GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) - It was revolutionary in some regard - never before had funds from the Economic Development Administration been used for the planning and financing for such a project in South Carolina.
Now, 38 years since ground broke and 37 since doors opened, Greenwood Civic Center sits empty on state Highway 72/221 waiting for demolition.
Through its front doors amassed in dust and darkness lies the staple of all abandoned buildings - a chair on its side, a symbol of the general outlook toward a building that lost money and never really generated attendance comparable to neighboring venues.
The civic center was built in 1976 for $1.6 million - half coming from the state with the remaining half split between the city and county. The first event at the venue following a Friday dedication and grand opening ceremony on Nov. 17, 1977, was a performance by her majesty’s Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards, which included precision marching, Highland dancing and Scottish pipers and drummers.
The 42,000-square-foot facility had a seating capacity of 3,100 people with maximum occupancy limited to 4,810 people and was designed for multi-purpose events, including sports, performances and entertainment, conventions, fundraisers and trade shows.
About 100 politicians and guests attended the ceremony, including the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, the late South Carolina Gov. Jim Edwards and former Greenwood mayor Thomas Wingard. The evening’s attendance showed excitement among some empty bleachers, according to reports. The following Sunday’s scheduled performance was the Harlem Globetrotters.
Closing in 2009, the civic center saw its most recent attention during a civic center committee, organized and appointed by Greenwood County Council in December 2013, which included members with diverse backgrounds in the private, government and nonprofit sectors.
Some members had extensive professional experience in architecture, engineering, construction, facilities management, accounting, industrial facilities, community redevelopment and revitalization, and county and municipal government.
“I just want to recognize and thank the committee,” Rossie Corwon, city/county engineer for Greenwood and member of the committee, said. “We met every week for about six months. They did a tremendous job.”
The purpose of the committee was to perform a study as a basis for advising council regarding if the civic center should be renovated to meet its original purpose, should be renovated for a different purpose or should be demolished and if the property should be sold or leased.
Engineering estimates of the repair work for its original purpose is a minimum of $3.4 million, which does not include the cost of furnishings, kitchen remodeling and bleacher repairs. The renovation also would not require the civic center to be brought up to the current building codes, which includes energy efficiency codes.
It also was determined that the county had an average annual loss for operations of $168,915 from 1987 to 1997 and $130,528 from 1998 to 2008 when operation was leased to Meetings Plus.
The committee also analyzed the competitive market regarding events. Lander University served as an anchor user for the civic center for basketball games, performances and graduations. With growth, Lander built its own sports arena, cultural center and equestrian center, which quickly added competition for concerts, sporting events, rodeos and assemblies among others.
Greenville’s Peace Center and Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly the Bi-Lo Center) and the Newberry Opera House were built in the 1990s within an hour’s drive of Greenwood and have large portfolios of performers. The rise of Uptown and construction of new event venues also has contributed to the growing competitive market.
This led the committee to conclude that reopening the civic center as an events venue is not feasible. The committee also concluded that it is a fundamental principle in the role of government to not compete with the private sector.
Upon examining alternative uses, the committee concluded minimal or no appeal for industrial use with concerns including the county losing control of its use and appearance, not receiving fair market value, losing control on the disposition of the property, losing a potential asset and its use being inconsistent with the adjacent recreational facilities.
After looking at possible reuse by the county regarding office or recreational space, the committee determined that the recommendation be demolishing the civic center if adaptive reuse is not feasible to meet county needs. County officials then determined the building would not meet the needs of the county for which council voted to have it demolished and award that bid to Northstar for $121,200 in December.
“Even in the last four or five years, a need has not presented itself that would make it financially viable to keep,” Greenwood County Manager Toby Chappell said.
Northstar will retain the salvageable material, which helps brings down costs. Some salvageable items located in the civic center include stainless steel kitchen equipment and an industrial water chiller. The metal and wooden bleachers, lighting equipment and water fountains are some items left behind as well.
Before bidding the project out, the county removed two ice machines that were placed at the landfill and maintenance shop. The county also re-purposed some tables, chairs and a section of the old portable stage.
Chappell said the county will determine a use for the property if a need is discovered or could start actively pursuing a use.
“It could fill a need that’s currently unknown,” Chappell said, adding the property could see usage once the recreation center behind the civic center, the Wilbanks Complex, is revamped in its totality.
Corwon expects to issue the notice to proceed to Northstar mid- to late-January once the contractor has the payment and performance bonds in place and the contract is signed. As noted in the bid specifications, the contractor shall begin work no more than 20 days after the notice to proceed and must complete work within 90 days from the notice.
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Information from: The Index-Journal, https://www.indexjournal.com
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