Back to Basics
Allstate’s current ad campaign promotes “back to basics,” a long-overdue return to fundamentals such as home and family over wealth and possessions.
Edens & Avant followed that same tack when redeveloping a half-century-old asset in the developer’s home base of Columbia, S.C.
Trenholm Plaza was built in 1959 and, over its 50-year history, had “once been the place to see and be seen,” said Lyle Darnall, VP of development for Edens & Avant. “But over time we had lost some of that. It was time to bring it back.”
To restore the center’s original allure, Edens & Avant focused on creating a pedestrian orientation complete with lush landscaping, new walkways, water features, teak benches and revamped lighting along with a revived tenant lineup that includes Rosso Trattoria Italia, SOAK nail spa and Urban Nirvana Hair Salon, which appeal to the sophisticated customers in the area.
Edens & Avant launched the redevelopment of the center in summer 2008, with the objective of injecting elegance and a sense of community while keeping an eye toward sustainability.
“Inherent to a redevelopment are the taking down and hauling away of old materials and then bringing in new materials,” said Jodie McLean, president and chief investment officer for Edens & Avant. “But we reused as many of the existing materials as possible.” Old mechanical units were replaced with energy-efficient models, and the center’s relamping involved utilization of a local vendor and locally supplied lamps as well as full replacement of existing bulbs with energy-efficient products. Ninety native trees were added and, while Trenholm Plaza doesn’t have a rain garden as many other Edens & Avant centers do, it does have a recirculating fountain.
Even some of the center’s unique design elements have a sustainable bent. A “green screen” measures 26 ft. tall and soon will be covered with Confederate Jasmine, a flowering vine native to South Carolina. “The green screen physically represents the importance of landscaping to the project,” said McLean. “It is a unique design feature but also very sustainable.”
Mahogany storefronts not only serve as dominant design features, they add tenant individuality. “We wanted to bring the eye-level shopping experience back to the shopper,” explained Darnall, “so it was important to create individual store-fronts for the retailers, adding more of a Main Street look. The mahogany store-fronts kicked off that individual look, and we will continue to replace the existing aluminum storefronts with the custom mahogany.”
Trenholm Plaza features two grocery anchors—Publix and Fresh Market—and a post office, which contribute to the strong feeling of community and promote the center as a central point of interaction and enjoyment for the neighborhood. According to Darnall, the center will generate more than $70 million in 2009, with an expectation of an upward climb to $85 million. But, more importantly, said Darnall, “We are already seeing people gather. It’s been a wonderful transformation to watch.”