COLOMBIA – A new owner takes over a Shop Road scrap yard embroiled in a legal battle after a judge ruled to evict a previous tenant.
A six-acre parcel at Shop Road and Beltline Boulevard is on appeal from Columbia’s own zoning appeals panel, alleging it granted an exception to allow former tenant American Scrap Iron & Metal to operate a scrap yard. is also subject to
Two environmental groups also claim that American Scrap Iron operations pose a risk to Gills Creek, which flows into the nearby Congaree River, by contaminating soil.
American Scrap Iron & Metal, which leased the property from September 2020 to April 2022, claimed in court filings that there was an initial dib to purchase the property. .
A judge ruled on November 14 that Edisto Recycling, which has four locations in the state, had rights to the land, and paid American Scrap Iron about $80,000 to Edisto. ordered the lands to be vacated by December 14th.
American Scrap Iron owner Tim Dickensietz signed a deal with former landlord Ed Helms to purchase the property in September 2020, but Helms took oaths signed before his death in September 2022. In an affidavit, Dickensytz alleged that he failed to pay the required $100,000 security deposit before the contract expired.
Dickensies and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Christopher Riley, owner of Edisto Recycling, acquired Helms’ company, One Helms, in July 2022, giving him ownership of Shop Road, the judge ruled.
Riley’s attorney, Seth Rose, said in a statement, “I am very pleased with the court’s ruling on this matter.” In the near future, we intend to make this property an aesthetically pleasing both for the community and the surrounding businesses.”
Columbia is working to clean up nearby land, including the site of the Cardinal Chemical Company and the manufacturing plant of the Intertape Polymer Group.
Riley said he plans to start over and return to the city and the Zoning Appeals Board to get all necessary permits, including another special exception.
The appeal is attached to the land, not the owner, so it still needs to be resolved. No hearing date has been set yet, but the case can now proceed as the ownership issue has been resolved.
Congaree riverkeeper Bill Stangler and Columbia City Councilman Will Brennan have previously said they hope Edisto Recycling does not pose the same environmental and aesthetic concerns as American scrap iron.
As the new property owner, Riley said he hopes to be able to reach an agreement with the city and environmental groups. Riley says it keeps chemicals out of the soil.
“At the end of the day, I’m just taking a different approach,” Riley said.
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(843) 830-1526 to reach Skylar Laird. Follow her on her Twitter @sky_latte_.
