Pickens Street Cottages Celebrate Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting at Historic W.B. Smith Whaley House Grounds

COLUMBIA, SC - GBX Group LLC, in partnership with Rogers Lewis Group, LLC and Heartwood Homes, celebrated the grand opening of Pickens Street Cottages with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and property tours on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, on the grounds of Columbia's historic W.B. Smith Whaley House at 1527 Gervais Street. The event brought together preservation advocates and stakeholders to recognize the adaptive reuse of the W.B. Smith Whaley House grounds into character-rich residences designed for both short-term and long-term stays in the heart of downtown Columbia.

During the June 16th 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 offers thoughtfully designed rentals within walking distance of downtown Columbia's cultural destinations, including the local university, expanding options for visitors, traveling professionals, and longer-term residents seeking a distinctive stay rooted in Columbia's history.

"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," said Jeff Prioreschi, President of Development of GBX Group. "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."

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

"From design to craftsmanship, our goal was to create spaces that feel authentic," said David Bergmann at Heartwood Homes. "Pickens Street Cottages blends historic context with modern comfort, and we're excited to welcome guests and residents into these homes."

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. The historic W.B Smith Whaley House grounds have been transformed through this adaptive reuse into a curated collection of cottage-style rentals that preserve the site's legacy while supporting the continued vibrancy of downtown Columbia. Booking is now available for Pickens Street Cottages. Reserve your stay or inquire about longer-term availability.

Dunbar Cottage

Gervais Cottage

Laurens Cottage

About GBX Group LLC 

GBX Group LLC specializes in acquiring, preserving and operating historic real estate in urban markets. The company partners with investors to fund the acquisition and preservation of historic real estate with the goal of generating community revitalization and economic growth. As of January 2026, GBX has been involved in 216 real estate projects in 24 states. For more about GBX, visit gbxgroup.com/. 

About Rogers Lewis Group

Rogers Lewis is South Carolina's leading historic tax credit law firm and has an experienced team that can guide you and your team through each stage of the tax credit development and approval process. From locating and entitling a qualified property to financing your historic project with tax credit equity, we can help you deliver a successful and profitable tax credit rehabilitation project. For more information, please visit rogerslewisgroup.com/

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