Family Photographer in Columbia, SC

Columbia’s South Kilbourne neighborhood could soon be getting more housing.

Developer Lafaye Custom Homes is hoping to turn a 1.8-acre lot at the corner of Overbrook Drive and Suber Street into an enclave of 32 townhomes.

When finished, it would join other similar multi-unit housing developments in the area, including a row of townhomes across the street at 3845 Overbrook Drive and an apartment complex next door called Concord Oaks.

Several area residents have voiced reservations about the project as the developer works to secure city approval to move forward.

At one recent City Council meeting, would-be neighbors of the project said they worried it didn’t fit the character of the area and that it would increase traffic in a residential corridor. Residents also worry about the loss of a house built in 1946 that currently sits on the property.

Some residents also questioned if aging water and sewer infrastructure in the area can support 32 new homes.

Pastor Jeff Scott at Calvary Baptist Church, located across the street from the proposed townhomes, said at one point last November, a water line broke that made the road in front of the church impassable for three weeks.

The city has slowly been replacing aged water lines, but the work is expensive and slow-moving.

Wyman Bowers, vice president of Lafaye Custom Homes, said he has been discussing the project with the South Kilbourne Neighborhood Association for months. He believes the current site plan that will be reviewed by the Columbia Planning Commission March 9 is a “win-win” for residents and his company.

Neighbors have asked where the influx of new residents would park their vehicles, worried their streets would become crowded with new people. In response, Bowers said his team doubled the number of parking spaces from what is legally required — from 34 spaces to 68.

Bowers said the project also will add needed sidewalks, which are scarce in the area.

In response to the infrastructure concerns, Bowers said he doesn’t have control over making those repairs, but he believes the added development will put more attention on those needs.

Lafaye Custom Homes has established a niche as infill developers, Bowers said. That means they look for undeveloped land, usually in the middle of an already developed area. He said they have done similar projects in the Rosewood and South Kilbourne area in the past.

Bowers said he believes more housing of any kind will add value to the area.

“Unless we get more housing, the price of homes to buy or to rent is just going to continue to increase,” he said.

The company has not yet decided whether the homes will be for purchase or used as rentals, and a price point for the units also has not been determined, Bowers said.

The project could begin construction in 2023, Bowers said, but noted it can be a slow process to go from a site plan to construction.

*Planned media availability Monday, March 6 at 10:00 AM*

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Scout Motors Inc. (“Scout”) is establishing its first manufacturing plant in Blythewood, which is near Columbia, South Carolina. At the Richland County site, the company will build all-electric, next-generation trucks and rugged SUVs harkening back to the iconic Scout vehicles produced from 1960 to 1980. The company’s $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs. At full capacity, more than 200,000 Scout vehicles may be produced annually at the facility.

“Scout Motors will provide thousands of South Carolinians with previously unimagined opportunities and prosperity for generations to come,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “The Palmetto State, with its rich history, superior people, and sterling automotive manufacturing reputation, is the perfect place to re-start this iconic American brand.”

Scout trucks and rugged SUVs will be built on a newly designed all-electric platform that delivers credible capability and off-road prowess. With internal engineering focused on attributes including ground clearance, approach angles, robust axles, payload capacity, all-electric range and new digital features, Scout products will honor its heritage while injecting fresh American ingenuity to create a new era of iconic all-purpose vehicles.

“We’re honored to partner with South Carolina to usher in this new era for Scout,” said President and CEO of Scout Motors Scott Keogh. “Scout has been an American icon since introducing an SUV in 1960. It's the vehicle that took your family on a camping trip, that gave access to the great outdoors, and that showed up on the job site every morning. Today, we’re reimagining Scout’s original ingenuity and electrifying its future. We’re bringing the Scout spirit to South Carolina and it's going to be a hell of a ride.”

Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, Scout was formed to craft all-electric trucks and SUVs rooted in the same tradition that made the original Scout vehicle an American icon. The company is revitalizing a legend and returning manufacturing to American shores.

The Blythewood Industrial Site, off Interstate 77, spans approximately 1,600 acres, with the plant itself occupying 1,100 acres. Vehicle production is targeted to begin by the end of 2026.

Scout Motors is an independent U.S. company, backed by Volkswagen Group, with an experienced Board of Directors, including Dr. Gernot Doellner, Head of Group Strategy at Volkswagen AG, and Peter Bosch, Member of the Bentley Motors Board for Manufacturing. Scout is currently evaluating the potential for outside investment.

Individuals interested in joining the Scout team should visit readySC’s recruitment website to explore opportunities. Companies interested in becoming a supplier for the company should complete S.C. Commerce’s online interest form.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

“Entering the market with an EV-based vehicle like Scout is a bold move – one that will help our state achieve a sustained future. We welcome Scout Motors and appreciate the company’s confidence and commitment to take this bold journey with South Carolina.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“South Carolina is a mecca for the world’s greatest manufacturing companies. Scout Motors’ announcement today not only confirms, but enhances this reputation. I’m proud to call them one of our own.”-President of the South Carolina Senate Thomas Alexander

“South Carolina’s greatest asset is our people. Scout Motors recognized this and wanted to become part of our storied manufacturing history. Welcome to South Carolina and thank you for making a generational investment in our State.”-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.

“Scout Motors’ commitment to such a significant economic investment – among the largest South Carolina has ever seen – is an exciting development for a well-deserving region of our state. This announcement is a fitting affirmation of the House’s dedication to advancing workforce and economic development initiatives. This commitment will truly be transformative to not only the Midlands, but to the entire state, and will provide opportunity for decades and generations to come.”-Speaker of the House of Representatives Murrell Smith

“This exciting announcement highlights South Carolina’s position as a world leader in the automotive manufacturing industry. Today was made possible in part by our state’s economic and fiscal health, thanks to years of conservative policy and budgeting. This has put our state in a position to not only attract but secure leading industry investment. I’m looking forward to a prosperous partnership with Scout Motors.”-Chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Bruce Bannister

“This proposed manufacturing facility marks a major milestone in the history of Richland County and the potential for our most significant economic development project to date. This decision represents a transformational breakthrough that would position us at the forefront of the clean energy future while promising to boost the quality of life for residents across our county for generations to come.”-Richland County Council Chair Overture Walker

“Richland County has spent years laying the groundwork for today’s historic announcement, and we are thrilled that Scout shares our view that this area is the ideal location for a world-class company to plant its flag. With our supportive business development network, vibrant workforce, culture of innovation, and connectivity to key strategic hubs, Richland County has created a strong economic foundation that Scout would be able to build upon in the years to come.”-Richland County Economic Development Office Director Jeff Ruble

“We are thrilled to welcome Scout Motors to the town of Blythewood. This historic investment will bring thousands of jobs, economic growth and opportunity to our local community. We are honored to have been selected for this exciting new venture. We look forward to working closely with our partners, community members and other stakeholders to ensure the success of this project and to build a bright future for our town and our region.” -Mayor of Blythewood Bryan S. Franklin

“To say today’s announcement by Scout Motors is exciting would be a dramatic understatement. The investment being made by Scout Motors is one for the history books for Richland County, its people and the surrounding communities. As we congratulate the company and our partners in the county on this transformative news, we also look forward to the revival of this iconic American brand.”-Central SC Alliance Chairman Matthew Shaffer

FIVE FAST FACTS

ATTENTION MEDIA:

Scout Motors President and CEO Scott Keogh, Governor Henry McMaster and Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey will host a virtual media roundtable at 10 a.m., Monday, March 6, 2023. Media is encouraged to attend for access to the three leaders and to learn more about this announcement. Details are below.

ZOOM MEETING ACCESS:

Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89730658457?pwd=VnNJVVBaRVQ4ZmFaYTJTeUZsTWgxdz09 Meeting ID: 897 3065 8457 Passcode: 26705

COLUMBIA — A Lexington County poultry festival could soon join South Carolina’s collection of designations on the list of official state symbols.

After winning approval from the House Agriculture Subcommittee on March 7, a bill that would designate the South Carolina Poultry Festival, a large annual festival in the small Midlands town of Batesburg-Leesville, was pegged to be the official state poultry festival.

“I noticed it the first time because … the South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence is designated as the state pecan festival,” said the bill’s sponsor Rep. Cal Forrest, R-Monetta, a Batesburg-Leesville native whose district includes the 5,000 person town located about 35 miles southwest of Columbia.

If passed, the poultry festival would join a list of state symbols that range from obvious — the Palmetto holds the title as South Carolina’s official tree — to less well-known — the state’s appointed picnic cuisine is barbecue.

Other categories with official designations include fish, flower, wildflower, fruit, dance, fossil, snack food, stone, gemstone, tapestry and tobacco museum. Milk is the state beverage, but sweet tea is recognized as the official hospitality beverage. There is also a state mammal, the bottlenose dolphin, not to be confused with the state migratory mammal, the northern right whale.

As the list grew, lawmakers pushed a moratorium on state designations in 2014, which ultimately failed, but none have been passed since.

Even so, Forrest believes Batesburg-Leesville’s poultry festival is worthy of a title.

The South Carolina Poultry Festival, a nonprofit organization, started in 1985 as a small carnival, parade and chicken-calling contest in Batesburg-Leesville’s town center. Now nearing its 40th year, festival organizers tout more than “90 craft vendors, 100-plus unit parade, 3 stages of continuous entertainment and an indescribable Pyromusical, fireworks in sync with music” with about 100,000 attendees, according to the festival’s website.

“The poultry festival just grew exponentially and exploded,” Forrest said. “This is probably one of, if not the largest, local festival anywhere in the state of South Carolina.”

Also, the festival gives back to the community, and holds a number of scholarship programs as part of the festival, Forrest said.

Trey Byars, executive director at the South Carolina Polutry Federation, said an official state poultry festival would help educate people about the industry.

“We want the younger generation and future farmers to be poultry farmers and to learn that this is a cool, fun way to go about making a living,” Byars said. “We see this (festival) as a great tool in the agriculture sector to expand our base.”

Now, the poultry fest must win approval from the House Agriculture Committee and the full House before it could be kicked over to the Senate. If the bill passes, it would be the first official designation in nearly a decade.

COLUMBIA — South Carolina lawmakers gave the first nod to a record-breaking $1.3 billion to entice Volkswagen subsidiary Scout Motors to build in Richland County.

A S.C. House subcommittee was the first to recommend the deal for approval March 7, with legislators praising it as “a huge win for South Carolina.”

The incentives package must still make its way through the full committee and the rest of the legislative process.

If approved, South Carolina will exhaust $1.2 billion currently in budget surplus dollars in the Contingency Reserve Fund from previous budget cycles, as well as another $86 million in anticipated surplus revenue from the 2023-24 budget.

The incentives package requested by S.C. Department of Commerce will pay for a railroad bridge across Interstate 77 and a new interchange, as well as other road, water, sewer and power infrastructure and soil stabilization at the site.

Scout, in return, plans to build a $2 billion electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the Columbia suburb of Blythewood, employing 4,000 workers as part of the record-breaking deal for Richland County.

“South Carolina is making this pivot with the industry and we’re doing that to ensure that our children and our grandchildren have great jobs for the decades to come,” Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey said.

Lightsey told lawmakers the state has the ability to claw back as much as $800 million of its investment in the site if the company does not meet its commitments under the investment agreement.

The average annual pay for hourly workers at the plant is estimated to be $58,000. Salaried workers could make an average of $100,000, Lightsey said.

Lightsey said VW also anticipates the need for a second phase that could later double the size of its investment and employment in Richland County.

The 1,100-acre manufacturing campus will produce 200,000 vehicles annually, with production expected to begin by the end of 2026.

The Scout incentives surpass all past state agreements. On top of the $1.3 billion, Scout has been approved for further state tax credits based on wages and the number of people it employs, the state Commerce Department said.

In addition to the state-led incentives, Richland County Council is weighing tax breaks of its own that for 40 years would reduce its property tax rate for Scout to 4 percent, down from the 6 percent currently applied to manufacturers.

A second set of special incentives would reimburse the company for millions in permit fees early on and later allow it to further buy down its tax bill by another 50 percent for the final 24 years of the deal.

The county is considering gifting the land, valued at nearly $32 million, to Scout, as well as paying for improvements to a nearby fire station and offering up child care stipends that the company can dole out to its employees, helping to attract workers and possibly bringing more of those caretaking adults into the workforce.

South Carolina is becoming a leader in the nation’s EV industry, with its top vehicle manufacturers making the shift to the production of battery-powered cars.

Scout is the fifth auto manufacturer to build electric vehicles in South Carolina, joining Mercedes, Volvo and Volvo subsidiary Polestar, all outside of Charleston, and BMW in Greer.

One of the requests is for more than $200,000.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia water is looking to make improvements.

Those include repairing busted pipes and taking suggestions from a chemical study and it comes with a large price tag and Columbia City Council discussed it Tuesday night.

On Monday, the city council discussed three main Columbia Water maintenance projects.

Clint Shealy is the assistant city manager for Columbia Water, he said the first project is to allocate $52,000 to hire external contractors.

This is in response to the deep freeze that caused several water main breaks during the winter.

“Our process for the last three years has been to utilize private contractors to assist, kind of a staff augmentation to help us provide more timely service for our leak repairs," Shealy said.

Residents are concerned about where all of this money will come from, Ed Wilson is one of them.

“Just looking at the water rates from over the last year, I’ve noticed there’s already been an increase. If there’s gonna be any additional increase to the water at least it needs to be something that’s going to be conducive for the repairs that’s being done," Wilson said.

According to Shealy, the city plans ahead for these types of solutions.

“So we actually budget every year, to utilize contractors," he said.

Another project the agency is requesting funds from the city of Columbia for is to conduct a sewer evaluation study and rehabilitation project.

“Every year we hire a contractor or contractors to assist us with a waste water systems, that infrastructure is older and is need of lining or replacing , rehabilitations, services that sort of thing," Shealy said.

This will cost more than $200,000.

While the City said it’s working to improve its sewers and pipes, its also working on the quality of the water following DHEC's study on chemicals in the water supply

“We could as early as two weeks from now, see that proposed regulation come out where we and our other utilities fall in terms of projected compliance,” Clint Shealy said.

Shealy added if the EPA releases its requirements on the water we could see changes in the next two years.

The bill would prohibit “adult cabaret performances” on public property and in places where the performances could be viewed by minors.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - After Tennessee’s governor signed a bill into law restricting drag shows from taking place in public and in front of kids, some South Carolina legislators want to impose more restrictions on drag shows in the state.

State Senate Bill 585 was introduced last week, which would prohibit “adult cabaret performances” on public property and in places where the performances could be viewed by minors. The bill defines an adult cabaret performance “...as a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret that features entertainment of an exotic nature featuring topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, or male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers.”

If violated, fines and jail time could be on the table.

State Sen. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, is a sponsor of the bill. He said he was inspired to craft the bill last year after an event in Columbia. He said a young child was brought on stage during a cabaret style program at a drag queen program and was exposed to content he calls “inappropriate” and “repulsive.” After seeing Tennessee’s aggressive legislation, he modeled a bill off theirs.

“It’s really inappropriate to have a venue where there’s a drag cabaret event taking place where children are exposed to this, and that’s in public or in private,” Kimbrell said.

In the house, a bill also known as The Defense of Children’s Innocence Act, was introduced in January. The bill says any business where drag shows are held are deemed to be a sexually oriented business, and any entity supported by public funds, like state agencies or school districts, are banned from using public funds to host a drag show. The bill also would ban minors from attending a drag show performance.

For some members of the drag community like Caleb Coker, who performs under the name Ebony Wood, the recent legislation around the country is sparking fears about violent pushback towards the community.

“Kind of what we’re seeing from legislation is that drag is inherently a sexual or dangerous thing for children, and that’s been something that’s been trying to be pushed on the community since the 1950s, that children need to be protected from the LGBTQ community and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Coker said.

Coker has been performing in Charleston area shows for almost a decade. For the tourism-fueled city that sees many bachelorette parties, Coker thinks the legislation could be detrimental to the economy. But overall, Coker says Charleston has been a supportive community.

“It’s important for kids whether they’re LGBTQ or not to realize that you can dress how you want, you can express yourself how you want, and not have to feel what’s going to happen to me,” Coker said. “Am I going to be arrested and called a felon for wearing a dress to school?”

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