Subtext Breaks Ground on South Carolina Student Housing Community
The property is located in Columbia near the state's flagship state university.
Student and multifamily real estate company Subtext has acquired 3.8 acres in Columbia, S.C., for the construction of student housing community VERVE Columbia. The four-story property will be situated two blocks from the University of South Carolina’s campus on one of Columbia’s main thoroughfares. Construction is ongoing, with an expected completion in the autumn of 2026.
Measuring a total of 412,959 square feet, the 233-unit, 697-bed student apartment community will present residents with a choice of studio and one-, two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom floor plans. A resort-inspired pool courtyard with cabanas and grilling is among the common-area amenities of VERVE Columbia.
Overcoming challenges
“During the pre-development process of VERVE Columbia, Subtext navigated challenges through its proactive approach of collaborating with city stakeholders, staff member and community members,” Mitchell Korte, executive vice president for development at Subtext, told Multi-Housing News. “Subtext prides itself on being a good community developer and owner and strives to create communities that not only benefit our residents, but the surrounding neighborhoods.”
The primary obstacle Subtext faced was designing the building’s ground floor to balance several goals. Those included meeting the neighborhood’s design guidelines, promoting vibrancy and activity and maintaining pedestrian safety along one of the busier streets leading into the USC campus, Korte said. “Subtext accomplished this through large sidewalks and extensive streetscaping to provide an attractive walkway and buffer between the road and pedestrians.
The design team also added a mix of walk-up units and community amenity space on the street level which will bring more activity to the streetscape. The walk-up units will also offer a unique type of residence that will be attractive to young professionals and other residents seeking properties with private entry.
The relocation of utilities served up another hurdle that had to be overcome. “In a collaborative effort involving city officials, members of the South Carolina Department of Transportation, neighboring property owners and utility entities, Subtext will carry out the extensive utility relocations over the next several months,” Korte said.
“The relocations will result in reduced overhead lines along Huger and Blossom Streets, and will greatly enhance the pedestrian experience along one of the major gateways into the city of Columbia,” said Kote.
With its role as a college town, as well as South Carolina’s capital, Columbia is a hub of construction activity. Two months ago, Walker & Dunlop arranged $62 million in financing for the development of a new multifamily community in the city.
