John Sherrer
2025 Preservation Awards | John C. Heslep House
Friday, May 16th 2025
Recently significantly rehabilitated, 303 Saluda Avenue arguably ranks among Columbia’s most iconic early twentieth century residences. Today home to the Tomlin family, the ca.-1917 house grew into its current form and style between 1927 and 1928 under the ownership of John C. Heslep, a prominent local contractor.
2025 Preservation Awards | DePass House
Friday, May 16th 2025
Nestled in the National Register of Historic Places-listed University Hill neighborhood, 920 Gregg Street, aka the DePass House, is notable for architecture and for its association with a former owner involved in South Carolina’s last legally sanctioned duel.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1324 Richland Street
Friday, May 16th 2025
A desire to pay homage to local businessman and political activist Joseph Azar led relative William Akel to construct a new commercial building on land that had previously stood vacant for decades following a fire that claimed the ca.-1860 cottage originally fronting Richland Street.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1700 Huger Street
Friday, May 16th 2025
In 2016, two of Columbia’s most respected family-owned businesses— Flooring by Cogdill and Cromer’s Peanuts—left what for most passersby was simply a large commercial building featuring a post-modern, multi-story office and retail space from the mid-1980s. In 2022, after nearly six years having stood vacant, 1700 Huger Street found new life when it was purchased and transformed to meet the needs of Columbia Presbyterian Church, a young congregation of over 500 members that had outgrown its previous location in the Cottontown area.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1429 Hagood Avenue
Friday, May 16th 2025
Some residences standing in historic and architectural conservation districts like that of Melrose Heights-Oaklawn feature garages and garage apartments established in the 1920s through 1950s. Repurposing elements of properties can involve teaching old buildings new tricks through sensitive adaptations.
2025 Preservation Awards | The Laundry
Friday, May 16th 2025
Adaptive use of historic buildings has played a key role in the success of Columbia’s BullStreet District realizing its full potential. Rehabilitation of the circa-1883 laundry building marks the latest chapter in the decades-long transformation.
2025 Preservation Awards | Taylor House
Friday, May 16th 2025
When completed in 1908, 1501 Senate Street stood out among neighboring residences for its architectural sophistication. Built for Thomas and Susan Ames Taylor, Jr., following a design by the Boston architectural firm Andrews, Jacques, and Rantoul, the neoclassical mansion ultimately evolved to function in ways for which it was never intended.
2025 Preservation Awards | 1225 & 1229 Lincoln Street
Friday, May 16th 2025
After a generation-long spate of revitalization, Columbia’s Congaree Vista district rarely affords opportunities for revitalizing historic buildings. So, when the former Palmetto Candy & Tobacco store—a architecturally contributing property within the heart of the historic district—came up for sale, rehabilitating the property in a sensitive fashion proved a must for new owner Jerry and Ben’s, LLC.
2025 Preservation Awards | Barton House
Friday, May 16th 2025
That rehabilitation offers old buildings new life is a story that runs deep for the Barton House. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this ca.-1850 former residence-turned-office building originally stood a block north, on the grounds of the former State Hospital, whose campus is now being repurposed as the BullStreet District.
2025 Preservation Awards | Fred Delk
Friday, May 16th 2025
This year’s preservation leadership award winner played a critical role in shaping our capital city for a generation, proving that informed, successful, and even enviable urban growth can and should include historic properties. Without Fred Delk’s dedication to integrating landmark buildings into the fabric of our daily lives, irreplaceable buildings would have met the wrecking ball, leaving us and future residents of and visitors to Columbia culturally poorer.