About BullStreet
Reimagining the new urban South
A New District is Born
Anchored in the center of the new urban South, BullStreet is a 20-year transformation of one of the largest tracts of undeveloped urban land on the East Coast into a vibrant new district in downtown Columbia, S.C. BullStreet is redefining redevelopment with walkable streets and a mix of residential, retail, restaurant and recreational uses — one mile from the S.C. State House, the University of South Carolina and the city’s other bustling lifestyle districts.
It’s a community where tech-driven entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 companies, culinary artists and more come together to work, play, and create alongside one of the nation’s most buzzworthy Minor League Baseball teams – where a long-forgotten creek is unearthed to feed a brand new field of dreams, and dinner, drinks and the twinkle of Fireflies are just around the corner.
Leading an Urban Renaissance
When the State of South Carolina decided to sell the former S.C. State Hospital site, they wanted someone to serve as the master developer and purchase the entire campus. The State received a lot of interest for different parcels within the site, but it got only one offer for the entire parcel, from Hughes Development Corporation (HDC).
In December 2010, HDC entered into a contract with the S.C. Dept. of Mental Health (DMH) to purchase the entire parcel over a 7-year period (this was extended to 8 years when the 16-acre Hall Institute parcel was added to the 165-acre development plan in 2015 to increase it to a 181-acre plan).
As master developer, HDC is charged with setting the vision for the entire site and seeing it through to fruition, either working with other developers or performing renovations or new construction in-house.
BullStreet By The Numbers
Unique Features:
- 181 acres – Known as the largest urban revitalization project in a downtown city east of the Mississippi
- 275,000 square feet – The number of total square feet of historic buildings preserved under the Master Plan. One of the most significant historic preservation projects in modern Columbia’s history.
- 50X – The increase in internet speed that tenants, residents and visitors experience in South Carolina’s first urban gigabit community.
- 2,600 feet – The number of linear feet of Smith Branch Creek that have been daylighted or restored as part of the City’s newest public, 20-acre urban green space, Page Ellington Park.
Progress and Milestones
- December 2010 – Hughes Development contracts with DMH to purchase 165 acres.
- October 2012 – BullStreet District Form-Based Code approved.
- July 2013 – Development Agreement with City of Columbia executed.
- April 2014 – Development activities commence.
- June 2014 – Multi-Use Venue Development Agreement executed.
- January 2015 – Construction starts on Segra Park, the First Base Building and first phase of infrastructure.
- March 2015 – Hughes Development adds 16 formerly unavailable acres to DMH purchase contract.
- April 2016 – Segra Park opens (9,077 seat multi-use venue, 2016 Ballpark of the Year).
- April 2016 – First Base Building opens; largest private office building constructed in downtown Columbia since 2009 (108,541 sf office/retail building).
- September 2016 – The Bakery at BullStreet opens (4,400 sf creative office building).
- December 2016 – The University of South Carolina announces the new campus of the School of Medicine at BullStreet.
- February 2017 – DOWNTOWN CHURCH announces renovation of the Central Energy Facility.
- April 2017 – TownPark at BullStreet announces first residential opportunity at BullStreet.
- May 2017 – Merrill Gardens and Second 50 Communities announce a senior living opportunity at BullStreet.
- May 2017 – The Bakery wins 2017 Historic Columbia Preservation Award.
- July 2017 – S.C. Department of Natural Resources opens Archeology Center in Historic Parker Annex.
- December 2017 – $14 billion international Tech Firm Capgemini announces its grand opening in the First Base Building.
- December 2017 – Construction begins on the new 20-acre BullStreet park.
- March 2018 – Columbia City Council reaffirms BullStreet development agreement.
- April 2018 – Construction begins on 196-unit Merrill Gardens Active Senior Community.
- April 2018 – 3,600 sf of renovated historic office space become available on 2nd floor of Ensor Building.
- May 2018 – Parker Annex wins 2018 Historic Columbia Preservation Award.
- June 2018 – The entire BullStreet District is recognized by the US Department of Treasury as an Opportunity Zone.
- June 2018 – Central Carolina Community Foundation announces upcoming move to First Base Building at BullStreet.
- July 2018 – Over 2 miles of new underground utilities and more than one mile of new streets, including Boyce, Saunders, Talley and Fig, with McLeese and McClennan Streets on the way.
- August 2018 – First resident moves into the TownPark at BullStreet townhomes.
- August 2018 – Global tech giant Capgemini expands, making Columbia’s largest tech jobs announcement in 10 years.
- August 2018 – City of Columbia announces new Blue Bike Share station at Segra Park at BullStreet.
- September 2018 – DOWNTOWN CHURCH confirms details for new special event rental venue with in-house catering at the Central Energy Facility at BullStreet.
- September 2018 – South Atlantic League honors Segra Park with its 2018 “Best Playing Field” award.
- March 2019 – DOWNTOWN CHURCH celebrates its grand opening.
- March 2019 – REI Co-op announces plans to open second South Carolina location at the BullStreet District.
- July 2019 – The New York Times publishes featured article on the history and redevelopment of BullStreet.
- November 2019 – Starbucks releases plans to open a retail location and drive-through at BullStreet in 2021.
- December 2019 – truematter opens for business in the Ensor Building.
- January 2020 – Babcock Building is given to Clachan Properties.
- February 2020 – First Battle at BullStreet in UofSC and Clemson baseball rivalry.
- June 2020 – Construction starts on Starbucks.
- July 2020 – Initial demolition and grading for future UofSC Medical School campus complete.
- July 2020 – Residents begin moving to Merrill Gardens.
- August 2020 – REI Co-op opens for business.
- September 2020 – Phase II of TownPark at BullStreet is complete.
- October 2020 – WestLawn office and retail building announced with Robinson Gray as anchor tenant.
- October 2020 – Renovation starts at the Babcock Building for future upscale apartments.
- December 2020 – Key funding secured at the Babcock Building.
- January 2021 – Starbucks opens for business.
- January 2021 – BullStreet District announces new District Manager position.
- February 2021 – Columbia Fireflies announce a new affiliation with the Kansas City Royals.
- February 2021 – Columbia Fireflies announce 2021 baseball season.
- March 2021 – UofSC Board of Trustees votes to move Medical School to BullStreet.
- March 2021 – Hughes Development Corporation breaks ground on the WestLawn office building.
- June 2021 – City of Columbia hosts grand opening of 20-acre Page Ellington Park at BullStreet, the city’s newest public park.
- October 2021 – Bennet at BullStreet upscale apartment community announced.
- January 2022 – Publico Kitchen and Tap announces they will open their second Columbia location in the historic Ensor Building.
- February 2022 – Avant Holdings, a South Carolina-based real estate development and investment company, announces its plans to restore the Laundry Building, the oldest surviving service building at BullStreet District.
- April 2022 – Residents start moving into The Babcock.
- May 2022 – Publico Kitchen and Tap opens.
- August 2022 – Local law firm, Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte, moves its offices to the newly constructed WestLawn building.
- November 2022 – Segra Park launches their inaugural Fireflies Lights holiday event.
- December 2022 – The University of South Carolina announces Gilbane Development and Building Company to lead the development team for the new health sciences campus.
- February 2023 – Columbia Chamber of Commerce awards WestLawn the Golden Nail Award.
- March 2023 – Tupelo Honey Cafe announces a Columbia location in the Bennet at BullStreet.
- May 2023 – Elliott Davis and AECOM announce moves to the WestLawn building.
- August 2023 – The reconstructed Babcock Building cupola is installed.
- October 2023 – AECOM moves into the WestLawn building.
- October 2023 – Elliott Davis moves into the WestLawn building.
- November 2023 – Scout Motors opens South Carolina office in the First Base Building.
- November-December 2023 – Segra Park hosts the second annual Fireflies Lights holiday event.
- February 2024 – Pvolve Columbia announces that they will be opening their first South Carolina location in the BullStreet District.
- April 2024 – Methodical Coffee announces that they will be opening their flagship location inside the WestLawn Building.
- May 2024 – Pvolve Columbia opens their new location inside the ground level of Bennet at BullStreet.
- July 2024 – Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, a locally-owned franchise, announces they will be opening their first Columbia location in the Bennet at BullStreet.
- August 2024 – Image Studios announces that it will open its first luxury salon studio in in the First Base Building at Segra Park.
- September 2024 – Avant Holdings announces The Laundry event venue for weddings and other rentals .
- December 2024 – The BullStreet District announces The Lawn, which will serve as the central meeting space for dining, recreation and cultural connection.
- December 2024 – Coastal Crust Wood-fired Pizza, a family-owned pizza restaurant based in Charleston, S.C., announces that it will be coming to the Williams Building.
- December 2024 – Image Studios, a luxury salon, opens its first independently owned studios in the First Base Building.
- January 2025 – Rising Roll Gourmet Café announces that it will become a key part of USC’s new School of Medicine Columbia.
- February 2025 – Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar opens its first Columbia location in the ground level of the Bennet at BullStreet development.
- February 2025 – The Laundry event venue opens for weddings and celebration rentals.
- February 2025 – Gather COLA, an open-air food hall and community gathering spot, announces that it will be coming to the BullStreet District.
- February 2025 – VIA Health Partners moves into the second floor of the historic Ensor Building.
- April 2025 – The Laundry event venue hosts a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration.
- December 2025 – Publix Super Markets announces plans to open its next downtown Columbia location in the BullStreet Distrcit.
- December 2025 – Gather COLA opens to the public.
- March 2026 – Jeni’s Ice Cream announces that they will be opening their first Columbia location on the first floor of the Bennet at BullStreet building.
- May 2026 – DressUp, a women’s clothing boutique, announces that they will be opening in the WestLawn building.