Press Releases
The Lake Murray News
June 2, 2009
The Haven at Lake Murray on North Lake Drive will soon begin renting more than 300 new, upscale apartments with balcony view of the lake.
The $50 million project near the intersection of North Lake Drive and Lake Murray Boulevard should be completed by October. But builders say the first apartments will be ready for occupancy in April.
“It’s like nothing else in the Columbia area,” say Ben Graves, president of the Multi-family Division of Johnson Development Associate of Spartanburg. “It’s our flagship apartments.”
The 328 apartments in 13 buildings offer one, two and three bedroom units, complete with laundry rooms.
What makes the site unique is the proximity to Lake Murray and the clear view most apartment dwellers will have of the wide waters near the dam.
The 43-acre tract formerly owned by SCE&G, only became available after the backup dam was constructed. In the past, the designated use for the site was that of a reserve landfill that would be available if the dam should break.
Graves says the location adds something new for those looking for luxury apartments in the Columbia area. It’s not too far from Columbia but offers a setting that doesn’t have as much congestion as the apartment communities in the downtown area.
He expects to attract “young professionals” who want an apartment with all the amenities that is not too far from their workplace.
Rentals will range from $950 to approximately $1,000 a month, which Graves says is in line with other upscale community apartments in downtown Columbia and the USC area.
Expect all of the amenities: nature trails, a gym, swimming pool with nearby gas grills, clubhouse, internet café, boat storage and even a doggie park.
A swath of land just in front of the complex will be devoted to a retail center but it’s too early to say who will set up shop. It may take some time because of the lapse in new retail development during an economic downturn.
But Graves said the retail area will be trail-linked to the apartments.
He likes to refer to the entire project as a “village.”
The new complex spotlights one of the busiest areas along the Lake Murray shores and could help spark more development.
The Lake Murray dam has always been a landmark attraction, drawing visitors to the popular beach park on the Lexington side of the dam and the boat launching area on the Irmo side.
The completion of the $275 million backup dam provided an opportunity to restructure the roadway for dual lanes that moves traffic more smoothly along a once congested route. The addition of a protected pedestrian lane produced a popular new activity at the dam – walking and running.
The heavy pedestrian traffic prompted SCE&G to provide a parking area on the Lexington side of the dam to accommodate all of the visitors.
Graves expects all of the activity around the dam will continue to attract the interest of developers, particularly along Lake Murray Boulevard between Irmo and the dam.
It’s going to explode,” he says.
By Al Dozier, Contributing Writer
