Plans for a student housing and retail development in downtown Orangeburg have received the final stamp of approval from city council.

Orangeburg City Council gave third and final reading approval on Tuesday to the rezoning of the property on Russell Street to B-2, central business district. The property is currently zoned B-1, general business district.

Orangeburg resident Martin Roache plans to develop housing for South Carolina State University and Claflin University students at the corner of Russell Street and Elmwood Street.

Roache owns two parcels of land totaling 1.21 acres that he plans to use for the development. The property is next door to Hall's Lock and Key, and is near Edisto Memorial Gardens.

City off cials say student housing fits well with the city's general efforts to

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