Darlington launches $825,000 streetscape project

Hewitt Street Alley downtown. The streetscape project envisions a public gathering space here. The city says its plan “will create a pleasant … connection between the Public Square and City Lane parking lot, as well as a causeway to the county’s new courthouse and new museum.” PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF DARLINGTON
By Bobby Bryant, Editor
Not too many months from now, downtown Darlington should have a new look. Along with a new $17 million judicial center and a $3.1 million expansion of the county Historical Commission’s museum, Darlington is also launching a major downtown streetscape project – and all these projects may be completed at just about the same time. The city has been awarded a $750,000 federal Community Development Block Grant for the streetscape work, said city planner Lisa Bailey, who also is executive director of the Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association. Along with $75,000 in matching funds approved by Darlington County Council, that gives the city $825,000 to work with. “This is a big deal,” Bailey said. “So many things going on together. This is a spark to keep the momentum pushing forward.” She estimated it will take 18-24 months to finish the project. “It’ll definitely be more inviting,” Bailey said. “It’ll be more attractive. … The Public Square is our central gathering place. We just need to utilize it as best we can.” City officials applied for the block grant during the summer, she said. Officials learned Nov. 22 that it had been granted. “We appreciate Darlington County Council for coming together with us on this project, leveraging the investment they are making to create a greater impact,” Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd said in a statement. “This is what public service is about, coming together to make big things happen for our small town.” Angie Stone Godbold, who represents the Darlington area on County Council, said in a statement: “A grant of this magnitude could easily jump-start the turning point for downtown Darlington, providing economic stability and growth, a sense of pride for citizens and a renewed hope for the future while also fostering much needed unity in our community.” The project apparently is the biggest of its kind since the 1990s, when the city worked to get parking lots paved and utilities put underground. Bailey hopes the improvements “will also attract new businesses to vacant properties in the area and new customers to existing businesses.” The streetscape project is expected to: — Repave and reconfigure three downtown parking lots — the South Main Street lot, the Ward Street lot and the Carnegie Library lot. — Create a public gathering space at Hewitt Street Alley near the Historical Commission. “The improvements to Hewitt Street Alley will create a pleasant and viable connection between the Public Square and the City Lane parking lot, as well as a causeway to the county’s new courthouse and new museum,” the city says. — Add sidewalks in several areas, including Russell Street between Cashua and Ward streets. The sidewalk on Orange Street is to be redone. — Add about 100 trees to the downtown area. — Add about 20 benches downtown. — Add bicycle racks. — Create a trailhead, an entrance for walking trails, at City Lane. — Add more security cameras and lighting for safety. “The added pavement on parking lots, seating, landscaping, sidewalks and public gathering spaces highlights the commercial activity downtown and (will) create spaces where people want to visit and do business and encourages growth in the town’s center,” the city says. Individually, “It’s small stuff, but it’s everyday stuff you’ll use all the time,” Bailey said. “ … It takes so many puzzle pieces to make things happen.” All of this is being coordinated “to make the most of all the investments being made downtown,” the city says, including private investments such as work at Genesis Health Care. In addition to the streetscape project, Duke Energy Foundation is contributing $5,000 toward Darlington beautification projects – 10 more large ceramic pots will be placed along Cashua Street. Meanwhile, progress continues on the plan to expand the Historical Commission’s museum, said agency director Brian Gandy. On Nov. 22, Darlington County Council met to approve awarding the construction work to the Tungsten Corp., based in the Myrtle Beach area, Gandy said. It’s a $3.1 million contract, he said. Gandy said the company will mobilize in February for what’s expected to be a 12-month project.