ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A historic building in downtown Orangeburg is poised for a new chapter, with plans underway to breathe new life into the space.
The Louis Building, a three-story building located at the corner of Russell and Middleton Streets, was purchased by the Orangeburg City Council in 2021 for $70,000.
Since then, the city has worked toward revitalizing the downtown area, a key focus for the future of the city, according to City Administrator Sidney Evering.
"We’re certainly working to get our downtown revitalized," Evering said. "Its very important to the future of the city.”
Now, the city has approved the sale of the building to a group of developers, who plan to transform the space into a mixed-use development, featuring six condominiums and retail space.
The purchase and eventual sale of buildings like the Louis Building are part of a broader strategy to revitalize downtown Orangeburg.
Evering says the goal is not only to enhance the city’s core, but also to encourage private investment.
“And so all of these things, in terms of the government investment into our city, is intended to also serve as an emphasis for private investment the sale of this building is one of the first steps in having private investments in downtown," Evering explained.
City Council and the developers are still finalizing the details of the sale. Once complete, the project is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of downtown Orangeburg, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, including the Louis Building and other buildings along Russell Street.