New buildings, renovations show progress being made in Florence's downtown

By: Morning News | SCNOW
Published: November 30, 2008

It’s only one “house” but the recent renovation to the century-old home at 549 W. Evans St. is a good sign.

The building, originally the residence of a Lebanese family who came to Florence in the early 1900s, has been converted into an office building.

It’s the work of Florence developer Jay Ham who hopes this renovation and several other offices he has built along Evans Street are a sign of things to come.

Four of the office suites were rented before Ham was even finished with the project, which took about six months to complete.

Ham told the Morning News that his company has restored six other homes on Evans Street.

He stressed that his hope is that other home and business owners will see what he has done and do their part in helping restore downtown.

“I can’t really say this house is a labor of love,” he told the Morning News, “I mean, I am a businessman.”

We realize that and also take note of other renovations or new buildings that are starting to show up along Evans Street.

It’s a small sign that progress is being made.

But there are still plenty of eyesores not just along Evans Street but other places in and around our city.

But what Ham and others are showing is a faith that efforts by the city and others will pay off in the long run for them as well.

But as Ham told the Morning News, he is a businessman.

He hopes to get a return on his investment.

And if and others do then the tax base increases and others will follow suit.

This is why it’s so important for some of the other projects downtown to move forward.

That includes the new location for the Florence Museum and a new courthouse.

It all fits together and that’s why it’s important to recognize the efforts of Ham and others and continue to push leaders to see the bigger picture and how things like the museum and the court house fit into the overall scheme.

Tax money from the private investors doesn’t just go to the city.

It also goes to the county as well.

That’s why it’s also important to recognize the efforts of the private sector.