Planning for the Future, Lavonia Citizens Give Their Input

Lavonia City fathers and representatives from StudioMain LLC now have a better idea of what citizens would like to see in the downtown area going forward.

Dozens of Lavonia citizens turned out Tuesday evening for a public comment session at the Lavonia Train Depot to offer their suggestions about what they would like to see downtown in the future.

Several aerial views of downtown Lavonia were on tables for people to view along with pads of sticky notes so people could write down their suggestions and place them on the maps.

There were also tables where people could write down what they love about Lavonia and what they would like to see in Lavonia.

Lavonia is planning a sweeping streetscape revitalization project over the next several years that they hope will transform the downtown area into a bustling, more attractive area for residents and visitors alike.

Studio Main, a design company in South Carolina, has been in Lavonia this week getting a first-hand look at the current downtown and meeting with city, business, civic leaders, and other stakeholders to get their input on what they would like to see downtown.

Blake Sanders is the founder and principal of Studio Main. He said of all the comments he heard several stood out.

“We’re hearing prioritizing safety and connectivity. And there’s a parking problem but there’s also a problem crossing highways 59 and 17. I’m hearing that there needs to be more beautification, more greenspace; that the festivals are awesome in town but how do we keep people around just a little bit longer,” he said.

Another concern from citizens, he said, is how to renovate some of the older buildings downtown and put them to good use with new businesses and other uses.

“So we heard a lot about do we have design guidelines, what is protecting the history of these buildings, how do we make sure they’re not torn down anytime soon,” he said. “We’re working with Arnett Muldrow out of Greenville who’s doing the market study and will help put businesses in those buildings. So we know where we have willing property owners and we know what the market leakage will be. That leakage is those living in Lavonia and they’re leaving to spend that money somewhere else. We’re going to try and capture some of that here. So, it might be a fine-dining restaurant. It might be somewhere to go and have a drink. Or it might be a place that’s an entertainment venue. We’re going to look for the property owners that are willing with the businesses that will fit and then try to marry those two together,” he concluded.

City Manager Charles Cawthon said Tuesday’s great turnout shows that citizens are concerned and interested in the future of Lavonia and its future economic success.

He said now that information and input from citizens will be formulated into a design concept.

Sanders said they plan to come back in a month’s time to present to the city their proposal for the downtown area.