7 | 2-6 p.m. | Wales Garden, 1819 Seneca Ave., Columbia | Free | Enjoy a lovely stroll down tree-lined streets, four fabulous gardens, and the artwork of 14 local artists.
Architectural Scavenger Hunt | Wednesday, May 3-Wednesday, May 31 | 9 a.m. | City of Columbia, Columbia | Free | Join the fun with this month-long, citywide, architectural scavenger hunt. Find and scan QR codes on buildings in and around Columbia’s historic districts to learn history and register for a chance to win a prize.

More May events this way

Click here to have your event featured.

Arts

Culture

Add to cal: One week until Art Blossoms at the CMA

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

Glasses of wine being poured by a man in a suit jacket

Art, flowers, and wine? Sign us up. | Photo provided by the Columbia Museum of Art

Art Blossoms will bloom into its third year at the Columbia Museum of Art from Thursday, May 11 through Sunday, May 14 (aka Mother’s Day weekend).

This limited-time exhibition fundraiser features floral interpretations of beloved works of art and a stacked schedule of special events (hint: perfect for celebrating the moms in your life), like:

Roses and Rosé tour and tastings led by Lula Drake’s Tim Gardner
art classes and floral demonstrations by professional gardeners and florists
a luncheon with Canaan Marshall aka the Flower Whisperer
exclusive tours with CMA Executive Director Della Watkins
a Mother’s Day brunch and more.*

See the full schedule

News Notes

Coming Soon

Main Street may be getting public restrooms on the 1600 block, so those who need to take care of business, don’t have to overwhelm local businesses. If officially passed, the project would cost ~$230,000-$400,000. (The Post and Courier)

Real Estate

DeWees Real Estate Group is leasing 1215 Wayne St., near Metropolis Salon, to EM Nails and Spa. The Vista location will be undergoing renovations and plans to open as a high-end spa offering manicures, pedicures, waxing, and eyelash services later this year.

Development

The SC State Museum is working toward updating and re-imagining its permanent exhibitions to include immersive multimedia experiences. Take a look at some renderings here. No timeline or official plan has been announced.

Number

$4,442,862. That’s the record-breaking amount of money raised during Midlands Gives. The tenth annual day-of-local-giving supported 568 local nonprofits — the most nonprofits in Midlands Gives history.
10 days. That’s how long you have until Mother’s Day. The good news? That gives you just enough time to order a gift from Quince — a brand offering high-end and sustainable products at affordable prices. Think: European linen shorts, silk slip dresses, cashmere crewnecks + Italian leather totes. Shop now.

Transit

A groundbreaking for the I-26 at US 21 Interchange Improvement Project will take place on Friday, May 5, at 11:30 a.m. The project plans to reconfigure interchanges + frontage road connections to provide efficient flow to the development sectors of Cola.

Community

Hey college students, instead of tossing out your old items, consider donating to Final Victory Animal Rescue. It’s looking for towels, paper towels, laundry products, cleaning supplies, linens, and more. Drop them off between 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Ready to trot it like it’s hop, Cola? Columbia Craft’s Hop to Trot Festival is back on Saturday, May 6 at 12 p.m. This event features the Hop to Trot beer release, new limited release glassware, “horse” races, a best dressed competition, local eats + more.*

The Word

Digital eye strain. This group of eye and vision problems results from prolonged use of computers, tablets, and smartphones. Here’s how to avoid it.*

Drink

Hint is the water that actually makes us want to drink water. Shop from their top sellers + online exclusive flavors and get 45% off three cases for just $36. (That’s $1 per bottle plus free shipping.) Just use code 6AMCITY.*

Finance

4 things to consider when selecting a bank

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

First Bank has invested over $1.2 billion in community development loans to revitalize low- and moderate-income areas, donating $500,000 to support education-focused initiatives across the Carolinas in 2022. | Photo provided by First Bank

The right bank should complement your lifestyle and financial goals. When deciding who to trust your finances with, consider these four criteria and ask yourself how your current bank meets them:

Community involvement

If local economic growth is important to you, prioritize a community-focused bank that is committed to reinvesting in local economic development.

An actively involved bank can provide you + your neighbors increased access to:

Small business loans
Mortgages
Charitable donations
Overall financial wellness

Longevity + stability

Do your research — find a bank with a track record of success and the ability to remain steadfast during uncertain economic times. Consider how long the bank has been established and how they plan for growth into the future.

Carolinas-based First Bank began in 1935 during the height of the Great Depression in order to safeguard the hard-earned funds of local farmers, community members + business people. Today, the regional bank offers a wide range of personal + business financial services.

Read on for two more factors to consider.*

What’s your customer service preference?

The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

As a former student who stayed in town year-round, I do feel a shift over the summer. As City Editor David likes to say, “Columbia seems to go from a city to a town” when the students go home.

They are wonderful for economic reasons and it’s fun to see the city bustling on game days, but the ease of finding parking or getting seated faster at restaurants are nice perks. I’m curious to see if our readers agree and to read through your thoughts in our Asked module above.

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