Carrie Trebil/Clarendon Citizen
Manning hosts statewide meeting
In celebration of their new downtown City Hall, the City of Manning, in conjunction with Main Street Manning, hosted the statewide Main Street South Carolina Economic Restructuring Training on Thursday, May 27.
Along with Main Street directors and volunteers from 10 other S.C. Main Street programs, attendees heard from Todd Barman, from the National Main Street Center.
“The focus of his talk was on how to think like a developer when assessing your downtown’s potential,” said Carrie Trebil, Main Street Manning’s assistant director.
Topics included property development and management, community-initiated development, property and business inventories, leasing, marketing and business owner attraction.
The National Main Street Center is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and seeks to transform the way communities think about the revitalization and management of their commercial districts. Via a four-point approach (promotion, organization, design and economic restructuring), the Main Street movement is making a vast difference in communities across the nation, including Manning.
After a morning of training and discussion, the attendees, numbering more than 30, went on a tour of downtown Manning and a “progressive lunch.”
“We gave all of our meeting attendees reusable shopping bags and we took off,” Trebil said. “We stopped at Sub Station II for salads, then crossed Brooks Street to pick up desserts at Sweet Sensation, then on to French Hens for sandwiches. From there we went to the Gazebo at the Judicial Center for our picnic lunch and more discussion. Everyone really liked the concept and not only did we get to stretch our legs, our guests got to see some of the incredible renovations in our downtown.”
Two such renovations have garnered statewide recognition.
For the new City Hall, renovated by owner Jeffrey Black and leased to the city, Main Street Manning was recognized for their “Outstanding Public/Private Partnership.”
“This partnership has increased the property value for both partners, and has helped both partners with their preservation ethic,” the nomination read. “The City has benefited from this partnership by being able to move into a larger facility and by having the ability to purchase the property through a lease-purchase agreement. The private partner has achieved success by having a tenant in the building, and one who was willing to invest in the property as well.”
The William H. Johnson Law Office Building has been awarded the Gaines Jontz Rehabilitation Award. This award was given based on the façade renovation of the building located at 2 North Brooks Street.
“The investment of the owners into preserving and restoring this building is an inspiration to other property owners, and shows an attachment to the history of Manning,” the nomination read. “In addition, the restoration of this building has benefited Manning in its nomination process for the National Register of Historic Places. We are eagerly waiting to hear back from the U.S. Department of Interior on our designation.”
These awards will be presented at the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Annual Meeting Awards Breakfast on July 17 in Charleston.
For more information about Main Street Manning, contact Director Mary Adger at 435-8477 or Assistant Director Carrie Trebil at 435-8429.
