By: Tracy Sanders, Co-Editor | tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
WOODRUFF, S.C. — New developments have surfaced regarding a Woodruff property that once stood at the center of a heated rezoning debate. According to city records, a permit for demolition was filed on September 24, 2025, for the 13,000-square-foot building located within the city’s central downtown district .
The property drew attention in 2023 after its zoning was changed from retail to C4, a classification designed to encourage concentrated development and redevelopment in the downtown area. The change restricted certain uses such as drive-through services and required stricter parking and design standards, making the property difficult to market to potential buyers, according to the property owner at the time.
The former owner of the property previously reported significant financial strain while the building sat vacant, citing roughly $18,000 per month in taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. He also said the new zoning made it challenging to attract tenants, including medical facilities interested in locating there.
The property was ultimately sold in June 2024, and while the buyer has not been publicly identified, the recent demolition filing suggests redevelopment plans may be in progress.
City Manager Lee Bailey has previously stated that the 2023 rezoning effort was part of an 18-month update to modernize city ordinances that had not been revised since 2005. The city’s long-term goal is to foster a vibrant and diverse downtown environment that supports retail, hospitality, and office spaces.
The demolition marks a new chapter for the site, once emblematic of the tensions between growth and regulation, as Woodruff continues to reshape its downtown landscape amid rapid expansion.
Author: Tracy Sanders
