Study: Civic Center is Feasible

Count out the Armory, but don't count out the town's ability to have a civic center, according to the Arts, Business and Civic Coalition's new civic center feasibility study released Wednesday. 

During the meeting, held at town hall with about 40 people attending, Tom Reifert, a partner with Strategic Advisory Group of Duluth, Ga., presented his firm's findings of the $20,000 study, purchased with town, county, school district and raised funds. 

"We're not going to tell you what you want to hear; we're going to tell you what the market tells us," Reifert said. "You can't just build it and expect they'll come."

The firm compared Summerville to like-towns with and without civic centers. The only other similar size town lacking a civic center space like Summerville was Goose Creek, according to the study. In Summerville, there is about 5,500 square feet of meeting space provided by hotels.

According to the study, the area would need a 28,000-40,000 square foot space with plenty of parking and room to expand to attract 125 to 530 events a year.

Even with all the amenities, though, the civic center would likely struggle with attracting corporate events, conventions and trade shows. Instead, it would likely need to draw most of its events from banquets, proms, church events and sporting events.

Size and parking availability would count out the old Armory at 301 N. Hickory St., which has been kicked around the location for a potential civic center in the past, according to Reifert. 

The study did not look at funding source potential, but Reifert said a hotel tax or the general fund could support the center, in addition to fees. 

Civic Coalition member Robby Robbins took the study as good news, and said the nonprofit will continue the exploration for a civic center in Summerville.
But not all were sold on the data.

Mayor Bill Collins, who was absent during the night meeting but made an earlier presentation of the data Wednesday, expressed concern over funding and necessity. On town council, Councilman Bob Jackson is the husband of Cyndy Jackson, who heads the nonprofit coalition. 

"My administration at this point doesn't have a position because I don't have enough information," Collins said. "There's still a lot of unanswered questions."

The town, like the county and school district, . Collins said it would be up to council to fund further study of the project. 

But Collins surmised one thing from the presentation:

"It's going to be expensive to operate," he said. "I don't doubt it would be good to have one but the question is can we afford to do it and is it a top priority."