Downtown Columbia construction 'changing the landscape' with four-story apartments

Construction is underway downtown set to bring multiple projects to life along the East 6th Street, including downtown's first high-rise apartment complex, The Drake.

Anyone who has walked or driven along East 6th Street near the Woodland Street intersection might have noticed construction crews taking residence over the last few weeks. And while construction might create some inconvenience, the combined finished projects aim to add another layer to downtown's growing tapestry of businesses, modern residential options and historic preservation.

The Drake will offer 293 rooms, a parking garage (not public), ground-level retail space, courtyard and other amenities.

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Franklin-based Bristol Development is overseeing the project, which is estimated to be completed in early 2026.

"They have closed on their property and submitted all of their building and construction plans to our development services staff, who are reviewing all of that now, but we went ahead and gave them the demo permit to begin site prep and demolition," city manager Tony Massey said. "They didn't waste anytime at all getting all of that stuff knocked down and gone."

Additional 6th Street projects

Maury County Archives Director Tom Price said that the apartments, among other major projects in the area, will create a brand new landscape for downtown Columbia.

"I love that our downtown is changing all at once, with the courthouse changing to a certain degree, our archives expanding and really changing the look of East 6th Street," Price said. "It's going to change the town immensely."

Adjacent to the apartment project, construction to expand the Maury County Archives has been underway for almost a year, which should be near completion by the end of the year, if not sooner, according to Massey.

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The archives expansion will add an additional 18,000 square feet to its current 8,500-square foot facility, which archives director Tom Price said will add a much-needed space to preserve documents, artifacts and other pieces of local history.

"We're not just moving the archives back into the new space once it's complete, but also things from the courthouse to the facility as well," Price said. "And so we'll be increasing our inventory significantly."

Down one block at East 6th Street and North Main Street two more projects, including new restaurants and a butcher are being constructed, adding to the changing landscape.

There are also plans to construct a museum dedicated to the city's automotive history, though Massey said details of that project are limited at this time.

"I don't know much about that, but that it's going to be next to where the downtown apartments are going," Massey said. "There is a lot of synergy going on downtown right now."

Living space for families, at-home workers, retail

The Drake apartments will consist of four stories, with an additional lower level serving as a basement, with units ranging from one, two and three bedrooms.

In addition to its private garage parking, other Drake amenities will consist of a courtyard area with a pool, dog park and pet spa, a bike lounge, fitness center, as well as a music/podcast studio.

There are also plans to open retail space at the facility's frontage onto Woodland Street.

"It's pretty much got all of the bells and whistles that a modern apartment community can have," Bristol principal Charles Carlisle said. "There are a lot of people that love these little urban areas, and so we always want to attract people that could have bought a home, but want to live in a downtown area, having all of the amenities without having to maintain their own space. That's the target market that we are aiming for."

The Drake will also provide what's called a "co-working space" which is a gathering spot set up like a coffee shop for meetings and networking.

"It feels and looks like a coffee shop, with drinks and coffee available to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Carlisle said. "There will be tables, chairs and little offices set up where people can come down and either be by themselves, or maybe have a small meeting down there. That's a big deal today with a lot of people working from home."

Carlisle said what attracted his company to build in Columbia was the thriving atmosphere of growth, small businesses and retail, as well as its integrity in maintaining its history and why his company hopes to bring "a new and exciting chapter" to downtown Columbia's continued growth.

"It's about keeping the trend of revitalizing the downtown, and I think this will really enhance that, because people living downtown is a really important thing to have," Carlisle said. "It's really exciting to see."

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia real estate: 4-story apartments to change downtown Columbia