By admin 
Two new proposals in a North Columbia neighborhood, one for mixed-income apartments and another for a “retail node,” have stirred public frustration. Residents say the area is oversaturated with affordable housing, and adding more without first addressing public safety and infrastructure, would stifle economic growth and only harm the corridor.
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Residents are also skeptical about the new commercial plans, with one neighborhood leader saying the area won’t attract “upscale” shops or restaurants until its fundamental needs are met.
Columbia’s Planning Commission Thursday OKed a zoning change needed for the retail plans, but only partially approved a request for the apartment project. The city council will make the final decision on if those plans can proceed.
New apartments hit roadblock
The projects are nearly side-by-side between a neighborhood and the existing Garden Lakes Apartments complex south of Interstate 20, just below the Pepsi bottling plant.
The new apartments would be phase two of that existing complex, adding 200 new units to the already standing 288.
Architect Anthony Lawrence with MOTA Designs represented the project before the Planning Commission. The project includes affordable and market rate apartments. The city board OKed part of the request tied to the land’s future land use, but didn’t approve a zoning change needed for the apartment plans. That means unless the City Council approves the request, the apartments may not be able to advance.
Before the vote, residents in and around the N. 21 Terrace Neighborhood lined up to speak against the apartments, raising fears that further concentrating low-income housing in 29203 would add to public safety problems and stifle economic growth.
“We are concerned that by bringing additional low-income affordable housing to that area, it inhibits our ability to attract economic development that we have tried so hard to bring to that area,” said N. 21 Terrace Neighborhood Association president James Starnes.
Residents said they feel their community is treated like a “dumping ground,” for things downtown neighborhoods didn’t want in their own backyards.
Rev. Anthony McCallum, senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, asked why so many affordable housing units needed to be concentrated in one area.
“Would you want it dumped in your neighborhood?” he said. “I don’t think you would.”
“Then what? Are we going to attract good businesses? Are we going to attract Starbucks?,” he continued. “Are we going to attract any type of places where young people can feel safe to walk their dogs, ride their bicycles, for the elderly to walk?”
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Retail skepticism
The apartment plans dovetail with another as yet unspecified retail project from the same development team. Lawrence, the architect, said with the new housing planned, the time would be ripe to attract a restaurant or other business to the corridor.
“We heard the community when they said we don’t have eateries or etc.,” Lawrence said.
Residents raised doubts, fearing the strip would only attract more of the types of business they want to see less of.
“I feel any commercial things they bring in will be like what is already there: convenience stores, liquor stores, payday lenders,” said resident Brenda Starnes.
She said fundamental issues like public safety need to be dealt with before the area can attract “upscale” businesses.
The Columbia police department’s north region has seen more shootings than any other area of the city every year since at least 2015, according to available data.
A coalition of North Columbia neighborhoods has organized discussions with city leaders, and actions against issues residents say continue to hold the area back.
Last year, Half a mile south of the planned next phase of the Garden Lakes Apartments, the neighborhood group successfully blocked a gas station’s ability to sell alcohol after challenging its permit in court alongside law enforcement who said the business was a hotbed for police calls. The Valero station at 5831 N. Main St., then had its permit denied, and was later raided by SLED after it was found to have been selling alcohol anyway, despite the court ruling.
Money has gone toward renewing infrastructure in the corridor. With millions spent on things like repaved roads, new sidewalks and lamp posts, park upgrades, and other infrastructure upgrades along North Main Street over the past decade. But the investment isn’t reaching far enough up the corridor fast enough, residents have said.
Before either of the plans presented Thursday move forward, they will need approval from Columbia City Council. Planning Commission members encouraged residents to raise their concerns then.
Residents can track council meeting agendas on the city’s website, columbiasc.gov.
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