2011: Downtown Goose Creek Takes Shape

The end of the year also marks our 6-month anniversary at Goose Creek Patch. Over the next two weeks we'll be looking back at some of the big stories in our community since our launch. See more at Goose Creek Patch 2011.

Earlier this week, we noted the . It was an exciting announcement on that rainy day in October, but

The street was the first leg in a broader $1.45 million downtown redevelopment, including buried power lines, new pavement, sidewalks and street lights.

The project has been funded through city tax dollars set aside to spur growth in the area. In September, the City Council approved s.

"Downtown Goose Creek is about creating a nexus where people will come, where businesses will grow, where jobs will emerge, and where the tax base will get thicker," said Mayor Michael Heitzler. "Moreover, it's about creating a community that is comprehensive — you won't have to drive somewhere else to do the things that are important in your life."

Past construction includes the municipal center and the community center. The city also plans to invest remaining funds in improvements to the fire department in 2012.

Next up, filling storefronts and growing business opportunities in the downtown district. 

Heitzler said in September that that hasn't been there before. "By creating a more attractive downtown, stores and restaurants will want to locate here," he said.

One example is the new Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union that opened this fall at the corner of Central and North Goose Creek Boulevard.

Mayor Pro Tem Kimo Esarey stressed in order to reduce the tax burden on residents. “We need to get very creative or taxes will increase," he said.