Hartsville Mayor publishes open letter opposing City’s FDTC land transaction

AN OPEN LETTER TO HARTSVILLE

By Dan Askins III

Mayor of Hartsville

As Mayor of the City of Hartsville, I have followed what I believe to be a mandate from the people to help Hartsville grow and prosper. Our 2025 Master Plan clearly states that housing is the main obstacle to the City’s growth. We have a rare opportunity to do something about it, but that opportunity is being blocked by a Special Interest Group with their own agenda being promoted by a powerful lobbyist. I need your help!

“Downtown merchants stressed the need for more housing within the city limits to support businesses.” (Pg. 9, 2025 Master Plan)

“More housing for middle class families and young professionals.” (Pg. 14)

“Develop more neighborhoods with sidewalks.” (Pg. 14)

“4th and Railroad should include housing, local business, and community space/entertainment uses.” (Pg. 7)

Why is housing so important to Hartsville’s health? For decades, development happened just outside Hartsville’s city limits. Neighborhoods like Fox Hollow, Botany Woods and Club Colony welcomed families, while Hartsville’s population slowly declined. Hartsville City government pushed developers away. My family boasts three generations of builders in Hartsville. We have fought City Hall many times.

“Hartsville, like much of the Pee Dee region, has experienced population decline.” (Pg. 19)

The consequence of this two-fold issue is that Hartsville now serves a daily population of 30,000 with a tax-paying population of 7,500 and falling. Every day 3,500 people commute from Florence to Hartsville. Oddly a much bigger city is a bedroom community for a much smaller town. Only 11.5% of our workers live within the city limits. (Pg. 24) We have the jobs. We have a beautiful downtown. What we lack is housing. If we do not reverse this trend, and soon, we face a very dangerous precipice. A large percentage of Hartsville’s population is 60 years old or older. Hartsville is fading away.

That’s where the incredible opportunity comes into play. The City of Hartsville owns 10.5 acres of land in the middle of downtown. The property is bounded by 4th Street, Railroad Avenue and Coker Avenue. For reference it surrounds Wild Heart Brewery. The 2025 Master Plan identified this property as a place best suited for “a mixture of housing options not available elsewhere in the Hartsville market.” (Pg. 41)

If we develop this property the right way, we can grow Hartsville and create prosperity for our downtown business owners. We can stop the decades long downward population spiral. We can fulfill the wishes of the citizens of Hartsville as the 2025 Master Plan clearly states.

Here’s the problem. Per City Resolution 05-25-04, Hartsville is entering into negotiations with Florence-Darlington Technical College to transfer, by giving or selling, some or all of the land to them for a new campus.

“A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE INTENT OF THE CITY OF HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA TO TRANSFER APPROXIMATELY SIX (6) ACRES OF PROPERTY TO FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR PURPOSES OF DEVELOPING A HARTSVILLE CAMPUS; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO.” (Resolution 05-25-04)

I understand the appeal of this property. It is located directly across from the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics and adjacent to Coker University, creating excellent opportunities for collaboration with both institutions. A Florence-Darlington Tech presence in Hartsville would be a tremendous asset to our community, and I strongly support bringing that opportunity to our city.

My concern is not whether Florence-Darlington Tech should locate in Hartsville, but where it should locate.

I believe both FDTC and the citizens of Hartsville would be better served by selecting a different site—one still within the city limits, still convenient to GSSM and Coker University, but better suited to the long-term needs of both FDTC and the City. There is a win/win here. We need housing. We need good education and workforce training. Let’s work together to achieve both. In the spirit of cooperation, I have identified several sites that would meet or exceed the 4th and Railroad location. High visibility, lower cost, more acreage. On August 25, the FDTC Board voted unanimously to pursue the 4th and Railroad location anyway.

The consequences of FDTC coming to downtown Hartsville are significant. This particular parcel has been set aside as a Multi-County Business Park, whereby we can keep about 70% of the property taxes generated on the property. As a government institution, Tech will not pay any property taxes. Using the proposed FDTC building budget of $30,000,000 as a guideline, we would collect roughly $600,000 per year if that was an apartment complex or townhouses, according to Darlington County tax calculations. We need more residents, not more commuters.

Traffic will increase dramatically downtown with a commuter campus. If you want a walkable downtown, then please consider the fact that as many as 1,000 students will be coming and going every day. Do you want people walking downtown, shopping and eating, or do you want people zooming through town because they are late for class? Isn’t 4th Street busy enough already? Have you ever tried to cross the road at the intersection of 4th and Railroad?

What about economic development? The main FDTC campus started in 1963. I invite you to drive by their campus. Look at the economic impact. It is a desert. Commuter students do not bring revenue into the city like residents would. They come to class and they leave. In addition, FDTC already has a satellite campus on Swift Creek Rd. If that shuts down, and the students simply transfer to the new building, any economic impact they may be making is already baked into our revenue stream, and we’ll have yet another empty school building. When has that ever happened?

So what happens if we do not increase our town’s resident population? Just last year we faced a budget shortfall. To cover that gap, we sold some properties and pine trees, instead of raising taxes. That is like a plumber selling his tools to pay his monthly bills. It works this month, but next month his bills come due again, and he has no tools to work with. This is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. If we do not grow our population, and quickly, we will be forced to raise taxes on the dwindling people who live in Hartsville. A better solution is to create a place where developers can build housing for more residents. More people means more property tax revenue, sales tax revenue and water/sewer revenue. Spreading the load makes sense.

I took a solemn oath before God and the good people of Hartsville:

“I do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I am duly qualified… and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of this state and of the United States. As mayor of the City of Hartsville, I will equally, fairly, and impartially… exercise the trust reposed in me… So help me God.”

The City Council will meet in Executive Session, behind closed doors, to discuss negotiations concerning this property. A government entity will be negotiating with another government entity over a major public asset. Who will be in that private meeting? What will they be saying behind closed doors? Any final action must be taken by Council in public, but by that point much of the substantive discussion and negotiation may already have occurred.

I believe a decision of this importance deserves a robust public discussion before an agreement is reached. There is no competitive process underway. The property is currently being considered only for Florence-Darlington Technical College. The City previously issued a Request for Proposals seeking other offers for the property, but Council voted 6-1 to discontinue that process in favor of negotiating exclusively with FDTC. No members of the public were present when that vote was taken.

Would the City benefit from knowing what other parties might offer for this property? If FDTC ultimately presents the best proposal for Hartsville, the public process can demonstrate that. But before committing one of the most important undeveloped properties in our downtown, I believe the public deserves to know what the alternatives are.

I am fighting an uphill battle to get this land developed and save Hartsville from becoming a ghost town. Very powerful people who do not live in Hartsville are standing up against me. They will win if you do not speak up. If you decide what I am saying is wrong, I will obey your wishes. You are my boss. I serve you. I love you, Hartsville!

In Humble Service,

Mayor Dan Askins, III