The Florence Design Review Board has approved the demolition of what remains of Heritage Place after most of the hotel was demolished last month.
The hotel stood on South Irby Street near Palmetto Street, but one section was located at 260 W. Palmetto St., on property belonging to another owner, said Florence Urban Planning and Development Director Phillip Lookadoo during Wednesday’s board meeting.
The property also includes the building that has been operated as Bazen’s Family Restaurant and, most recently, Posh.
The board approved the initial demolition of the hotel when it received plans about a year ago for a Walgreens store on the southwest corner of South Irby and Palmetto streets.
The city, however, has received no further requests regarding the store, Lookadoo said.
The Florence County/Municipal Historical Commission found no historical significance in the remainder of the hotel, Florence Zoning Administrator Liz Shaw told the board.
Council also has approved the demolition of a house at 106 N. Chase St., which stands behind the former Hamilton House Antiques location at 549 W. Evans St.
Jay Ham, a managing partner with H&R Holdings LLC, owns both properties. He is renovating the former antiques store as office space and will submit to the board a plan for the entire corner, city planning officials said.
The historical commission also found no significance in the Chase Street house.
The board also approved the relocation of the new Florence Little Theatre’s sign from the West Pine Street entrance to the South Irby Street entrance, which will “provide more visibility and direction for the new theater,” Shaw said.
The brick sign’s proposed design remains the same. It will be 6 feet tall and 7 feet wide and feature a scrolling LED display.
Also during Wednesday’s meeting, board chairman Cary Andrews asked Lookadoo how board members could have a voice in improving the aesthetic appeal of South Irby and East Palmetto streets along with other major corridors leading into town.
Possibilities include that design guidelines for the entryway corridors might be channeled through the board or administratively enforced through a city ordinance, Lookadoo said.
“When we start the comprehensive plan process, you guys need to be involved, as I would encourage every citizen of Florence to be involved,” Lookadoo told the board.
A comprehensive plan is necessary for a city or county to apply zoning to properties. Florence is operating under Florence County’s zoning ordinance, which it adopted while city and county planning services were consolidated.
Lookadoo said Florence’s planning department hopes to hire a consultant within the next few months to begin working on a city-specific comprehensive plan.
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