Skip to main content
search

The time has come.

It's time for a strategic master plan for downtown that reflects our shared values and vision for the future.

logo text for the plan, which reads "Downtown Columbia" and "STRATEGIC PLAN & DESIGN GUIDELINES" in white
What’s next for Downtown?

Learn more about the planning process!

What is included?

See what is considered part of Downtown Columbia for the purposes of this planning effort.

Get involved!

Find out how to take part in this ongoing planning process.

What’s the timeline?

Learn about where we are, and what's coming next!

Who’s leading the effort?

Learn more about the project team and what they bring to the table.

About the Planning Process

The City of Columbia is excited to launch the Downtown Columbia Strategic Plan and Design Guidelines planning process. Through this effort, we will work with the Columbia community to discern a refreshed vision for the quality of the built environment Downtown. It has been 25 years since the adoption of the City Center Master Plan and more than 15 years since the adoption of the Innovista Master Plan. In the years since these plans were adopted, much has changed: major infrastructure projects have been completed or are underway, thousands of housing units have been built, the City adopted a new Unified Development Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan (Columbia Compass), the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the way people use downtowns, and lastly, transportation trends have created new shared and electric alternatives. As such, this new Strategic Master Plan for Downtown Columbia will:

Create a community-driven vision for the public character of Downtown.

Establish priorities for public policy and public investment in the Downtown built environment.

Protect the unique character and assets of the historic urban core.

Form the basis for Downtown Design Guidelines to help shape great public spaces.

Base map of the study area, showing roads in light blue. The study area is bounded by the river to the east, Elmwood cemetery/parcels on the north side of Elmwood Road to the north, the Bull Street district/ parcels fronting along Pickens Street, and parcels south of Blossom street to the south, including USC's greek village and Founders Park.

Click on the above image to enlarge the map.

Study Area

The Downtown Study Area includes parts of downtown covered by the City Center and Innovista Overlay districts, which generally includes Elmwood Avenue on the north to Catawba Street on the south and Pickens Street to the east and the Congaree River to the west.

Stay Involved

Throughout this process, there will be various opportunities to give us your feedback about downtown, both online and in person. Please visit this website regularly and stay tuned to regular updates on the City’s social media as we announce more information for the following:

  • Stakeholder Roundtables with representatives from downtown’s businesses, institutions, organizations, and resident groups were held during a two-day period in March 2024.
  • Mobile Workshops across downtown starting in April 2024 to collect feedback and share information about the project.
  • An Online Survey during the month of April will help us receive feedback from you on your own time.
  • A Community Meeting open to all Columbia residents interested and passionate about downtown. This event will take place in August 2024 to share our findings, with a meeting date announced closer to this event.

Attend a Mobile Workshop!

Mobile workshops are designed in a drop-in format, so please stop by and share your thoughts with the project team.

  • Thanks to all who attended any of the three mobile workshops we held on April 17th and 23rd – your input makes for a better plan.

Stay tuned for more information on a second round of workshops in the late summer or early fall!

Take Our Survey!

We want to hear from you! Please take an introduction survey to share initial thoughts you have about downtown; this survey will be available through the month of April.

Take the Online Survey

Interested in receiving updates as we have them? Sign up for our email list here! 

Project Timeline

The Downtown Columbia Strategic Plan and Design Guidelines process will take approximately 10 months to complete. The project timeline shows the major milestones for this project, including opportunities to engage with our team.

Use the arrows to the upper left of the timeline image to click through the timeline.  Click on the image to view the image full screen.

  • A timeline of the events to come, using a horizontal line with months in red and benchmarks in black text or bubbles. The order of events shown is: February - Kick Off, March - Stakeholder Roundtables, April – First Round of Mobile Workshops
  • A timeline of the events to come, using a horizontal line with months in red and benchmarks in black text or bubbles. The order of events shown is: May - Draft Public Realm and Streetscape Guidelines, June – Second Round of Mobile Workshops and Draft Sign Guidelines, July - Draft Downtown Plan and Stakeholder Roundtables
  • A timeline of the events to come, using a horizontal line with months in red and benchmarks in black text or bubbles. The order of events shown is: August - Community Meeting, September/October - Draft DT Plan & Guidelines Revisions, November - Final DT Plan & Guidelines

Project Team

The City of Columbia’s Planning & Development Services Department is leading the planning effort, and  has partnered with a consultant team with the experience and expertise tailored to address the core issues at hand.

Project Manager

Lucinda Statler, AICP

Planning Administrator

Do you have questions about the process or would you like to share additional information about downtown? Contact Lucinda.

[email protected]

(803) 545-0229

Consultant Team

MKSK

MKSK is the team lead, and is highly experienced in community-based planning for downtowns and urban cores.  They place people at the center of their work, building on local strengths to create stronger communities and a healthier environment.

White & Smith

White & Smith is a planning law practice that brings technical rigor and creativity to the arena of development regulations and guidelines.

Close Menu