Bakari Sellers Planned Restoration of Historic Royal Motel
The city of Columbia has granted preliminary approval to sell the landmark property for revitalization.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in African-American
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Bakari Sellers has secured initial city support to restore the historic Royal Motel in Columbia. The project seeks to transform the site into a hub for Black history and economic growth.
Why it matters
The motel served as a critical gathering space for South Carolina NAACP members during the Civil Rights era. This development aims to honor that legacy while breathing new life into the surrounding vacant business district.
The restoration project has an estimated budget of $15 million. Plans include securing funding through historic tax credits and Bailey Bill tax abatements.
The players
Bakari Sellers
He is an attorney and former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives leading the redevelopment project.
Mark Canavera
He is a collaborator working on the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the motel and surrounding area.
Historic Columbia
This is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Columbia, South Carolina.
The details
The developer plans to acquire the entire block as part of a larger effort to revitalize the area near the Carver Theatre. The initiative involves preparing a National Register nomination for the site in collaboration with Mark Canavera.
Timeline
The Royal Motel opened in 1963.
Historic Columbia began researching the buildings in 2019.
Collaboration on the National Register nomination began in 2024.
Sellers aims to acquire the full city block by the end of 2026.
Culture Shift
This project aligns with the Bailey Bill to incentivize the preservation of aging infrastructure through tax relief. It reflects a broader movement toward utilizing historic preservation as a primary driver for urban economic empowerment.
The revitalization of this vacant business district is expected to improve the commercial landscape near local institutions like Benedict and Allen Universities. Residents may see increased property activity and renewed public access to a significant piece of city history.
The takeaway
Preserving historic landmarks can serve as a catalyst for modern economic development in underserved urban corridors. Future renovations often depend on successfully leveraging specific tax abatement programs and national historical designations.
Further reading
Learn more about local preservation efforts in the African-American section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wistv.
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Should city governments prioritize the restoration of historic minority business districts?
