Council signals intent to invest $18M in downtown improvements

No tax increase required for spending

Simpsonville, S.C. — Downtown revitalization in Simpsonville is on the horizon after Simpsonville City Council advanced on Tuesday measures that would authorize the City to invest $18 million in downtown projects.

City Council unanimously voted at the April business meeting to approve first reading of two bond ordinances for the purpose of securing funding for several capital improvements, including reconfiguration of streets to improve traffic flow, streetscaping on Curtis and Main streets and enhancements to City Park. City Administrator Dianna Gracely said Council ranked projects at a retreat in March.

"All of those projects are listed in the supplemental ordinance," Gracely said. "It does not mean that we will get to all of those projects as we discussed at the retreat. We will go down that list the way you ordered them and do as much as we possibly can."

The $18 million in downtown improvements will be funded by the existing hospitality and accommodations tax on tourist-related transactions, such as hotel bookings and eating at restaurants. Councilwoman Stephanie Kelley of Ward 1 and Mayor Paul Shewmaker stressed that property taxes will not be used to pay back the money.

"I just want to reiterate this is no new taxes," Shewmaker said. "This is no tax increase to do these projects."

Gracely added that the City is also seeking other sources of funding to offset costs and "stretch" the bonds as far as possible.

One of the projects prioritized by Council is converting the downtown portions of Curtis and College streets to one-way streets to improve the flow of traffic, especially at the intersection of Curtis and Main streets. For a second project, Council would like to improve City Park with new tennis and basketball courts, two new football fields, moving the disc golf course to Heritage Park, creating a new restroom facility and eliminating the community building.

Councilman Ken Cummings of Ward 5 said "it's very great" to be starting projects that have been planned for years.

"This is the part that I get really excited about," Cummings said. "To simply say it, we kind of made some promises ... of things that we wanted to do, including everyone around this Council, and those promises are about to be kept."

If the City has the funding, Council would also like to South Main Street into a festival street, extend the Swamp Rabbit Trail to Heritage Park and add more parking and wayfinding signage in downtown. Although some projects are not guaranteed, Gracely assured Council that the City would accomplish "very much."

"Yes I think all of the priority projects that were listed will be included," Gracely said, referring to traffic flow improvements, streetscaping and City Park upgrades. 

Both bond ordinances require a second and final reading that Council is expected to take up at the May business meeting.

Mayor Shewmaker said he is "very aware of how lucky and privileged" he is to be mayor at such a "momentous time" in the City of Simpsonville's history.

"I also want to say how lucky I believe the citizens of Simpsonville to be," Shewmaker said. "This is almost a renaissance time for Simpsonville. You look around at what's happening, and it's marvelous."