City of West Columbia is Encouraging Residents to Share Restoration Ideas

ABC Team

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- Things are changing in West Columbia and officials are reaching out to the public to see what they should bring to the area next, turning an old store front on state street into a wall of ideas.

“Clark’s Beauty Shop used to be here, they are doing renovations now so they had it boarded with plywood and we decided we wanted to make it a space where we could get ideas from the community, from residents, from visitors, to see what they would want in their West Columbia,” said Anna Huffman with the City of Columbia.

So far, neighbors have written a variety of suggestions on the wall, ranging from breweries and cafes to parking lots and more music festivals. City officials say they keep a tab on what people place on the wall.

“We’re coming down daily to take notes on what is actually being put on the wall. We’re working on all ideas. I haven’t seen anything that we haven’t already thought of yet but we’re hoping that we can incorporate all of these ideas. We’re working on the parking, we’re working on festivals and we’re working on bringing business to West Columbia that will bring people from all over so they can enjoy what we already know is here,” said Huffman.

Nearby business owners say the wall of ideas is a neat way to get the community involved in the restoration.

“I think what the city did is great and I love reading what people are saying. I wrote some things myself. I wrote coffee shop and parking,” said Gallery West Owner Sara Cogswell.
“We’re right in the front stages of actually making this probably one of the predominate arts districts and local business districts in the entire metropolitan area. We just want people to come over and see the possibilities and the future and what’s actually coming and we want to know what people have to say,” said Frame of Mind owner Mark Plessinger.
City officials say they would love for you to visit the wall but you can also share your suggestions via social media using the hashtags #WColaSC and #ArtOnState.
Categories: Lexington, Local News, News

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