CHAPIN, S.C. (WIS) – A development that’s been in the works for the last 10 years is now underway and could bring with it up to 400 new homes.
The Chapin Business and Technology Park was built in 2013 and it’s off I-26 and Columbia Avenue.
Until now, there has been little indication of what it would be used for.
Members of the development company and affiliated partners met with the town’s planning commission to address the project. In that meeting, members heard the project would bring three different types of residential homes with various price points, a park, walking trails, a pool and more.
Mayor Al Koon said more housing opportunities are needed for Chapin and that the project will accommodate that need.
“It’s an opportunity in our town that fits the broad needs of our community from young folks to older folks and to have something different that we have never had before,” said Koon.
Nicholle Burroughs, the town administrator said this project is long overdue. The Business and Technology Park is 220 acres and 161 of that will be used for the new build.
The developers who owned the land have had plans to build for quite some time, Burroughs said.
This will be the start of the future development on Columbia Avenue, something the town has been waiting for.
“The development has been in the works for over a decade—it’s really an exciting opportunity for the town of Chapin to be involved in a plan development process. Which means we get to provide really crucial input into not only how it’s designed but how the residential entities and the commercial entities will work together,” said Burroughs.
Mayor Koon said the town has been looking for opportunities to create housing for young people and their families. He told WIS News 10 the project will meet those needs, although no price point has been established. He said the developers are also looking to potentially include housing for assisted living care, a facet of the project Koon said is also needed because the town has limited resources for older citizens.
Burroughs said there were concerns that the planning commission brought before developers, she said the biggest being traffic.
However, town leaders are describing the timeline for this build as convenient timing, because road widening for Columbia Avenue is set to start next summer. This will aid traffic concerns addressed by citizens and alleviate congestion with the surrounding schools.
According to Koon, the developers will take about a year to obtain the right permits and rezoning but after that, the project should take up to eight years to complete.
To see what developers presented to the Chapin Planning Commission, click here
Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.
Copyright 2024 WIS. All rights reserved.