What is holding Sumter back? (Cherryvale: houses, neighborhoods, schools)

[Captain Worley]

Not quite what happened in Colatown. The US supreme Court, IIRC, affirmed that SCE&G was contracturally bound to provide bus service, in exchange for the monopoly on energy in the area. SCE&G dangled a bag of money in front of Colatown, and Colatown took the bus system to get the money. Now they want everyone else to pay for it.

Back on topic...I really didn't even know Sumter had a bus sytem. Not a public one, anyway.

[nissanv8]

this election is bringing out everyone true colors

[rubber_factory]

Originally Posted by 107main

I took a recent tour of the old Telephone factory in Sumter, now the "James F. Clyburn Intermodal Transportation Center". It is a texbook example of Govco waste at it's best!

I'm not sure what the Intermodal Transportation Center does, or if it is a good idea, but this comes from the man that fought for the $200 million bridge from Lone Star to Rimini, so I know what to expect.

Regarding "what is holding Sumter back." I guess you'd have to buy into the idea that Sumter is being held back. I don't buy into the idea that high-end retail is something a good community needs, necessarily. High-end retail doesn't survive in Sumter because the traditionally the people there haven't cared about it much.

[Rophlmao]

"Regarding "what is holding Sumter back." I guess you'd have to buy into the idea that Sumter is being held back. I don't buy into the idea that high-end retail is something a good community needs, necessarily. High-end retail doesn't survive in Sumter because the traditionally the people there haven't cared about it much."

Very perceptive and quite right. What Sumter needs is to attract more jobs, and Clyburn could come up with more industry-friendly earmarks than the Center. High-end retail requires rich people AND a local culture where those ostentatious products are valued.

[airforce backer]

the problem here for years is the census never considered shaw as part of the population so when you take away shaw's numbers nd income the area looks downright sad.

now they finally view shaw as apart of sumter which increases pop and income. the problem is there is no where here for us to go to.

this town is entirely too large for 1 walmart. ive been all over the country and never have i ever had to fight wait and take a whole day to shop a walmart.

the terrible pathetic excuse for a mall that only caters to one type of crowd also kills this town. everyone leaves to go to cola and florence, look at all the money leaving to go else where

how many hip hop stores are needed in one "mall"

the potential here is insane , bring in a target, home depot, starbucks and some stores to shop in that you would see in columbia and this place will blow up.

when i first arrived at this base there were maybe 2 rest. now all of 378 by the base has expanded and added a dozen places to eat. its a start but still a ways to go

[Ceezer]

Yeah, what ever happened to the other Walmart that was going to be built out on 15?

And it says a lot when you find out that people from Cola actually drive to Sumter to shop at the mall because there is a better selection of urban wear...

Nobody is suggesting Sumter go high-end, as some have eluded to, but a little progression and development couldn't hurt. A Target out at 378/441 isn't going to ruin Sumter. A book store isn't going to ruin Sumter. Heck, even back home in Parkersburg, WV they put in a full Borders; and even though it's the 4th largest city in WV it's still only half the population of Sumter. I just got back from there yesterday and it's still the same ol' Parkersburg it always was, despite the addition of Borders. A Circuit City (well, maybe Best Buy now) isn't going to ruin Sumter.

I don't mind taking the girls to Cola if they want to do a shopping trip or if I/we want to hit a specialty store, but I hate having to drive there every time I need something more specific than dog food or milk.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Ceezer

Yeah, what ever happened to the other Walmart that was going to be built out on 15?

And it says a lot when you find out that people from Cola actually drive to Sumter to shop at the mall because there is a better selection of urban wear...

Nobody is suggesting Sumter go high-end, as some have eluded to, but a little progression and development couldn't hurt. A Target out at 378/441 isn't going to ruin Sumter. A book store isn't going to ruin Sumter. Heck, even back home in Parkersburg, WV they put in a full Borders; and even though it's the 4th largest city in WV it's still only half the population of Sumter. I just got back from there yesterday and it's still the same ol' Parkersburg it always was, despite the addition of Borders. A Circuit City (well, maybe Best Buy now) isn't going to ruin Sumter.

I don't mind taking the girls to Cola if they want to do a shopping trip or if I/we want to hit a specialty store, but I hate having to drive there every time I need something more specific than dog food or milk.

Last I heard, Walmart issued the typical corporate statement "on hold because of the economy" though local leader seem confident it is more a question of "when" that "if" it happens. Walmart may start the development of the southern end of Sumter down toward the industrial park. The City should focus more on the south, north, and east of towns and less on the west around Shaw given some of the concerns about development encroaching on the base. One issue appears to have been lack of adequate water and sewer that supports dense residential subdivisions and possibly perception of school zones. Since Sumter appears headed for consolidation.. the school issue may be resolved but the challenge of putting in the infrastructure remains.....

[Woodlands]

Given the consolidation of Sumter #17 and #2 should the City and County consider consolidation? I do not know of any County in SC where this has happened, so I am doubtful for political and some practical reasons that it will occur. One thing that may be worth considering is if City of Sumter (though also very unlikely) could annex the "urbanized areas" of Sumter County? Many of the new and some of the existing subdivisions west of town are in the County. The City's population could increase to over 50,000 if the urbanized areas and "pockets" surrounded by the City are annexed. The down side is those residents will pay county and now City taxes but the increase in tax base could further provide and improve public services while making the city, on paper, more marketable by placing it in a category with larger cities? Additional challenges would be some of the "urbanized" areas would be a tax burden on the City.. by demanding more services (i.e law enforcement, streets and sewer/drainage improvements, etc). The City does receive federal funds that could help mitigate some problems in these "annexed" areas to improve the infrastructure. I guess my question is if consolidation is not possible, should the City become responsible for the "urbanized" areas of the County and let the County focus more on the rural and small towns as a way to focus services that improve the quality of life for the entire community?

[Ceezer]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

The City should focus more on the south, north, and east of towns and less on the west around Shaw given some of the concerns about development encroaching on the base. One issue appears to have been lack of adequate water and sewer that supports dense residential subdivisions and possibly perception of school zones.

Except that the west side of town by Shaw is exactly where all the residential development is appearing. Drive down 441/Patriot Parkway. 2 years ago that road was empty fields, now you can't even find enough space for a yard. Same with Carter (well, it wasn't 'empty' but it wasn't nearly as crowded as it is now).

It just makes sense (to me) to develop some of the area down Peach Orchard towards, and including the intersection of, 378. There's enough room at that intersection that they could put in a few things like retail (Target) with a Starbucks*. I worked on base for 3 years and know how inconvenient it is to waste 30 minutes of your lunch break running to Sumter for food because the only other options are limited to Burger King (and now McD's), Subway, Sara's and the Chicken Shack. If they developed Peach Orchard just a bit, maybe they could reopen the hospital gate so that the barracks folks could walk out and up & down that strip.

*The guy that finally puts a Starbucks in at that intersection is going to be a very, very rich man. Think of the traffic that passes by that place (people coming in to Shaw's front & side gates, people heading out of Sumter to McEntire & Columbia) in the morning hours and how many of them are coffee drinkers (or drink coffee-like drinks to wake up for the commute).

Also cashing in is the guy/gal who finally puts in a fast-food BBQ joint around here. I can't believe there isn't one at all in this area. Something like a Smithfields or Bar-B-Cutie franchise.

We could also use a second Taco Bell out here around Shaw. Not only is the one in town always crowded, but we all know that nothing else quite hits the spot in the late-night/early-morning hours like Taco Bell and having one close to base would be convenient for the young Airmen.

Granted, Camp Lejeune is larger than Shaw, but the overall population of Jacksonville, NC wasn't much more than Sumter and we had 7 Taco Bells there...

[Palmetto Heel]

My comment will probably be censored but the real problem with Sumter is white flight. Anyone who says differently is ignoring the obvious.