Estate Planning Attorney inColumbia, SC

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Securing Your Legacy in South
Carolina

Did you know that one in two U.S. citizens have yet to create a plan for their estate? Just about everyone knows they need to get their affairs in order, but most people procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. It's an uncomfortable subject to think about. After all, nobody wants to ponder their death and what happens to their assets when they pass. However, working with an estate planning lawyer in Columbia, SC, protects you, your loved ones, and your assets, both while you're alive and after you have died. There isn't a perfect time to plan your estate, but there is a right time and that time is now.

We understand that there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to your estate planning needs. That's why, at Cobb Hammett Law Firm, we make a concerted effort to speak with our clients personally so that we can create an estate plan that is as unique as they are. Our estate plans are comprehensive, cost-effective, and catered to you. That way, your family is provided if you are incapacitated or pass away.

At the end of the day, our goal is to make sure that every one of our clients leaves our office feeling less stressed and more informed. Peace of mind is valuable currency these days. Why worry about the future of your loved ones when you can use South Carolina law to ensure their stability?

Many of the clients in Columbia that walk through our doors have significant questions that require serious answers. They're filled with doubt, stress, and worry. They're worried about their children, their spouse, their relatives, or all the above. They ask questions like:

  • How much does estate planning cost?
  • What kind of results can I expect?
  • How long will this process take?

If these questions sound familiar, know that you are not alone. At Cobb Hammett Law Firm, we have worked with hundreds of clients just like you. Sometimes, these clients are unsatisfied with their current estate planning attorney in Columbia. Other times, they have been served with confusing papers or documents that leave them feeling overwhelmed. In either case, clients come to our office knowing they need to manage what is often a sudden, foreign situation.

The good news? We sit down with all new clients for an hour at no extra cost. We do so to get a basic sense of their situation and help steer them in the right direction. That way, they can leave our office feeling a little wiser and a lot better about the future.

Estate Planning Law Columbia, SC
Service Areas

Our firm specializes in several areas of estate planning and family law, including:

  • Estate Planning
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Living Wills
  • Heath Care Power of Attorney
  • Living Wills
  • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Revocable Trusts
  • Retirement Trusts
  • Special Needs Trusts

The Cobb Hammett
Difference

At Cobb Hammett, LLC, estate planning is like second nature to us. Having worked hundreds upon hundreds of cases, we have the knowledge and experience to assist with all the estate planning needs that you or your family have.

As our client, you will always work directly with your attorney. We do not pass cases off to paralegals or junior associates. Because your concerns and questions don't end when our office closes, we encourage our clients to contact us at any time.

Because we limit the number of cases we accept, we have the time and resources to truly dedicate ourselves to each of our clients. Unlike some competitors, we care about the outcome of every case because we know that our clients' future depends on it.

 Estate Planning Attorney Columbia, SC The-Cobb-Dill-Hammett-Difference
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What Our Clients Say

What is Estate Planning in
Columbia, SC?

The word "estate" might make you think of a sprawling mansion in the French countryside. The truth is, you don't have to be rich to have an estate. In fact, most people already have an estate. An estate comprises the assets that a person owns like cars, bank accounts, real estate, businesses, and other possessions. Everyone's estate is different, but we all have one thing in common: none of us can take our estates with us when we die. When that does eventually happen, you will need legal instructions that state who gets what from your estate in plain terms.That, in a nutshell, is estate planning building a framework in advance that names the organizations or people that should receive your assets after you die. Planning your estate now helps make life much easier for your family down the line.

 Estate Planning Lawyer Columbia, SC
A good estate plan covers more than fiscal assets, however. A comprehensive
estate plan should include the following:
  • If you have children who are minors, instructions as to who will be their guardian when you die.
  • Long-term care insurance if you suffer from an extended injury or illness.
  • Instructions that dictate what happens to you and your financial affairs if you become incapacitated before death.
  • Instructions on the transfer of your business after retirement, incapacity, disability, or death.
  • Instructions on how to provide for loved ones who might need help managing money or who need protection from creditors.
  • Probate and tax avoidance that help minimize court fees, taxes, and legal fees.
  • Planning Medicaid payments.
  • Instructions that help complete or update beneficiary designations.
  • Assist family members who have special needs without disqualifying them from government benefits.

Contrary to popular belief, estate planning isn't just for adults who are approaching retirement age. Estate planning is for everyone. After all, we're all getting older, and none of us know exactly when it will be our time to go.

The Basics of Estate Planning
in Columbia, SC

Although estate planning can be complicated, a well-rounded plan makes a huge difference in what is left to your beneficiaries. Before you start planning your estate, it's important to know a few common topics that may arise as you detail your needs.

1.

Working with a Tax Advisor and Estate Planning
Attorney in Columbia, SC

Working with a veteran estate planning lawyer is a no-brainer, but you should consider working with a tax advisor too. Your attorney's role is to help guide you through the creation of your estate planning documents. Common documents include your will, health care directives, and power of attorney. Your tax advisor will help guide you through tax issues associated with your estate planning needs.

In this relationship, you make the decisions while your attorney and tax advisor help you understand and think through the options you're considering. As a team, they will help you state your wishes clearly while minimizing mistakes and adjusting your plans as they change. Because significant savings can result from thorough, informed planning, you should seriously consider working with a tax advisor in addition to your estate planning attorney.

 Law Firm
 Columbia, SC
2.

Maximizing
Your Estate

If there were one overriding theme of estate planning, it would be maximizing what you plan to leave behind. Thinking through how each of your assets will be distributed is crucial to your estate. Your decisions may change depending on the type of asset, its size, how old you are, and several other factors. With an attorney on your side, you will gain a thorough understanding of what actions you should take to care for your family while minimizing expenses like taxes and court fees.

Estate Planning Law Columbia, SC
3.

Inheritance, Estate,
and Gift Taxes

One of the biggest parts of maximizing what you're leaving behind is to minimize taxes. Federal taxes on estates and gifts are incredibly high. Both forms of taxes usually have exemption limits, which means you can give up to a specific amount without being taxed. Your lawyer can achieve that by using the gift tax exemption to move assets while you are still alive. This strategy maximizes how much your beneficiaries will receive.

Inheritance taxes are often based on the value of your estate and paid prior to asset distribution to your beneficiaries.

 Estate Planning Attorney Columbia, SC

Choosing the
Executor of Your Will

The executor of your estate plays a key role in your affairs. Their responsibilities include carrying out the terms of your will and seeing the estate settlement process through until the end. Obviously, such a role demands a qualified person. Choosing your executor isn't an easy decision. The person you select should be great at managing money, be savvy financially, and show an ability to be patient. That's because the executor is tasked with:

  • Collecting Your Assets
  • Paying Outstanding Bills
  • Submitting Tax Returns
  • Petitioning the Court for Documents
  • Distributing Assets to Your Beneficiaries
 Estate Planning Lawyer Columbia, SC

If the person that you choose as executor is inexperienced with the estate settlement process, it is recommended that they lean on an estate planning attorney in Columbia, SC for guidance. It should be noted that you may appoint more than a single executor to your estate. This is common when two individuals have complementary personalities or skill sets.

The Benefits of Estate Planning
in Columbia, SC

One of the biggest benefits of planning your estate is the peace of mind it brings to you and your family. With the help of our expert estate planning attorneys, you have the power to protect your assets, privacy, and children's welfare. You can also potentially save money on taxes or even avoid probate. By having your wishes legally documented before death or incapacity, you can minimize any impact on your beneficiaries and take control of your legacy. Without a comprehensive estate plan, you're leaving the future of your loved ones in the hands of the South Carolina court system.

With an estate plan in place, you can plan for incapacity by using a power of attorney or advanced medical directives. Doing so relieves your loved ones of the burden of asking the court for the authority to fulfill your wishes.

At Cobb Hammett Law Firm, we are committed to helping you prepare for both the expected and unexpected through years of experience and a fierce dedication to our clients. From establishing trusts to designing business succession plans, we are here to fight for you.

At Cobb Hammett we offer a "Will Package" that includes 4 necessary documents.

If a husband and wife each purchase reciprocating will packages we give a discount. Reciprocating just means the husband names the wife and the wife names the husband. Those four documents are:

  • Last will and testament
  • Healthcare power of attorney
  • Durable power of attorney
  • living will

Common Documents Included
in Your Estate Plan

As mentioned above, everyone's estate planning needs will be different. However, most plans include one or more of the following documents:

1.

Will

Your will is an essential piece of documentation and is often considered the cornerstone of a proper estate plan. Generally speaking, your will is a document that dictates the distribution of your assets after your death. Having an iron-clad will is one of the best ways to make sure that your wishes are communicated clearly. As is the case with most estate planning, it is highly recommended that you work with an estate planning attorney in Columbia, SC, to create and update your will.

The contents of a will typically include:

  • Designation of the executor, who is responsible for adhering to the provisions of your will.
  • Designation of beneficiaries the people who will be inheriting your assets
  • Instructions that dictate how and when your beneficiaries will receive assets.
  • Instructions that assign guardianship for any minor children.

Without a will in place, the State of South Carolina will decide how to distribute assets to your beneficiaries. Allowing the state to distribute your assets is often an unfavorable route to take, since the settlement process may not include what you had in mind for your survivors. Having a will drafted that reflects your wishes will prevent such a situation from happening.

 Law Firm
 Columbia, SC
2.

Living Will

Despite its name, a living will does not instruct your survivors on what assets go where. Also called an advanced directive, your living will allows you to state your end-of-life medical wishes if you have become unable to communicate. This important document provides guidance to family members and doctors and solidifies certain issues like whether you should be resuscitated after an accident.

For example, it's common to direct that palliative care (care to decrease pain and suffering) always be administered if needed. Conversely, you may state that certain measures are not allowed, like CPR.

Estate Planning Law Columbia, SC
3.

Trusts

Traditionally, a trust is used to minimize estate taxes and maximize other benefits as part of a well-rounded estate plan. This fiduciary agreement lets a trustee hold your assets on behalf of your beneficiaries. There are many ways to arrange a trust to specify when and how your assets are distributed.

With a trust in place, your beneficiaries can avoid going to probate. That means they may be able to gain access to your assets quicker than when they are transferred with a standard will. Assets placed in a trust can pass outside of probate, which will save you and your family time, money, and stress.

There are two distinct trust categories that you should be aware of: revocable and irrevocable.

 Estate Planning Attorney Columbia, SC

Revocable Trust:

Also called a living trust, a revocable trust helps assets circumvent probate. With this trust, you can control your assets while you are still alive. These trusts are flexible and may be dissolved at any point in time. This type of trust becomes irrevocable upon your death. Revocable trusts can help you avoid the pitfalls of probate but be aware that they are usually still taxable.

Irrevocable Trust:

This kind of trust transfers assets out of your estate so that they are not taxed and do not have to go through probate. However, once an irrevocable trust has been executed, it may not be altered. That means that once you establish this kind of trust, you lose control of its assets and cannot dissolve the trust. If your primary goal is to avoid taxes on your estate, setting up an irrevocable could be a wise choice.

When drafted with the help of an estate planning lawyer in Columbia, SC, your trust can also:

Protect Your Legacy:

When constructed properly, a trust can protect your estate from your heirs' creditors. This can be a huge relief for beneficiaries who might need to brush up on money management skills.

Privacy and Probate:

Probate records are made available for public consumption. With a trust, you may have the choice of having your assets pass outside of probate court so that they remain private. In the process, you may also save money that you would lose to taxes and court fees.

Control Wealth:

Because you can specify the exact terms of a trust, you have more control over who receives your assets and when they receive them. As an example, you can set up a revocable trust so that your assets are attainable while you're alive. When you pass, remaining assets are distributed, even in complex situations involving children from multiple marriages.

The Top Estate Planning Law Firm in the Lowcountry

If you know that you need to provide for your family and loved ones after your death, it's time to develop your estate plan. With Cobb Hammett Law Firm by your side, planning your estate doesn't have to be difficult. However, it does need to be accurate and executed exactly to your wishes something that we have been helping clients achieve for years. Don't leave your legacy up to chance contact our office today and secure your future generations.

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Latest News in Columbia, SC

Need something to do this weekend? Check out these events in the Columbia area

St. Pat's in Five Points dominates, but there are other things to do this weekendCOLUMBIA, S.C. — St. Pat’s in Five Points is the big event this weekend, but if you’re not into communing with 30,000+ of your closest friends, there are some other things going on that might pique your...

St. Pat's in Five Points dominates, but there are other things to do this weekend

COLUMBIA, S.C. — St. Pat’s in Five Points is the big event this weekend, but if you’re not into communing with 30,000+ of your closest friends, there are some other things going on that might pique your interest.

Here’s a partial list of events – other than St. Pat’s – going on Friday through Sunday, March 14-16:

Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, SC State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia. Thinking about building or remodeling your home, or want to check on the latest home and garden trends? This is the place to be this weekend.

Columbia City Manager's Go Red Heart Walk, 10:30 a.m., City Hall, 1737 Main St. Wear something red and join Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson for a walk to the State House to raise awareness for heart health in our community. Exhibitors such as Prisma Health and March of Dimes will have information on the importance of heart health.

Newberry Irish Fling, 5 p.m., downtown Newberry. The streets in downtown Newberry will be closed to vehicle traffic so that local bars and restaurants can showcase their best food and drink and live music. Admission and parking are free.

Live in the Lobby Jazz: Jane Monheit: American Songbook, 7:30 p.m. Koger Center, 1051 Greene St., Columbia. Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist and successful bandleader. Her performance will consist of her take on jazz standards from The Great American Songbook

Soda City Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Main Street Columbia. Wander through city blocks full of food trucks, arts and crafts and more.

C.A. Johnson High School Gospelfest, 6:30 p.m. C.A. Johnson High School, 2219 Barhamville Rd. The concert will feature Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Le'Andria Johnson and Blanche McAllister-Dykes, Jarell Smalls, Tejon Conyers and Damon Terry, and will feature a special tribute to singer Angie Stone, who passed away March 1. Ms. Stone was a Columbia native who attended C.A. Johnson.

LifeChance: Gala of the Stars, 7:30 p.m., Koger Center. Columbia Classical Ballet’s showcase of some of the world’s most exceptional dancers, this year featuring Elisabeth Beyer from American Ballet Theatre.

A Wee Bit Celtic Artisan Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Flora & Fauna Marketplace, 4773 Sunset Blvd., Lexington. A day before the actual St. Patrick’s Day, don your finest kilt or fantasy attire and enjoy a celebration of Celtic lore and heritage with food and music.

Free Sundays at Robert Mills House, 1-4 p.m., 1616 Blanding St. Residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour the Robert Mills House and gardens for free, thanks to Richland County. Semi-guarded tours are at the top of the hour and guests can register on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills

WEDNESDAY, March 19: McNair Conversations on the American South with Michael Stipe, 6 p.m. Koger Center. The former lead singer of R.E.M. talks about his 31 years in the band, his transition to work in video, sculpture, and photographic and digital imagery, and completing his first solo album, set for release in 2025.

THURSDAY, March 20: Free seed packets and lemonade at Columbia Visitors Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Columbia SC Visitor Center, 1120 Lincoln St.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY. March 20-22: SC BBQ Shag Festival, Hemingway, SC. Come for the beach music and dancing, stay for the whole hog barbecue cook-off.

Manufacturer to enter SC market with $70M Lexington County facility

Listen to this articleA German manufacturer has chosen Lexington County for its first South Carolina operation.ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer of adhesive products, has chosen Lexington County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation, according to a news release. The $70 million investment will create 130 new jobs.ALLTAPE’s new facility, located in the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park, will include 125,000 square feet of production and office space.Part of ATP Group and f...

Listen to this article

A German manufacturer has chosen Lexington County for its first South Carolina operation.

ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer of adhesive products, has chosen Lexington County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation, according to a news release. The $70 million investment will create 130 new jobs.

ALLTAPE’s new facility, located in the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park, will include 125,000 square feet of production and office space.

Part of ATP Group and founded in Germany, ALLTAPE specializes in developing and manufacturing sustainable and solvent-free adhesive products. The company’s water-based adhesives are used in a variety of industry segments including automotive, transportation, foam, plastics and more.

“Launching our first production site in Lexington County, South Carolina marks a significant milestone in our expansion into the U.S. market,” ATP Group CEO Daniel Heini said in the release. “This substantial investment reflects ATP’s commitment to growth and innovation, and we are excited to commence operations in the South Carolina region.” –

Operations are expected to be online in July 2026.

“Lexington County is proud to welcome ALLTAPE and their significant investment of $70 million to our community,” Lexington County Council Chairman Todd Cullum said in the release. “This commitment, along with the creation of 130 new jobs, demonstrates the strength of our business climate and the opportunities available here. We look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our local economy and workforce for years to come.”

Related: Global manufacturer leases space at Columbia speculative building

Related: Paper company to invest $145 million in Eastover, Sumter facilities

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project, according to the release. The council also awarded a $600,000 Set-Aside grant to Lexington County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

“We are thrilled to congratulate ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc.,” Central SC Alliance Chairman Matthew Shaffer said in the release. “On selecting Lexington County as the ideal location for their first operations in South Carolina. Their innovative adhesive products are poised to strengthen our region’s thriving industries, seal new opportunities for growth and create a lasting bond of success across our vibrant business ecosystem.”

Don’t miss this week’s total lunar eclipse!

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sky watchers will get an astronomical treat this week.The 2025 March Total Lunar Eclipse takes place late Thursday night, March 13, into Friday morning, March 14.A lunar eclipse is when the Earth, Sun, and Moon come into alignment with the Moon passing through the Earth’s shadow.Unlike the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, you don’t need any special eyewear to view the eclipse. For the best viewing conditions, you’ll want to get away from bright lights as much as possible.While you...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sky watchers will get an astronomical treat this week.

The 2025 March Total Lunar Eclipse takes place late Thursday night, March 13, into Friday morning, March 14.

A lunar eclipse is when the Earth, Sun, and Moon come into alignment with the Moon passing through the Earth’s shadow.

Unlike the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, you don’t need any special eyewear to view the eclipse. For the best viewing conditions, you’ll want to get away from bright lights as much as possible.

While you should be able to see the lunar eclipse with the naked eye, a telescope or binoculars may offer a better viewing.

Lunar eclipses such as this one are also known as “Blood Moons” due to the reddish orange hue the moon will appear to have. The reason for the moon appearing to turn red-orange is an optical illusion that occurs when the moon passes into the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow known as the umbra.

The 2025 March Total Lunar eclipse will be visible from the Earth’s western hemisphere including all of the United States. Here’s an idea of when the Midlands can see the eclipse this week.

According to www.timeanddate.com, the 2025 March Total Lunar Eclipse will begin at 11:57 pm Thursday and lasts just over six hours for sky watchers in Columbia, SC.

As the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow, a partial eclipse occurs. It will appear as if a “bite” is being taken out of the Moon. This is expected to begin at 1:09 am Friday.

Totality begins when the entire Moon moves into the Earth’s umbra. This is also when a completely red moon should be visible. Totality, including its maximum eclipse at 2:58 am, is expected to begin at 2:26 am and end at 3:31 am Friday.

The Moon will slowly emerge form the Earth’s shadow and the eclipse will end around 6 am.

For viewing conditions in your area, get the latest forecast at https://www.wistv.com/weather/.

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Copyright 2025 WIS. All rights reserved.

'Jersey Shore' star DJ Pauly D brings the party to Columbia

The party was here.The shore was nowhere in sight, but DJ Pauly D brought his A-game to The Senate March 6, spinning with all his heart, and creating a 'Situation' fueled by fist pumps, singalongs and clubgoers ready for a good time.Born Paul Michael DelVecchio, the reality television personality demonstrated his prowess as a deejay, leading an EDM show for more than 90 minutes that never lost momentum, even when the beat slowed down to incorporate a more mellow tempo.Star of such MTV programs as “Jersey Shore&rdqu...

The party was here.

The shore was nowhere in sight, but DJ Pauly D brought his A-game to The Senate March 6, spinning with all his heart, and creating a 'Situation' fueled by fist pumps, singalongs and clubgoers ready for a good time.

Born Paul Michael DelVecchio, the reality television personality demonstrated his prowess as a deejay, leading an EDM show for more than 90 minutes that never lost momentum, even when the beat slowed down to incorporate a more mellow tempo.

Star of such MTV programs as “Jersey Shore” and “Jersey Shore Family Vacation,” Pauly D, as he is generally known, has been a household name among millennials and their younger siblings since 2009. That's when he was cast as one of eight summer beachgoers sharing a shore house, a.k.a. summer beach rental in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The show’s omnipresent cameras followed the protagonists through typical young adult vacation behavior: drinking, dancing in clubs and pursuing romance in many forms, but most often casual hookups. "Jersey Shore" quickly grew from disposable entertainment to national craze, setting new viewership records and inspiring multiple spinoffs.

Pauly D in Soda City

Taking the stage around 9:15 p.m. — following an opening set by local act DJ Payne that got the crowd going as soon as “Sandstorm” was played — Pauly D was every inch the professional.

Occasionally voicing his trademark “Yeah buddy!” at the crowd’s enthusiasm, the veteran entertainer mostly avoided references to his other career in reality television. This was no celebrity milking his 15 minutes of fame with club appearances, but rather a working professional who knew how to command a stage, how and when to engage with the audience and to get the party started.

Pauly D had been a local club DJ in his native Rhode Island before he was cast on "Jersey Shore." His of "gym, tan, laundry" and the club became a template for the daily routine of the show. MTV aired six seasons of the original series and seven more of its rebooted family vacation incarnation where the older but not necessarily wiser roommates reunite to hash out old business and create new memories.

All the while, Pauly D has kept up his DJ career, opening at one point for Britney Spears.

Thursday night, the tunes came fast and furious. He spun snippets, samples and extended dance remixes of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance,” La Roux’s “Bulletproof,” Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok,” Nikki Minaj’s “Everybody” and "Moment 4 Life,” J Balvin and Willy William’s “Mi Gente,” Shek Wes’s “Mo Bamba,” David Guetta and Jaden Bosjen’s “Let’s Go,” Lil John’s “Outta Your Mind” and even unexpected oldies like Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”.

He played hundreds of other hits that kept the crowd on their feet throughout the 90-minute set, including a few bars of Icona Pop’s “I Love It,” used as the theme for Jersey Shore castmates Snooki and J-Woww’s spinoff series.

The venue joined in the spirit of the evening with Jersey Shore-themed drink specials. For $16 one could enjoy a “GTL Bucket” made with coconut rum, vodka, blue Curacao, pineapple and orange juice, a reference to the daily routine of “gym, tan, laundry” popularized by the roommates. Other cocktails included the “Cabs Are Heah,” essentially a Long Island Tea infused with the DJ’s thick Delaware accent; the Blowout, a rebranded TequilaSunrise named for his signature hairstyle; and the “Fist Pump,” a variation on “Sex on the Beach” which would have worked as well with its original name.

About 75 percent of the audience was female, and only a few seemed to have dressed up like a favorite "Jersey Shore" character. all were well-behaved, and most appeared to be there purely to have a good time.

Pauly D appeared to be having as good a time as anyone there.

“Let’s let ‘em hear this all the way up in Jersey,” he urged at one point.

“South Carolina, I need you to shout this s— as loud as you can” he exclaimed at another, as the familiar rhythm of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” began.

As the crowd jumped, swayed and pumped their fists in the air, the artist encouraged everyone to whip out their cellphones.

“Let’s light this place up with phones,” he suggested.

And indeed, it was lit. Literally and metaphorically.

New eight-story apartment complex proposed for downtown Columbia

A proposed apartment building in downtown Columbia may force No Name Deli to relocate. The mixed-use project aims to provide housing and amenities in the area.COLUMBIA, S.C. — A proposal for a major new apartment building in downtown Columbia could reshape the area, with plans for an eight-story, mixed-use development at the corner of Bull and Elmwood Avenue.The proposed project, which is slated for discussion Thursday at a meeting of ...

A proposed apartment building in downtown Columbia may force No Name Deli to relocate. The mixed-use project aims to provide housing and amenities in the area.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A proposal for a major new apartment building in downtown Columbia could reshape the area, with plans for an eight-story, mixed-use development at the corner of Bull and Elmwood Avenue.

The proposed project, which is slated for discussion Thursday at a meeting of Columbia’s Planning Commission, would include 288 units and extend from Bull Street to Elmwood Avenue. Several existing buildings would be replaced, including the long-standing No Name Deli, which has been a staple in the area for 40 years. The deli would need to relocate if the project moves forward.

No Name Deli owner Jon Sears expressed gratitude for the restaurant’s loyal customers and its long history in Columbia. “I’m extremely thankful for our customers, and, uh, you know, I mean, this place was built way before me and it’s been, you know, an institution in Columbia for, for many years before, uh, Chris (Davis) and I bought it,” he said. “We’re not going to go into some shiny shopping center, we’re trying to stick to our roots and not changing it up too much.”

RELATED: Columbia’s riverfront is set for a major transformation after years of planning

The proposed apartment building would offer amenities such as a fitness center, swimming pool, dog park, recreational areas, and parking garage, as well as retail and office spaces. Developers indicated in a statement that the location is ideal for young professionals, recent graduates, and families seeking a walkable environment. The site is also located near the Bull Street development, home to the Fireflies stadium, several apartments, and local businesses.

RELATED: Columbia set to double parking fees, extend enforcement hours Monday

Richland County Councilman Don Weaver highlighted the need for more housing in the area. “It's really going to be exciting for folks in that area. The whole Bull Street development, we’ve got the new USC med school going in there, of course we already have the ballpark, a lot of new businesses, so I think this apartment complex is just going to add housing options for folks that want to be downtown in that area,” he said.

For those concerned about lunch plans in downtown Columbia, No Name Deli’s owners have reassured customers that they plan to relocate within two blocks of their current location.

The request for approval of the proposed development will be discussed at the City of Columbia’s Planning Commission meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m. If approved, it remains unclear when construction would begin.

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