3rd Avenue South Promenade Project
3rd Avenue South serves as part of Surfside Beach’s commercial district, but it has historically not received the same attention given to the more-traveled Surfside Drive. With fewer customers and inadequate parking, the street experienced heavy business turnover. The town, seeking to create a destination on the street for shopping and dining, decided to pursue infrastructure upgrades to make new commercial activity more feasible. It completed an overhaul of the block including drainage, improved parking, handicapped access, wider sidewalks, underground utilities, decorative streetlights and street resurfacing.
The town began by successfully petitioning the SC Department of Transportation to transfer ownership of the street to the town, engaging with the utility provider on the feasibility of relocating utilities underground and presenting the project to the public. Surfside Beach obtained nearly full funding for the project from Horry County “C” funds, the SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and utility franchise funds. The town’s grounds personnel completed the landscaping. The town collaborated with contractors, engineers and business stakeholders to complete the extensive transformation. This partnership avoided complaints of lost business as the work unfolded.
As the storefronts fill with new patrons, including a sidewalk cafe, the town aims to bolster a heightened sense of belonging and purpose for the long-neglected area.
Contact John Adair at jadair@surfsidebeach.org or 843.913.6361.