Hattie’s Crossing creates new neighborhood at Cayce school site

Construction is underway on all 12 homes at Hattie’s Crossing, an urban infill community on the site of the former Cayce Grammar School.

Hattie’s Crossing is a project of Columbia developers Mark James and Tyler Baldwin Jr. of Cypress Development Partners, with marketing handled by The Wheeler Group powered by Coldwell Banker Realty, according to a news release.

Bounded by Lexington Avenue, and Eighth, Poplar and Third streets, Hattie’s Crossing will offer a mix of one- and two-story single-family homes in four models with three distinct versions of each. Construction is expected to be completed this fall, and homes are expected to be priced from $379,000 to $399,000, according to the release.

The homes will all be three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, ranging from approximately 1,400 to 1,600 square feet on roughly 6,000-square-foot lots. Each home will have its own yard. Six homes will face Poplar Street and six will face Lexington Avenue, with an alley behind the homes connecting Third and Eighth streets to be used for parking and access. Each house will have a front porch, and all homes will be connected by sidewalks.

Allison Ramsey Architects of Beaufort, who also designed the homes for St. Anns Alley in West Columbia, has designed the four basic models with varying interior layouts and color schemes. Fulfilled Engineering of West Columbia is the civil engineer for the project, and Haven Homes of Irmo is the builder.

The new community’s name — Hattie’s Crossing — pays homage to Hattie Derrenbacher, who established the first school in Cayce in 1913. Initially operating out of her home with nine students, she later became a teacher at Cayce’s first public school, the release said. When that school was destroyed by fire, a new two-room school was built where the Cayce Grammar School later stood. The school closed in 1976 and its remnants were demolished for this new development, the release stated.

“Full credit goes to the developer for turning a deteriorating structure in a prime location into a thoughtfully planned residential community,” Zack Wheeler, partner in The Wheeler Group, said in the release. “By reimagining an entire city block, they’ve created modern homes that remain attainable in today’s market. Future homeowners at Hattie’s Crossing will enjoy the best of both worlds — contemporary living on a historic site, nestled within a well-established neighborhood that truly feels like a community within a community.”

“Arriving at the right development plan for this property took careful thought and consideration,” James said in the release. James and Baldwin purchased the school property in 2018. “We considered the desires of the local residents and worked with the city of Cayce to make sure the project is consistent with the city’s vision.”

Cayce City Council member Byron Thomas praised the development. “I’m truly grateful to see Hattie’s Crossing taking shape, bringing 12 new homes to the highly sought-after Cayce avenues. This project not only provides new housing opportunities for families but also transforms a long-dormant, non-tax paying property into a valuable source of tax revenue. These homes will help strengthen our city’s tax base and support continued investment in public services, infrastructure, and overall quality of life for all Cayce residents,” he said.

The name Hattie’s Crossing acknowledges the history and legacy of the property.

“Lexington School District Two is pleased with this fitting tribute to Hattie Derrenbacher, a woman who dedicated her life to educating the children who would one day be productive citizens and leaders of our great city of Cayce,” said Brenda Hafner, the school district’s superintendent, in the release.