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Resident asks council to convert vacant Devine Street lot into green space, relocate artwork
Summary
A resident said the vacant Title Loan building lot at 4701 Devine Street, demolished after the 2015 flood, remains undeveloped and suggested placing the “Broken Plug” artwork on the site and creating a greenway connection to Gills Creek.
A resident asked Columbia City Council on April 1 to follow through on prior commitments to convert the vacant lot at 4701 Devine Street into green space and to relocate a public artwork to the site.
Carl McKinney, speaking during public input, said that after the Title Loan building was demolished following the 2015 flood the lot was supposed to be preserved as green space “in perpetuity,” citing a March 16, 2019, newspaper report. He told council he has instead observed unlicensed vendors using the lot and noted construction staging taking place on the property.
McKinney suggested moving the blue-sky artwork called "Broken Plug" to the 4701 Devine lot and creating a water-pumping arrangement with Gills Creek that would return water to the creek; he said greening and an installation would both discourage vendors and draw more foot traffic than Findlay Park.
Council response
Mayor Daniel J. Rickerman acknowledged prior planning and said delays were attributable to coordination challenges with SCDOT and longer-than-expected property title work. He said part of the funding for Gills Creek improvements is included in a renewed penny sales tax. Mayor Rickerman also indicated there is a planned site for the artwork and that the city would continue to monitor the lot.
Next steps
Council did not adopt a motion on the suggestion at the meeting; Mayor Rickerman said staff would check on the lot and the status of the greening effort.
