City of Anderson Ready for Growth; Mayor Outlines Progress

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts is working with the city to continue work on a long list of civic projects moving into autumn. From the paving of Main Street downtown, to new housing, where the city is preparing for one of its most ambitious expansions in memory, things are on the move in Anderson.

The most visible priority for many downtown residents and business owners is the long-awaited repaving of Main Street. Roberts said most of the underground utility work — water, sewer, and fiber optic lines — is now complete, and the city is preparing for the final stage.

“We are getting closer and closer to that point,” said Roberts. “The weather has cooperated so far, and timing now is just about working with contractors. At the end of the day, it’s a headache to navigate, but we’ll appreciate it once it’s done. No more bumpety bumps down Main Street.”

Across the street from City Hall, the recent demolition of several long-deteriorating buildings has cleared valuable property for redevelopment. While no plans are finalized, Roberts said the city intends to seek public input and possibly issue a request for proposals. Ideas range from multi-story mixed-use construction — combining retail, housing, and even underground parking — to civic space.

“That is a prime location,” Roberts said. “It furthers our goal of expanding Main Street to the south.”

Housing projects on the city’s western edge could also redefine Anderson’s growth. Developers recently closed a deal for the Franklin Street property, where an 80-unit income-based apartment complex is scheduled to begin construction before year’s end. When combined with potential redevelopment of the ChemTex site and the county’s Equinox property plans, as many as 300 new housing units may soon reshape Murray Avenue.

“In our lifetime, that would be the largest expansion of downtown housing,” Roberts said. “It could be our West End.”

Roberts pointed to recreational improvements as another visible sign of momentum. At Cater’s Lake, construction is ahead of schedule and is expected to be complete by year’s end. A planned covered bridge, said Roberts, will serve as a “focal point” for visitors and an emblem of Anderson’s revitalized public spaces.

At Lindley Park, one of the city’s most heavily used outdoor spaces, new walking paths, playgrounds, and a peanut-shaped roundabout which is nearing completing, are drawing steady crowds. Efforts are also underway to link the park system to downtown, eventually creating a continuous trail network stretching from the recreation center to the Murray Street Bridge.

“Trails are tricky in an urban setting,” Roberts admitted. “But we’re committed to making that connection.”

The mayor also confirmed that discussions are underway for future expansion of the city’s recreation center, now straining under heavy demand from residents, particularly seniors.

Another driver of Anderson’s growth is the city’s hospitality tax. This year, revenue is expected to reach $5 million, fueling reinvestment in parks, events, and facilities. That fund, Roberts said, is a major reason why the city can provide amenities beyond the basics of fire, police, and sanitation services.

Without it, he said, “we’d be doing the essentials, and nothing else.”

The city is also preparing for a critical November referendum that would establish a local option sales tax to fund road improvements. The measure, Roberts argued, is the only realistic avenue for addressing local infrastructure needs, given the state’s focus on interstates and major highways.

“Communities doing well in South Carolina are those that understand they have to control their own destiny,” Roberts said. “I hope Anderson understands that this time.”

As autumn settles in, Roberts is also looking ahead to the holidays, with the city preparing for ice skating, new Christmas decorations, and its annual holiday parade. But his attention remains fixed on the broader picture of a city in transition — one preparing for growth that could permanently reshape its downtown.

“We’re trying to finish the year strong here in Anderson,” he said. “Before you know it, it will be January, and we’ll be into another year.”