Maxwell Work Continues Despite Rainy Weather
January 29, 2009
By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal Senior Staff Writer
Greenwood, SC - Despite the recent gloomy weather, construction has barreled ahead on Maxwell Avenue in Uptown Greenwood as a pair of revitalization projects continue.
One project is the third phase of facade improvements along Maxwell. In all, nine buildings will eventually have major aesthetic improvements to their storefronts in the third phase, which encompasses the lower black of Maxwell, from Monument Street to Edgefield Street.
The average original construction date of these buildings in 1905.
Assistant city manager Charlie Barrineau said the facade improvements are being paid for with a grant from the South Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Grant Program, which is is providing up to $20,000 per building facade. Property owners are required to match that amount with 10 percent or $2,000, and must pay any costs over $22,000 total.
Barrineau noted many property owners have chosen to contribute more.
Last week, the Greenwood Board of Architectural review met and discussed the issuance of certificates of appropriateness for the colors proposed of the buildings in the third phase of the facade project.
The board approved certificates of appropriateness for five of the nine properties. Barrineau said there will be further color discussions on the other four properties, but he does not see any major hurdles in the properties receiving the certificates.
“I would hope the facade work would be completed by early April,” he said Wednesday. “We still have some work to do to tie up some loose ends, but it’s coming along nicely.”
Town and Country is the contractor on the facade project.
Meanwhile, work continues on a streetscape project on Maxwell, a portion of which is being funded by the aforementioned grant. The streetscape work will include new sidewalks that meet current code requirements, pedestrian level street lighting, improved landscaping and more.
Highly similar work was completed on Oregon Avenue last year. AOS Specialty Contractors, of Columbia, is handling the streetscape work.
Once completed, the curbing along Maxwell will feature “bump outs” that will encourage slower traffic on the street. Combined with new crosswalks, Barrineau said the new streetscape will be more pedestrian friendly.
The city is eyeballing early May as a completion date for the Maxwell streetscape work.
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