A Vision for the City Center

Ambitious project weaving together government, business,
culture and housing in the Uptown area remains on track

January 1, 2006

By MEGAN VARNER
Index-Journal senior staff writer

After finding a spot in an Uptown parking deck, you take a stroll down the tree-lined Main Street to stop into an upscale specialty shop for a unique buy or have a cup of coffee at a trendy new bistro.
From your seat, you can see others leaving their Uptown apartments, on their way for a visit to the improved Greenwood Community Theatre, The Museum or Old Federal Building or heading to an outdoor cultural event or to a lush city park for a quiet moment.
It’s all part of a long-term dream that is on its way to becoming a reality for Uptown Greenwood.
The Greenwood City Center Master Plan, unveiled to the public in February 2004 as a long-term project designed to revitalize economic activity in the town’s center, made significant headway in 2005, officials say.
The plan is the result of months of study conducted on the physical, economic and cultural demands of the city center. With short-, mid- and long-term goals in place through 2015, developers of the plan hope to transform the Uptown area into a cultural hub for the seven-county region, complete with specialty retail and dining destinations, a network of parks and a number of residential options in existing and new buildings in town.
The plan is a collaborative effort among public and private groups in the city and county, including the Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation, Partnership for a Greater Greenwood County & Economic Alliance, City Center Plan Steering Committee, CPW, Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the Upper Savannah Council of Governments.
Lander University, Self Regional Healthcare, the Arts Council of Greenwood County, The Museum, Greenwood Community Theatre, Greenwood County Public Library and Uptown merchants also have participated in the master plan.
“We wanted to know what we could do to get people to come (to the Uptown area) and then build around what the people were coming for,” said Jeff Fowler, CEO with the Partnership Alliance, which has helped secure a number of grants for the master plan. “Once people start coming in, more people will be spending money and walking around.”
Fowler said this would spur retailers and businesses to open shops in the Uptown area and would help the district capture some of the money being spent at stores on the bypass and outside of the Greenwood area.
“Most of that money is being spent on things that could be in the city’s center,” such as specialty furnishing shops, higher-end restaurants and boutiques, Fowler said.
One of the first major phases of the plan is the $3.45 million Emerald Triangle Project, which includes renovations, upgrades and additions to the Old Federal Building, The Museum and the Greenwood Community Theatre, as well as streetscaping projects along Oregon Avenue.
The Triangle project was aided by several major grants, including a $200,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund from the S.C. Department of Commerce and a $400,000 HUD Economic Development Initiative Appropriation. Both were used for renovations to the Old Federal Building and for the creation of a Regional Visitor and Tourism Center to be housed in the building.
“Those grants helped our campaign a lot. Anything like that gives you a big boost,” said Anne Craig, executive director for the Arts Council of Greenwood County, which will have offices in the renovated Old Federal Building. The Old Federal Building, which also will house offices for the Self Family Foundation, a public reception hall, gallery and classrooms, is tentatively scheduled to be completed in late January, Craig said. The next step of the Triangle project, renovations to the theater, is anticipated to begin in early 2006, with about eight months of work to be done, Craig added.
The final step in the project will deal with The Museum, which Craig said possibly could move to another location within the next five years.
The Museum Executive Director Matthew Edwards said consultants will be brought in before the decision to move or remain at the current location is made.
Because that decision is still some distance in the future, Edwards said the short-term focus for The Museum is to stabilize the current structure and fix water problems that have been plaguing the building.
With the help of a matching grant from the Self Family Foundation, The Museum is planning an extensive exhibit revitalization which will be under way for the next six to nine months and will “add a more cohesive, esthetic appeal to the museum,” Edwards said.
The work on the Emerald Triangle is scheduled to be nearing completion next year, and Craig said the project’s completion would be a major validation for the City Center Master Plan.
“Now that we’ve finished one big piece of it, it adds legitimacy to the plan. People see something that is very concrete and they know that the next steps can be achieved, too,” Craig said.
Beginning in 2006, streetscaping projects will begin along Main Street in Greenwood, said Charlie Barrineau, assistant city manager. Oak and Japanese Cherry trees will be added and relocated along the road, and the median will be extended southward, he said. An Uptown entrance sign will be added in the area just south of the Inn on the Square.
“We’re hoping for a gateway effect as you enter Uptown on the south end,” Barrineau said.
The second phase of the streetscape project will be the addition of decorative crosswalks in three locations in Uptown, and Barrineau said the city currently is seeking funding for that project.
The city already has received a $488,861 community development block grant for a streetscape project along Oregon Avenue, and Barrineau said construction on that phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in the summer of 2006.
“It should improve the visual effect (of the street) to match the improved the Federal Building, (Greenwood Community) Theatre and Museum,” Barrineau said.
Beyond 2006, Barrineau said the city will begin looking at projects for Maxwell Avenue as well as projects that will create “linkages” and a cohesive appearance for the district between Lander University and Self Regional Hospital.
Longer-term projects are planned for a parking deck and specialty shops on Oregon Avenue, a park in the Uptown area and residential options in existing and new buildings in the district. The new Greenwood County Library, which will be located on the Main Street lot where the old Winn Dixie once operated, will be another major anchor of the master plan, though its completion is still years away.
Though the plan isn’t set in stone, partners in the project will be “advocating for the completion of the entire master plan for the town center,” said Frank Wideman, president of the Self Family Foundation, which also has worked to secure private and public funding for the master plan. Wideman said the building of partnerships between all of the groups committed to the project has been one reason the plan has been successful so far.
“The (City Center Master Plan) is absolutely vital for the survival of the town center,” Wideman said. “One of the things we’ve really been stressing is the need to improve the quality of life in Greenwood. A part of that effort is the revitalization for the town center and to have a vibrant arts and cultural district.
“If Greenwood is to move forward in the future, we believe that ensuring that we have the best quality of life possible for a community of this size is critical,” Wideman said.
Ten years from now, when the master plan has been completed, the hope is that the Uptown area will appear more like a “mini-Greenville,” Fowler, with the Partnership Alliance, said.
“You’ll see more walking, more diversity in retail and a big diversity between retailers in Uptown and the bypass,” Fowler said. “I think they will compliment each other.”

Walter B. Andrews

Services for Walter Andrews of 104 Bay Court are 12 noon Monday at Mount Olive Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Andy Robinson, assisted by the Revs. Willie Price, J.W. Price and Willie S. Harrison. The body will be placed in the church at 11. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are the Trustees of the Church.
Flower bearers are the members of the Missionary Auxiliary.
Honorary escorts are Deacons.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.

Thomas C. Bonner

IRMO — Service for Thomas Cameron Bonner, 61, will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo, with burial in Swallow Savannah Cemetery, Allendale, S.C. at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends at the home Sunday from 2-3 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be his nephews, and Les Turner, Paul Brown, and Dave Kellish. Memorials may be made to Carolina Basset Hound Rescue, P.O. Box 80082, Charleston, S.C. 29416-0082.
Mr. Bonner died Thursday, December 29, 2005. Born in Kingstree and raised in Georgetown, S.C., he was the son of the late Thomas and Mary McMichael Bonner. He was a graduate of Winyah High School, Georgetown, the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina. He was an English Instructor with Midlands Technical College for over 30 years.
A beloved Husband, Dad and Grandaddy, he is survived by his wife, LaVerne Holland Bonner; daughter and son-in-law, Ame and Chad Kellum of Greenwood; son, Tommy Bonner of Columbia; two grandchildren, Emily Michelle Kellum and Virginia Kate Kellum; his beloved hound dog, Horton; sister, Mary Frances Bonner of Yorktown, Virginia; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Dot Holland of Marietta, Ga.; and nephews, Adam Holland of Marietta, Wade Holland of New York City, and Stephen and Karen Winslow of Alpharetta, Ga.
www.dunbarfuneralsandcremations.com
PAID OBITUARY

Kimberly ‘Kim’ Ann Boyd

CORONACA — Kimberly “Kim” Ann Boyd, 35, of 319 Willard Road, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005. Services will be announced by Harley Funeral Home.

Leesa M. Bryson

BRISTOW, VA. — Leesa M. Bryson, 36, wife of Tyrone Bryson, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005 at Prince Williams County Hospital in Manassas, Va.
Born in Abbeville County, she was a daughter of Genevieve Brooks Martin and Horace Martin, both of Abbeville. The family will be at the home of her mother, 101 Price St., Abbeville, later this week.
Services will be announced by Brown and Walker Funeral Home, Abbeville.

Albert Holloway

Albert Holloway, 51, of 809 Brewer St., died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Greenwood County, he was a son of Essie Dorn Holloway and the late Lenwood Holloway. He was employed at Mathews Mill and Self Regional Medical Center. He was a 1973 graduate of Greenwood High School and a member of Flint Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of Greenwood; three daughters, Porsha Wright of the home, Alberta Wright of Greenwood and Mrs. Edward (Jacqueline) McGowan of Cross Hill; three sons, Orinthus Saxon and Keley Saxon, both of Greenwood and Antionne Anderson of Ninety Six; four sisters, Mozell Holloway of Stone Mountain, Ga., Mrs. Willie (Charlene) Kimble, Mrs. Alfonso (Sharon) Spearman and Doretha Holloway, all of Greenwood; four brothers, Robert Holloway of Abbeville, Clarence Holloway of Troy, Leonard Holloway and Edward Holloway, both of Greenwood; and eight grandchildren.
The family is at the home of his mother, Essie D. Holloway, 304 Campbell St.
Services will be announced by Parks Funeral Home.

Steven Leonard Long Sr.

HONEA PATH — Steven Leonard Long Sr., 53, of 6 Riley St., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005 at the Anderson Area Medical Center.
Born in Anderson County, he was a son of the late Johnny James Long and the late Mary Lindsey Ruth Long. He attended the public schools of Anderson County and was a former textile employee. He was a member of the Mount Horeb A.M.E. Church of Honea Path and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys Mosley Long of the home; two daughters, Gwendolyn Martin of Honea Path and Mary Ruth Taylor of Calhoun Falls; a son, Steven Long Jr. of the home; two sisters, Brenda L. Harris of Greenville and Audrey Pettigrew of Honea Path; three brothers, Jim Henry Long of Honea Path, William Long of Aiken and Donnie Long of Atlanta; and five grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Monday at Mount Olive A.M.E. Church in Donalds, conducted by the Revs. Sandra Smith, Pamela Aiken, Melton Aiken, James Robinson Jr. and John Aiken. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial is in the Evening Star Cemetery, Greenwood.
Wake service is 7-7:30 p.m. tonight at Holloway’s Funeral Home, Belton.
The family is at the home.
Holloway’s Funeral Home, Belton, is in charge.

John Kempe Ruoff

John Kempe Ruoff, 91, of the Sterling House, widower of Mary Helen Gutledge Ruoff, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Taylor Sargent

NINETY SIX — Taylor Ellison Sargent, 21, of 1105 Watts Bridge Road, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005. Born in Greenwood, he was a son of Bobby and Lynn Ellison Sargent. He was a graduate of Ninety Six High School, where he played on two State Championship football and golf teams. He was a member of Siloam Baptist Church where he was a member of His Warriors Sunday School Class.
Survivors include his parents of the home; his sister, Mrs. Jeffrey (Kristen) Hopkins of Florence; his brother, Jeremiah Sargent of the home; his maternal grandparents, Thomas E. and Dorothy “Dot” Dalton of Greenwood; his paternal grandparents, Bob and Judy Sargent of Ninety Six; his maternal great-grandmothers, Helen Starnes of Greenwood and Virginia Dalton of Eupora, Miss.; and his paternal great-grandmother, Edna Taylor of Anderson. Graveside services are 2 p.m. today at Oakbrook Memorial Park, conducted by the Revs. Steven Crittendon and Johnson Dorn.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Siloam Baptist Church, P.O. Box 373, Ninety Six, S.C. 29666.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harleyfuneralhome.com

William R. Timmons Jr.

Greenville, SC — William R. Timmons, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Canal Insurance Company and The South Financial Group
William Richardson Timmons, Jr. passed away on December 31 at ConTimplEight, his home that he loved dearly. He was born in Greenville, SC on March 1, 1924, the son of William Richardson Timmons and Eva McDonald Timmons. He graduated from Greenville High School and entered the University of South Carolina. During his sophomore year, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and learned to fly the B-24 Liberator. Because of his ability, he was ordered to First Pilots School and then to Instructors School. After Instructor’s School, he spent several years teaching pilots to fly the B-24. He transitioned to the B-29 Super Fortress and was ordered to the Pacific Theatre, but he was stricken with polio and was sent to the Army Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he spent two years recuperating. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the Victory Medal and retired as a Captain. While in Hot Springs, he met and later married Corinne “Connie” Jackson who was a nurse in Hot Springs.
Upon his return to Greenville, he entered Furman University. In 1948, his father was killed in an auto accident and Bill left Furman to work in the family business, Canal Insurance Company. Through the leadership of Bill and his brother, Charles, Canal grew into a nationwide P&C insurance company with over 240 employees while still being a family owned business. Bill served as Chairman of Canal Insurance Company and of Central Realty Corporation and of several other family owned businesses. He was a founding director of Southern Bank and Trust. He was also a founding director of Carolina First Bank and had been serving as the Chairman of the Board of The South Financial Group.
He was a trustee emeritus of Furman University. He served on the Board of Furman for six five year terms including stints as vice-chairman and chairman of the board. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, the Bell Tower Award and the Alumni Service Award from Furman. He and his late wife, Connie, were also elected to the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame and they received a distinguished service award from the Southern Conference. Bill and Connie were lifelong supporters of Furman. Besides generous scholarship support, they contributed notably to the success of the annual LPGA Pro-Am golf tournament held on the Furman golf course. In 1998, he and his now deceased sister and brother, Jean T. Pelham and Charles M. Timmons, made the lead gift for the Timmons Arena, Furman Basketball’s home.
He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Greenville and has served as deacon, chair of the fund-raising committee for the new sanctuary and chair of the finance committee. He had served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, as President of the Sertoma Club and on the boards of several charities including the United Fund, now the United Way.
William Timmons is survived by eight children, Sydney M. Timmons, Tracy T. Hardaway and husband, Charles, William R. Timmons, III and wife, Pat, Scott T. Hipp and husband Neel, Steve J. Timmons and wife, Cris, of Greenville, Dru James, and husband, Ennis, of Greenwood, SC, Christie Mullen and husband, John, of Salt Lake City, Utah and Ashley Lee, and husband, Larry, of Charlotte, NC. He had twenty three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Grandchildren include Chad Hardaway and wife Lisa, Todd Hardaway and wife Misty, Eric and Robert Hardaway, Leslie and Ennis James, Brittany, William and Cliff Timmons, Neel, Corie, Timmons and Will Hipp, Patrick, Mary and Tom Mullen, Jackson, Clayton and Hamilton Timmons, Carley, Rebekah, Christie, and Rachel Lee.
He was predeceased by his wife Corinne Jackson Timmons, his brother, Charles M. Timmons and his sister, Jean T. Pelham.
The family will be at ConTimplEight, 50 Cherry Laurel Court, on Monday afternoon and evening, January 2, to receive friends. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church with burial to follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park with military honors.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C. or Furman University. The Mackey Mortuary, Greenville, SC
PAID OBITUARY

Joanne S. Wates

PLUM BRANCH — Joanne Seigler Wates, 70, of Seigler Road, widow of Herbert E. Wates, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in McCormick, she was a daughter of the late Alonza and Agnes B. Seigler. She was a member of Plum Branch Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. George III (Marilyn W.) McKee of McCormick; a son, Herbert E. Wates Jr.; two grandchildren; three brothers, Myrel A. Seigler of Augusta, James B. Seigler and John E. Seigler, both of Plum Branch; three sisters, Jane S. Franklin of McCormick, Mary S. McDaniel of Plum Branch and Billie Jean Bertzfield of Parksville.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Plum Branch Baptist Church. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 3-5 p.m. today at Plum Branch Baptist Church.
The family is at the home of her son on Virginia Street in McCormick.
Memorials may be made to Plum Branch Cemetery Fund or Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home, Edgefield, is in charge.

Greenwood is a ‘natural’
for retiree community

December 31, 2005

It’s no surprise that Greenwood is working to attract more retirees. It’s a natural!
For some time this community has had the welcome mat out and it already has a head start on introducing others to a way of life that is second to none. Most retirees who have settled here have found the quality of life exemplary.
There are many things about Greenwood and the entire Lakelands area that give living here a special quality. The new arts complex, new library, higher educational facilities and a variety of other attractions are the stuff that good retirement communities are made of. But, then, they also are the assets of the everyday life for all of us. In terms of religious, civic, education, entertainment, government, cost of living and just about every facet of our existence, this is a warm and caring state and community.

THERE’S ONE OTHER BIG item, too, It’s an established fact that the variety for dining out in the Emerald City lacks nothing.
All of these things are a plus all the way around. There could be more, though. As mentioned before, that’s where parks come into focus. The one we have – on East Cambridge – definitely adds to the enjoyment of life hereabouts. Imagine how much more another park would add to that quality. There is another park waiting at the corner of Grace Street and 72 Bypass. All it needs is a push and a little imagination, not to mention a couple of decisions by the powers that be.
Add all these things together and they make the Greenwood area a perfect spot to retire. Retirees are hearing about us every day. But, then, what’s not to like?

A very important question
Is the Patriot Act a threat to the freedoms constitutionality mandated to all Americans?
That, of course, is one of the questions under debate as Congress decides whether to make the Act permanent after its 90-day extension expires.
Under the Act, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are given certain powers to check on suspected terrorists.
Then, to be sure, the eavesdropping approved by President Bush also has created a storm of protest.
There’s one very important question every American should ask himself. What should be done to make sure we keep tabs on those who want to kill us?