Town of Summerville Planning Area - BCD Council of Governments

Downtown DistrictRecent Downtown Business InitiativesAbove: The conversion of Short Central Avenue to a pedestrianonly area has created a unique setting for restaurants and retailbusinesses in Summerville’s downtown.Summerville DREAM, in concert with a numberof other organizations in the Summerville area,has worked to create a pedestrian orientedcommunity in areas defined as the DowntownDistrict in the Future Land Use Element. Withassistance from a series of federal grants, thetown has been able to update its sidewalks andstreetscapes within the downtown area topreserve the “traditional” nature of thedowntown area. Additionally, a section of the“Short” Central Avenue has been converted intoa pedestrian walkway, giving this area of theTown a different feel in comparison tocomparable communities in the region, helpingto draw visitors to the restaurants, unique shops,and art galleries along the corridor. This providesshopping and dining opportunities that areunique to the suburban areas in the northernand western sections of the metro Charlestonregion.Summerville has also taken efforts to beautify itsdowntown in recent years. As part of itspermanent public sculpture program, inauguratedin 1999 as part of the Sculpture in the SouthFestival, the acquisition of over 20 pieces of publicsculpture has taken place. These works of art arelocated throughout the town, and the acquisitionof future pieces will take place as funds arederived from proceeds from the Sculpture in theSouth Festival.In order to remain competitive with othercommunities, Summerville also constructed adowntown parking garage. Completed in 2007,the garage provides free parking to visitors ofdowntown Summerville and residents doingbusiness in the adjacent Town Hall complex.Above: An example of the public sculptures located inSummerville resulting from the Town’s permanent publicsculpture program.Economic Development Element Page 19