flotown

I agree Spartan. 20 or so posts in 2 months is not worthy of a subforum. We're lucky enough to have a pinned thread at the top, (and I'm wondering if we're even worthy of that). I've been slack myself lately with posting. Partly due to work conflicts, partly due to laziness, and partly due to the inactivity on the board. I'll try to post a little more often in the coming months and hopefully others will do likewise. But truth be told, there needs to be topics to talk about and a significant number of UP members who are interested in adding to the Florence thread. Currently their are neither. Maybe by next year, we'll be as active as the Grand Rapids MI thread

Here's the progress on the new Little Theatre on Dargan Street. Here is the corner of Palmetto and Irby. A Walgreens will be going up on the southwest corner where the pawnshop(with their tacky neon letter sign) and the abandoned motel is now. As for the vacant and decrepit House of Louie property, even the Morning News, in their usually lightweight Saturday thumbs up/down editorial, called for the owners to clean up the property (hopefully they'll use this bully pulpit a little more often, instead of giving feel-good thumb ups every week....leave that to the News & Shopper). Finally, I've been hearing rumors that the old Piggly Wiggly on Cherokee Road will be rebuilt on adjacent property facing Irby Street. I'm unsure if the present structure will be torn down. It sits on one of the steepest slopes in Florence.

If you mean the brewpub, the project is still in the negotiation stages. The only way it can fly is if the city gives the entrepreneurs generous tax breaks, and financing can be acquired. You're talking about a million dollars to fix up the long abandoned theatre and purchase the equipment to run a brewpub. I wish them luck. Regarding the Dargan and Evans area, I wish McLeod hospital would buy or lease some space. Something to get people into the area. Right now, the long arm of McLeod stops at the overpass.

Let me then say that his reasoning for opposing the blue law changes ("because the bible says so") SOUNDS like something a hick would say. That's not to disparage Christianity, since I am one myself, nor southern Baptists. The precedent where the majority religion decides when stores open and what can be bought on certain days may serve Mr. Anderson today. But if Florence County was overrun with Muslims and they called for stores shut down during Ramadan "because the Koran says so", would he agree? I doubt it. How about the Jewish community wanting stores closed on Saturday, or forbidding the sale of any pork product because it is unclean. Would Mr. Anderson agree? Probably not. Regarding the stores opening early, there was a mandate in the law that no employee could be forced to work on Sunday morning. As for the fear that people would shop instead of worship, I can see it now..."I'm going to church so I can worship my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Well.......on second thought, I'd rather go to Wal-Mart." How silly. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of backward legislators in Columbia with no backbone to override Sanford's veto of a one year moratorium of the silly blue laws.

Nothing much has happened in this town even worthy of a post on this board (or should I say bored). They tried to pass a resolution easing some of the blue laws and several of the Southern Baptists on the city council gave their usual "the bible says...." reasons to maintain the status quo. Talk about giving religion a bad name. They eventually passed a limited resolution allowing QVC to perform some business on Sunday mornings. But I don't expect any change in the local Sunday blue laws in our lifetime. Between hicks like Morris Anderson and clowns like Ed Robinson, is it any wonder Florence is just "here", with little culture, just subdivisions, slums and interstate sprawl. And just ride down Evans and Dargan and you'll see why the downtown "revitalization" that was so hyped a few years ago is now nothing but a local joke. Anyone have anything else?

I too would love to see a mid rise go up in downtown. Something about a few tall buildings (15+ stories) that gives a community some pride about their downtown. But the last I heard, the office complex going up on the old McLeod site is only going to be 3 stories...yawn. It's better than a grass field, but definitely a big disappointment to many. Not that there would be any tenants to fill a 15 story building. Or a 10. Or a 5, for that matter. Sadly, the I-20 mall to mall strip and 52/95 area are where it's happening in Florence, and likely where any non-McLeod building over 5 stories will be built (and they're likely to be hotels). On the plus side, QVC does have a corporate presence in downtown in the old Peoples Federal building. I'll snap a pic and post it in a few days.

I don't know what that link was for, but here is one from the same day, talking about the brewpub in downtown. Brew Pub Hopefully, it WILL open and help revive that area of downtown. Currently, North Dargan and the 100 block of Evans Street is a filthy eyesore. So what is the city doing about it? Opening up a public "square" between two of the dilapidated buildings, in the hopes that it will become a community meeting spot for public concerts etc. Given what currently surrounds it, this is a great waste of public funds, a la Harllee Square back in the '70's. When is the city going to start pressuring land owners to fix up their crumbling, boarded up buildings? Is there no codes enforcement? Are there any codes? If I was a CEO looking to locate in Florence, one ride through this slum in the heart of downtown would cause me to look elsewhere (that and the silly Sunday alcohol blue laws). The theatre and performing arts center will help to bring people downtown. But like the library has done nothing to promote foot traffic on South Dargan, these alone will not bring foot traffic a little furthur north. People will park as close as possible, then get in their cars as fast as possible to avoid getting robbed. Whether that's a fair perception of the area is irrelevant; that's what it is. Would anyone want to walk in that area at night to get a beer at a brewpub? There are at least 2 entrepreneurs who are taking a risk in this, the seediest part of town. Will the city do their part to help this venture to succeed?

Here's what Radio Road looks like now, single laned with a raised median. Why this road wasn't widened to two lanes both ways is beyond me. And even this temporary fix should been done a year ago before Home Depot opened.

g-man, thanks for the links. Greenville is one SC success story that gives us some hope for Florence, despite the fact that the upstate is a bit more progressive than the Pee Dee. When I'm an old man, I hope to move back to a totally different Florence. It is possible...we'll see.

I agree, traffic will be a nightmare once Kohls opens up. It should have been widened to 4 lanes before construction even began on the Home Depot. Having the frontage road feeding into Radio Road only exacerbates the mess.

There was a post lamenting that the civic center was located out by I-20, and that Florence will never learn. The same can be said for Francis Marion University, although when it was originally built, the downtown decline had not begun. If the college had located in the city limits, Florence would be a totally different place, as would the university. But they didn't, and Florence and FMU are the worse off for it, in my opinion. The spacious land out in Mars Bluff did allow for expansion, but just think if all the campus buildings would have been built in the city, downtown Florence might look something like this....... Or this........... Or this............. Forgive me, I'm just a dreamer, and envious of other city's cool downtowns. FYI, the photos above are of downtown Greenville, borrowed from the their photo thread (thanks to Skyliner and darw10).

On a brighter note, here's the area by the 1-95/1-20 interchange that's growing quick. There's Home Depot, Kohls, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and an 8 story Hilton so far. I haven't heard about ArborOne; these pictures are about 3 weeks old. The area from Florence Mall down David McLeod Blvd to I-95 has become Florence's true "center" in the absence of any downtown commerce or culture (hopefully that will change).

They're finally tearing these eyesore buildings on the corner of Palmetto and Church down. I took this picture about 3 weeks ago, but all work has stopped due to DHEC environmental concerns involving lead paint. The new 301 Drive In. Below are some more neglected storefronts in the downtown area that the city leaders will hopefully address in the coming year. This home burned down via arson last spring and still sits vacant near the Palmetto Street underpass. I've read that there are so many burned and abandoned houses that the city either can't locate the owners or can't afford to tear them all down. So they just sit there. These once nice houses are all abandoned, and all sit on the same corner of East Pine and Galliard, and have for years. Where is the outcry from the neighbors, the local councilman, the mayor? Unbelievable.

PDSB was owned by Banks and Rod Scarborough, father and son, I believe. Here's an article about a brew pub possibly opening in downtown in the old Carolina Theatre: http://www.morningnewsonline.com/midatlant...01-08-0006.html I love the idea. I just hope it doesn't happen too soon, fail, then discourage others from opening something similar. Comments I heard today about it centered on the crime in the area and the lack of parking. However, the thought of a brew-pub in downtown is pretty cool, nonetheless. If only there were a ballpark downtown, the pub would do bang-up business and would jumpstart downtown redevelopment. I know Florence...I've lived here 25 years, and I don't know if the population is eclectic enough to support a downtown brew pub right now. Plus, Francis Marion housing is all the way out in Mars Bluff, Legion Field is way past the airport, the civic center is out by I-20, and nobody who is going to shell out money for brew pub beer likely lives in the area. Also, the theatre and performing arts center crowds are not your target brew pub market. Then there's the lack of parking and no mass transit. And the fact that Florence, which has 2 major intersections on I-95, still has not voted to abolish the silly Sunday alcohol blue laws only hurts the prospects for a downtown brew pub. But I hope I'm wrong. If it opens up, I'll be there on the first day.

jjoshjl, To be fair to pompusmaximus, what they appeared to be saying was the bank not going in downtown Florence really sucks, not that Florence itself sucks. Reread the quote, and I'm sure you'd agree. As for the old McLeod property, I'll believe something is going up when I see it. McLeod moved to their new building in 1979, which means that property has not been occupied in 27 years. Once the building was finally torn down after 10 years, that giant lot has been an empty field for almost 17 years. Given that it is in the heart of the CBD, that is inexcusable, especially given the boom in the southern and western parts of town.

While it should be affordable apartments, I don't think it should be subsidized housing; that's the last thing downtown needs. It would be perfect for medical workers at McLeod, but it would need to be safe, otherwise no one would want to live there. That said, anything that goes there will be an improvement. I too wish I-20 went thru Florence, but I don't know if that was ever feasible. AROUND Florence, maybe, but citizens would have fought it going thru it. I used to live in Columbia and Charleston. In Charleston, I was able to get from North Charleston (Ashley Phosphate Dr) to downtown Charleston via 26 in less time than it takes to get from Magnolia mall to Super Wal-Mart or to the airport. Too many poorly timed traffic lights.

Here's the almost completed QVC plant on North Irby Street, past the old Wilson High School toward I-95. Impressive. Here's the Starbucks going up at the Florence Mall, where Bentons used to be. Finally, this is construction at the back of Magnolia Mall. I had thought it was Dicks sporting goods, but I've since heard that Dillards was coming to the mall, so this might be that. Dicks may be the site to the far left, if you look close, as the land there has been primed for construction. There is also a Barnes & Noble going up at the front of the mall.

I stated that Ed Robinson is a do-nothing councilman who can not discuss any issue without making it a race issue. So he happens to be black? I would have the same problems with David Duke or Jesse Helms if they were on the council. I have no problems with Billy D. Williams or Terry Alexander when he was on the board, as they have handled themselves in a professional manner. Robinson handles himself like a clown. And again, that was to make a point regarding Robinson's claim of acquiring the funds. Reread the statement in the article...it say's "Robinson said he and city councilman Billy D. Williams already secured $4 million in funding for the Pineneedles Road project with help from Congressman James Clyburn". THEY secured the funds. Shouldn't he have said "Clyburn secured the funds when we brought it to his attention", or something similar. It seems Clyburn's effort is getting the short end of the stick, do you think. If Williams said it, there would be no reason to mention that it is a predominantly white area. But Robinson, who is no stranger to racially charged comments ("those whites", "our people"), it seems funny that he would push for funds in an area outside his district. I concur. I'm merely discrediting your veiled implication that I'm a racist for bashing Robinson and commenting on the present state of Williamsburg and Marion counties, in relation to Florence county. No hard feelings, so lets get back to talking about bettering Florence and the Pee Dee.

Would you like to explain yourself? Did I say anything about the people of Ed Robinson's district, other than their voting Robinson in? Yes, I do have a big problem with Robinson himself. He is a do-nothing, race-baiting councilman. If anything, they are victims of his incompetence and do-nothingness. And what about mentioning Williamsburg and Marion counties, the two poorest counties with the highest unemployment rates in the state, which border Florence county to the south and east. Just what does that say about me, Scoop? Come clean.....what are you implying? Could it be that I'm a racist? Hmmmm... You sound like your friend Ed Robinson. You have no legitimate points. Your only tactic is to discredit anyone who you disagree with by throwing around the r-word. All you do in the process is further dilute the meaning of the word. But I'll continue to call things as I see them, and you can label me what you want. As for Robinson's comment, he interfered with an arrest (I forget the details), was arrested, and referred to the police as the klan. To his credit, he later apologized.

Considering the the source, I doubt it's validity. Ed Robinson is a race-baiting clown. How he continues to keep getting re-elected is a disgrace. Ride through his east Florence district and see how many abandoned, neglected or burned out structures there are. Why is this councilman not urging the city or their owners to clean these properties up? In addition to being eyesores, they attract gang and drug activity, and are a danger to kids in the neighborhoods. The only time you see Robinson in the news is when he is in some kind of trouble, or is claiming police harrassment, such as when he recently compared the Florence Police department to the KKK. Now we're supposed to believe he helped secure $4 million in funding for a predominantly white area that isn't even in his district. Even if it was true, why wouldn't he be trying to secure funds to fix up the mess in his own district?

I think it's great that the one cent tax passed. It shows that a majority of the citizens wish to have an infrastructure that will help attract business and move Florence County into the 21st century. Most Pee Dee counties are poor, have high unemployment rates and are unattractive to business. The Florence county citizens who voted yes know that in order to compete with the rest of the state (and the country), an investment has to be made in the infrastructure for the county to move forward, jobs to come and salaries to rise. The vote showed we wish to be more like Richland and Greenville counties and less like Williamsburg and Marion. Amen to that. By the way, the vote was 55-45%, a bit more than a "narrow margin".

I for one am glad this passed. Nobody likes any more taxes, but I'm ecstatic these projects are going to get completed. Considering York County citizens voted to extend the tax increase, it's obvious that they saw the positive results of the tax on their county. I don't know where the 7000 jobs number came from. I'm assuming many of them are the construction jobs for these projects, and some may be from the additional businesses that will open up in some of these areas. This is especially so for the 301 bypass, which will connect Pamplico Hwy to 501 and I-95.

You're right Spartan, that was a typo. I need a spellchecker. I don't wish to paint the entire lower part of the county as uneducated. But many are, and I'm betting there will be a direct correlation between low education level, and those who vote against the tax. And a lot of that will be related to short term economics. Unfortunately the long term benefits will be ignored. And as I stated before, these projects need to get done and will get done (why this is something that is even put to a vote is beyond me, but that's another thread). The one-cent tax will be the cheapest option for taxpayers given the generous, one-time match. Other counties are foaming at the mouth to receive such a match. Failure of this to pass will be a disgrace for Florence County. But I'm still optimistic that voters have enough common sense to vote in favor.................

Florence is by far the major hub of the county and that is where the majority of the infrastructure money should go. Eventually, the benefits of the projects will trickle down to the lower part of the county. Unfortunately, lower Florence County is full of those with Snoops' opinion, who will vote against the one cent tax because they just don't get it. There is a reason the Pee Dee is the armpit of the state (some would say the country), and a big part of it is the nature of the populace (poor, uneducated and unmotivated for change). Not necessarily describing you Scoop, so don't take it personally.

I couldn't have said it better Vic. I've lived here 30 years and the view of theBarb20 is common, especially in the poor and uneducated southern part of the county (sorry for the implication, Barb). They'll still buy their packs of Marlboro lights even if they raise the taxes by 50 cents, but damn if they'll pay that penny tax for the roads. Without trying to sound like a progressive elitist (which I'm not), there's a reason the Pee Dee is the most undesireable part of the state. And generally it's the views of the majority of people who live here. I'm hoping to be proved wrong on Election Day.