Homeless No More Broke Ground on Columbia Housing Project
The development replaces a dated motel to add 30 family homes for local residents facing an affordable housing shortage.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Construction
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Homeless No More has begun construction on Grand Village, a $12.8 million residential development located on Two Notch Road in Columbia. The project will add 30 homes for families by rehabilitating and expanding a former motel site.
Why it matters
The project directly addresses a critical undersupply of attainable housing in the Midlands, where a deficit of 50,000 units persists. It combines private and public funding to repurpose aging real estate assets into active residential inventory.
The $12.8 million Grand Village development will provide 30 homes, addressing a portion of the 50,000-unit housing shortage estimated across the Midlands. The initiative leverages capital from public entities and private partners including Dominion Energy.
The players
Homeless No More
A non-profit organization focused on developing housing and support services for families in the Midlands.
South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority
A state agency that facilitates affordable housing development through financing and administrative oversight.
Dominion Energy
An energy utility company that provides funding and infrastructure support for regional development projects.
United Way of the Midlands
A community-focused organization that coordinates charitable funding and support programs across the region.
Richland County
The local government authority providing jurisdictional support and financial backing for the project.
The details
The development strategy involves a mix of new construction and rehabilitation of the site formerly occupied by the 1950s-era Grand Motel. Upon completion, the property will include a community center named for James E. Christopher designed to host financial literacy classes and children's mentoring programs. Homeless No More secured the Two Notch Road property in 2023 to execute this renovation model.
Timeline
1950s: The Grand Motel was originally built on the property.
2023: Homeless No More acquired the Grand Motel property.
October 13, 2026: The official groundbreaking ceremony for Grand Village occurred.
Market Landscape
The development highlights a regional trend of converting aging commercial infrastructure to mitigate the estimated 50,000-unit housing shortage in the Midlands. It follows a pattern of public-private financing, similar to other major infrastructure efforts intended to stabilize local housing markets.
Operators in the construction and property management sectors should monitor how the integration of new residential units impacts local neighborhood demand and infrastructure usage. The rehabilitation model demonstrates a potential pathway for redeveloping underutilized commercial properties to meet community needs.
The takeaway
Repurposing historical commercial sites can be a viable strategy for developers navigating urban housing shortages. Operators should assess if similar underutilized properties in their portfolios could be transitioned to high-demand residential use through public-private partnerships.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts and local infrastructure, see Construction.
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Do you believe your community is doing enough to address the shortage of affordable housing?
