Downtown gets another boost as FMU gets funds for amphitheater

We continue to editorialize about “downtown” Florence because we think the community needs to know and understand what’s happening.
Are the improvements coming fast enough for us? No.

Can more be done? Yes.

Are plenty of people working to make things happen? Yes.

The issue of downtown, and all of Florence’s appearance — not just in the city but the whole county — needs improvement.

But we like to make a point of recognizing things that are taking place and are “about” to happen that will make things better on their own and spur other development.

We have a vested interest in the well-being of the community as a whole and the downtown in particular — it’s where our office is located.
And so we take special pride in the “successes.”

And the most recent one is the good news of the recently announced gift to Francis Marion University of $325,000 from BB&T Bank to build the amphitheater at the FMU Performing Arts Center.

The design of the center always has called for the amphitheater, but FMU wanted to seek private funds to make it happen.

It will make it possible to add different types of performances and events.

It will have a central grassy area and can handle somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 to 400 people.

“The outdoor amphitheater is an essential part of the Performing Arts Center and a centerpiece of the downtown Florence cultural corridor. This gift guarantees the construction of the facility,” FMU President Fred Carter told the Morning News.

“BB&T’s investment is an indication of the bank’s confidence in Francis Marion and our community.”

“We view this gift as an investment,” said Frank James, BB&T senior vice president and city executive, told the Morning News. “This is an investment in the future of the Performing Arts Center and Francis Marion University. It is also an investment in the future of Florence downtown redevelopment and in the promise of a new century of musicians, educators and citizens.”

So a big thanks to BB&T for that contribution and vote of confidence to the downtown efforts.

Bids are expected to be awarded this month on the center and construction will start soon after that and completion is expected to be in the summer of 2010.

But the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation Library, the new Florence Little Theatre and the performing arts center, while huge catalysts and important pieces of the puzzle downtown, they can’t do it alone.

And that’s why we also are excited to see the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce building a new headquarters at Coit and Cheves streets.

And the new sanctuary for Cumberland United Methodist Church on Coit Street is almost finished.

Movement to get a downtown location for the Florence Museum continues.

And one of the most important pieces of the puzzle is building a new Florence County Courthouse downtown.

That’s in the hands of members of Florence County Council. We hope they realize how important that decision is to the future not just of downtown but to all of Florence County.