COLUMBIA, S.C. – Officials and concerned citizens of five South Carolina towns will spend a week in early March creating a new vision for a future of growth.
The SCDAP’s Design Week, from March 3-8, pairs local officials with volunteer design professionals — including landscape architects and architects — to address social, economic and environmental issues the towns are facing. The statewide initiative is sponsored by the South Carolina Design Arts Partnership (SCDAP), an organization aimed at improving the quality of the built and natural environments through design, education and leadership training that is a partnership of the South Carolina Arts Commission and Clemson University.
Little Mountain, Westminster, Olanta, Liberty and Allendale were chosen last year by the SCDAP to undergo a yearlong program dedicated to small town revitalization, called the South Carolina Mayor’s Institute. Design Week is the culminating event of the yearlong Mayor’s Institute. It traditionally includes interactive workshops that are open to the public — a veritable think tank just before the mayors graduate from the program.
“Citizens will hopefully have the opportunity to share and celebrate all of the things they love about their community,” said Lindsey Moore, SCDAP executive director. “There will be a new opportunity for dialogue during Design Week in a creative, safe atmosphere. Diverse groups of people will be able to come together and listen to each other, helping to create a collective vision for the future.”
Volunteers include members from the American Society of Landscape Architects, American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, historic preservation and economic development, who typically help form a plan for sustainable design and pursue resources, such as grants and technical assistance.
“South Carolina is changing—the future isn’t what it used to be,” Moore said. “Communities of all shapes and sizes really need to have a game plan in place to prepare for all of the challenges and opportunities to come.”
While some communities can’t keep up with rapid growth, others struggle to attract more people to their waning communities. Design Week examines such issues while attempting to maintain the town’s individual identity.
“No matter what a community is facing, having a collective vision of the future, developed in conjunction with a common understanding of where the community has been is a primary factor in helping the community succeed in the 21st Century,” Moore said.
The SCDAP recently instituted a follow-up program for small towns in he SC Mayor’s Institute that includes on-going consultation and technical assistance until their “community design dreams” come true.
Schedule of Events:
March 3: Liberty
March 4: Wesminster
March 5: Open Day
March 6: Olanta
March 7: Allendale
March 8: Little Mountain
Town descriptions:
Little Mountain: This village is located near the highest point of land between Charleston and Greenville just off I-26 in the central midlands region. The community struggles to keep its small-town character atmosphere, quality of life and historic charm in tact due to the demands of urban sprawl, imminent new retail and residential development and sewer service that will soon be constructed.
Westminster: Best known as a gateway city to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wesminster is located in the northwest corner of the state, in the middle of one of the nation's fastest-growing areas along the I-85 “Golden Corridor,” which stretches from Charlotte to Atlanta. The city is preparing for future growth by developing a city facilities master plan.
Olanta: This town is located in southwestern Florence County, which is known as the “Pee Dee” region. As a small community located near several larger cities, Olanta faces the challenge of keeping its downtown vibrant. The town would like to develop a master plan that includes recommendations for revitalization, which should include a much-needed community center for youth and senior citizens, a library, several city park projects and new residential infill.
Liberty: Liberty is located in the upstate, close to Clemson, Greenville, Oconee and Anderson counties. This is a town with a strong sense of community, but lacks a sense of place. Town leaders are working to attract new growth by developing a long-term vision and strategies. The town's priority is to enhance its downtown, to set a design tone that helps give their town a sense of identity and to plan for growth.
Allendale: This rural Lowcountry community is in the southwestern corner of the state. The community has two educational institutions within its city limits, including the Allendale Elementary School and the University of South Carolina at Salkehatchie. This particular
project involves the design of two educational gateways that create physical and visual linkages between these critical institutions and the community at large.
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