Revitalizing Downtown
Blogreader,Since I've arrived at Florence Morning News, one of the topics which has consistently attracted my attention has been the plan for a downtown revitalization. I've spent my free time talking to folks in the area about the revitalization to get a better understanding of the process and how far along it is. Most recently, I sat down with Philip Lookadoo, who's in charge of overseeing planning and zoning for the downtown revitalization.
What is Florence downtown development working toward currently?
Recruitment and rentention of businesses, revitalization of streetscapes and storefronts, helping downtown merchants be successful, putting on festivals and events. We really (work hard) on the Pecan Festival and now we're looking at a Florence After 5.
What is the idea for Florence's downtown development? How do you plan to accomplish the revitalization?
The premise we started off is to have these anchor stores: Florence Little Theatre, Library, Performing Arts Center to fill in as ancillary to support those (new businesses we want to bring to downtown), to have some effect downtown. We will oversee new business to ensure they fit design guides, to make sure it looks a certain way.
What look will the revitalization be shooting for?
The street as an outdoor room, creating that sense of place so you feel you're in a more urban setting and not in the country.
What is the progress currently?
It's an ongoing deal. I've been here working on it for almost three years. But I believe we are ahead of the game in comparison to most towns. We have those anchor stores and some towns have to wait years (to get those).
One of the things I was concerned about was chain restaurants. Florence has several independent businesses and restaurants, but they seemed to have been pushed to the margin by chain restaurants, so what future do you see for downtown in that regard?
I think a lot of times in the downtowns you seem to see less of the chain type restaurants. By and large, you see (mostly independent businesses), but we would be supportive of whatever came in as long as it had the look and feel (that fit the downtown's design).
Florence seems to fall short on upscale restaurants. Many of them have closed in the past few years, Benton's and The Grotto to name a few. You mentioned the possibility of a greater number of independent businesses with the downtown revitalization. Do you think there's a market to expand the market for independent upscale dining restaurants?
What my wife and I found intriguing about Florence was the amount of locally-owned restaurants. We go more to locally-owned restaurants than chain restaurants. The chains are out at David McLeod, 95 and they're picking up interstate traffic, but you pass by Percy & Willie's any day of the week and they're busy. Your Outbacks and your Olive Gardens, they're out on the interstate for a purpose. There's enough people (in Florence) that a fine dining restaurant (market) could thrive.
What are your hopes for revitalized downtown Florence?
Well, in downtowns you tend to get eclectic coffeeshops. You're going to get some fine dining. If you're coming down to see a show, you want to get something good to eat. You'll have FMU with the performing arts (center) and you'll have students here. I think it'll have a good mix.
Posted by
on 09/24 at 09:47 AM
before we can bring in good business, we have to run the bad businesses out. For instance I had a run-in with the Alltel Authorized Agent on Second Loop Road. The jest of the story is that the manager of the location sold me a refurbished phone for 259.00 without my knowing, the phone broke with in 30 days and the guy refused to issue me a refund or replacement merchandise. He also issued me a CREDIT for 60.00 for a same day refund saying his POLICY states that he doesn’t issue refunds of any type. Why would Florence allow such money mongers to get over on it’s citizen’s in this way? I feel as though the guy over this establishment should be out of business. So not only am I out of my funds, but I have to spend more money elsewhere for another device.
So as a local I would like to issue a HEAD’S UP:
DO NOT PURCHASE ANY MERCHANDISE FROM AN AUTHORIZED AGENT OF ALLTEL ESPECIALLY THE ONE ON 2ND LOOP…
WHEN YOU CONTACT THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF ALLTEL THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OR AFFILIATION WITH AUTHORIZED AGENTS….
now does that make any sense to you? It didn’t to me either, but that was the exact response I received when contacting them to complain about said establishment. It seems as though they would care about the patrons of their products and services even since the establishment is carrying their name.-degrading their name.
So Florence Authorities, investigate the situation, there are businesses out here scamming the citizens of their hard-earned money; which quite frankly none of us have to give away.