Pickens Street Cottages opens in downtown Columbia

GBX Group LLC, in partnership with Rogers Lewis Group LLC and Heartwood Homes, recently celebrated the grand opening of Pickens Street Cottages with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and property tours.

The ceremony took place on the grounds of Columbia’s historic W.B. Smith Whaley House at 1527 Gervais St. on June 16. The event brought together preservation advocates and stakeholders to recognize the adaptive reuse of the W.B. Smith Whaley House grounds into residences designed for both short-term and long-term stays in the heart of downtown Columbia.

During the ceremony, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann shared a proclamation commemorating the opening and recognizing the collaborative effort that brought new life to the historic property.

“Pickens Street Cottages is exactly the kind of project we’re proud to bring to communities, as it respects the past while meeting today’s needs,” Jeff Prioreschi, president of development of GBX Group, said in a news release. “By preserving the historic W.B. Smith Whaley House grounds and thoughtfully transforming underutilized surface lots into historically appropriate new in-fill, we’re adding new energy to downtown Columbia and creating high-quality rental options that offer guests and residents a one-of-a-kind place to stay.”

Pickens Street Cottages offers rentals within walking distance of downtown Columbia’s cultural destinations, including the University of South Carolina.

“This project is a testament to what’s possible when partners share a commitment to thoughtful development and long-term neighborhood value,” Robert Lewis at Rogers Lewis Group LLC, said in the release. “Pickens Street Cottages strengthens the downtown experience while honoring the character of a site that matters to Columbia.”

The historic W.B. Smith Whaley House was awarded Historic Columbia’s Preservation Award for Revitalization in 2023, and Pickens Street Cottages was awarded this recognition in 2026.