Mayor has big plans for downtown Gaffney
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

If Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly has his way, the City of Gaffney will make strides to redevelop its downtown area in 2007.

Jolly said the city has received a grant to develop a master plan for its downtown area.

The plan could contain regulations for facades.

"We need some kind of regulations to fix up the facades," he said. "If the owners won't do it, we could require them to do it."

This year, Jolly also wants to see movement to transform the former Brown's Furniture Store building into a cultural center as well as the construction of a farmer's market in the downtown area.

As in years past, parks are another high priority for the mayor.

City officials have taken steps to increase recreational opportunities by hiring a landscape architectural firm to develop plans for a 17-acre downtown park that includes a bandstand, playgrounds and soccer fields.

Two years ago, council approved spending $155,000 of its hospitality revenue to convert an 8-acre tract along Hetty Hill Street and a small property on Littlejohn Street into city parks.

"We want to upgrade the park system," Jolly said. "We want to continue to improve Thomson Park and Park Place, build a skate park and redevelop McCluney Park."

Jolly also hopes council will establish priorities for its Hospitality Tax revenues.