THE CITY OF CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA (the “City”), will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as other hearings are concluded) in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1250 Tiger Blvd., Clemson, South Carolina 29631. The purpose of this public hearing is to discuss the City’s Workforce and Affordable Housing Redevelopment Plan Utilizing Tax Increment Financing (the “Redevelopment Plan”). Section 31‑6‑80 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, requires that the City hold a public hearing on the Redevelopment Plan and the commitment to obligations before approving the Redevelopment Plan. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.
The boundaries of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area (the “Area”) for the Redevelopment Plan, which encompass two distinct but interconnected areas in the City, are as follows: (i) Western Subarea: Bounded on the north side of Keowee Trail from its intersection with College Avenue to its intersection of US 123 Tiger Boulevard and including lake front property (Army Corps Lands) along Lake Hartwell. Then bounded on the south side of US 123 Tiger Boulevard from the intersection of Keowee Trail to College Avenue. Then bounded on the west side of College Avenue from US 123 Tiger Boulevard to Keowee Trail; and (ii) Eastern Subarea: Bounded on the south by US 123 Tiger Boulevard and including all parcels that adjoin both sides the following streets: Stephens Road, Pressley Drive, Wesley Street, Hawthorne Street, Young Street, and Lincoln Street. Properties along the western side of Fabrica Street from the ramp of US 123 to the intersection of Summey Street then properties on both sides of Fabrica Street to the end of the street. All properties to the north of Summey Street from its intersection with Fabrica Street to the intersection of Hawthorne Street then on both sides of Summey Street to its intersection with SC93. All properties adjoining SC93 northward from near the intersection of Summey Street to the intersection of SC93 to Berkeley Place Circle. All properties with frontage along both sides of Abel Road, Curtis Circle, and Raven Lane. Please see the City Clerk for a map of the Area.
Through the implementation of the Redevelopment Plan, the City intends to assist in the redevelopment of the property within the Redevelopment Area and to enhance the tax base of taxing districts which extend into the Redevelopment Area. Specifically, the Redevelopment Plan will assist in the elimination of the conditions which qualify the Redevelopment Area as a conservation area.
The ultimate purpose of the Redevelopment Plan is to create an environment conducive to development of private property through provision of public infrastructure and affordable housing. It is believed that these enhancements will encourage the development of the Redevelopment Area which contains deleterious land use or layout, structural obsolescence, excessive vacancies and underutilization and static or declining land values. The Redevelopment Plan, when implemented, promotes the reuse and development of underutilized areas; thereby, resulting in increased employment, tax base and investment within the City.
The Redevelopment Plan outlines the program of redevelopment the City proposes for the Redevelopment Project Area which includes the issuance of not exceeding $20 million in tax increment bonds in one or more series. The maximum estimated term of the bonds will not exceed 20 years from their date of issuance. Further, the term of the tax increment bonds shall not exceed the duration of the Redevelopment Plan, which is twenty years from the enactment of the ordinance authorizing the Redevelopment Plan.
The Redevelopment Projects are as follows: (i) improvements to roads, intersections, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and streetscapes, including landscaping and lighting; (ii) development of parks and public open spaces; (iii) installation of pedestrian crosswalks and traffic calming features; (iv) expansion and upgrading of public utility infrastructure; (v) affordable housing projects; (vi) renovations to aging and underused properties; (vii) redevelopment of derelict buildings and vacant lots; and (viii) improvements to drainage and stormwater systems.
Any tax increment not used to retire obligations of the City issued pursuant to the Redevelopment Plan will be used directly to pay for project costs on a pay-as-you-go basis until they are completed.
CITY OF CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Andy Blondeau, City Administrator