Dutch Square Mall: A Community Dream Deferred by Political Conspiracy, According to Federal Lawsuit
- CUBNSC
- Oct 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 1
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | October 1, 2025
For decades, Dutch Square Mall stood as a proud symbol of Columbia’s growth. Opened in 1970, it was one of South Carolina’s first enclosed shopping centers, drawing families from across the Midlands and anchoring the Broad River District as a desirable place to live, work, and shop. Today, its empty storefronts and fading façade tell another story — one of neglect, disinvestment, and, according to a federal lawsuit filed on September 30, 2025, a political conspiracy to suppress one of the largest redevelopment projects in Richland County history.
The Lawsuit
The case, W.O.G. Community Development Corporation et al. v. Richland County Council et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. In a stunning move, the plaintiffs named nearly every sitting member of Richland County Council individually — including Council Chair Jesica Mackey, Vice Chair Derrek Pugh, and Council members Allison Terracio, Gretchen Barron, Overture Walker, Don Weaver, Cheryl English, Jason Branham, and Chakisse Newton. Also named were County Administrator Leonardo Brown and Clerk of Council Anette Kirylo.
The summonses reveal that the lawsuit pierces government immunity, holding individual elected officials directly accountable for their actions. Legal observers note that this is unusual, and potentially precedent-setting, given that local governments often shield council members from liability.
The suit alleges systemic obstruction, discrimination, and unconstitutional denial of access to the county’s economic development process. Central to the claims are letters, emails, and records from Bishop Eric W. Davis, Chairperson of the Word of God Community Development Corporation (WOGCDC), showing repeated attempts to present the Dutch Square project before the full council. Despite formal requests, the council allegedly stonewalled, citing false concerns over “separation of church and state.”
Here, the plaintiffs point to a written opinion from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who made clear that a religiously affiliated nonprofit cannot be excluded from economic development opportunities merely because of its church ties. Wilson emphasized that such exclusion would be unconstitutional, reaffirming that WOGCDC — as a 501(c)(3) — had the full legal right to participate. The lawsuit argues that Councilwoman Allison Terracio and others ignored this binding legal guidance, choosing instead to obstruct the project in direct contradiction of state law and the Attorney General’s office.
The Promise of Redevelopment
At stake was a transformative, community-driven plan:
I.S.E.E. Silicon South Innovation Center, a $100M+ hub for animation, cybersecurity, tech training, and workforce development.
Compass Media & Animation Studios, one of the largest Black-owned animation and film production studios in the U.S., projected to anchor three state-of-the-art soundstages.
An International Galleria, with flagship retail, restaurants, and cultural markets.
Recreation Arena, a premier sports and entertainment complex.
Corporate partnerships with Amazon, Boeing, Wells Fargo, Apple, Prisma Health, Dominion Energy, and more (listed in exhibits).
Educational pathways for 50,000+ students annually, including HBCU apprenticeships, dual enrollment programs, and Silicon Valley exchange initiatives.
Support letters from Richland County School District officials, state legislators, and national corporate partners bolstered the project’s credibility. According to Bishop Davis, the financing was secure through JEDA workforce bonds, meaning the redevelopment carried little risk to taxpayers.
“This was the largest project ever proposed for the Broad River corridor,” Davis wrote. “It would have restored Dutch Square Mall as an anchor for jobs, education, and culture — instead, politics buried it.”
Political Roadblocks
According to the lawsuit, Councilwoman Allison Terracio’s refusal to allow the Dutch Square proposal before council stemmed not from financial or legal concerns, but from a flawed interpretation of church-state separation. This, the plaintiffs argue, directly contradicted the guidance of both county legal counsel and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who affirmed that a nonprofit corporation — even one with church ties — could not be excluded from economic development opportunities.
Further filings allege that Clerk of Council Anette Kirylo and Chair Jesica Mackey compounded the obstruction by failing to bring the project forward for full consideration, effectively shutting the community out of the process.
The contrast is stark: while Dutch Square’s locally driven redevelopment was denied even a hearing, Richland County extended tax abatements and incentives to out-of-state developers for the Richland Mall project in Forest Acres. Plaintiffs contend this pattern reflects not only geographic neglect of the Broad River corridor, but also racial and cultural discrimination against the community that stood to benefit most.
What the Community Lost
The lawsuit paints a stark picture of what was deferred:
Billions in projected long-term revenue.
Thousands of jobs in high-tech fields, film, retail, and hospitality.
Educational access for underserved youth across the Midlands.
Revitalization of the Broad River District, long overlooked in favor of wealthier enclaves.
Economic exhibits filed in court show ripple effects extending to tradesmen, digital technicians, film crews, restaurants, and small businesses. The redevelopment would have positioned Columbia as a hub for animation and cybersecurity in the Southeast.
Instead, Dutch Square Mall remains a hollow shell.
Dutch Square Mall: A Dream Deferred
For the community, the lawsuit is about more than one mall. It represents a broader indictment of how power is wielded in Richland County — and how political prejudice can derail transformative opportunities.
“Families displaced from Columbia were pushed into Broad River, but when we needed investment, we were abandoned,” said one long time resident at the mall today. “This project was about jobs and pride. Blocking it was an insult.”
The courts will now decide whether Richland County’s leaders acted illegally. But for residents of the Broad River District, one truth remains: Dutch Square Mall was never just a mall. It was a chance at renewal — a cornerstone of the future.