Columbia County school system purchases building

The former Greenfield Industries building in Evans has been vacant for nearly six years, but it will soon be the new home for many of the Columbia County school district's departments after the system bought the facility for $4 million Thursday.

The 315,000-square-foot building was purchased  through the district's general budget building fund, and it will house the Facilities Maintenance and Operations, Transportation and Technology departments and a warehouse. It will also have a training center for teachers that has previously been at the Board of Education office.

“Much of what the building was previously used for fits our needs and will allow us much needed space in a centralized location,” Superintendent Sandra Carraway said in a prepared statement.

The Greenfield building was constructed in 1974 and was used for manufacturing drill bits and other cutting tools. It was large enough to hold 600 employees at one point. The company relocated the plant to Seneca, S.C., in 2013.

Renovation and construction plans for the building will be presented to the board in early October. Plans include turning the large warehouse space into eight to 10 bays to service its 300 buses.

Board Chairman David Dekle said the centralized location on River Watch Parkway will allow for expansion of the IT department, which is currently in Appling in the former Board of Education building. The remaining departments are on the campus of the former Columbia Middle School.

After the departments' relocation, that facility could possibly be the site for a new elementary school. Voters approved the continuation of the education sales tax in March to fund three elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school campus.

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