Corkys will tear down the derelict Subway building and expand its parking on the portion of the property it retains. As part of the agreement, public parking must be allowed on the lot during week days evenings, Saturday afternoons and evenings, as well as all day on Sundays.
The Town purchased the easement and plans to fund the improvements using revenue from the hospitality tax. Many municipalities in South Carolina have used hospitality tax to fund similar streetscape improvements. Unfortunately, the improvements planned for the easement will likely be postponed for the coming fiscal year. Still, I hope that before too long, this corner will become an attractive touch of green along Folly Road, improving and beautifying the center of our Town's commercial corridor.
Other projects the Town funds with the hospitality tax include Brantley Park at the corner of Brantley and Folly, the Town's $400,000 contribution to the multi-million Phase I Rethink Folly Sidewalk project which runs along Folly from Ellis Creek to Wilton Street (across from Walmart,) the Town's parking lot at Santee and Folly, and a multi-use path along Folly from Wilton Street to Fort Johnson Road.
The focus on Folly Road is no accident. Folly Road is used by tourists and by improving the segment of Folly Road in the Town, we hope to encourage tourists who pass through our Town to stop at our local businesses, and especially at our restaurants. It is our restaurants--mostly on Folly Road--that collect the hospitality tax.
The hospitality tax is the Town's primary source for funds to pay for the improvements outlined in the Rethink Folly Road Plan. Our goal is to make Folly Road to be a place where everyone wants to come, both tourists and Town residents.
