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Florence Downtown

Who We Are

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The Florence Downtown Development Corporation (FDDC) is a non-profit organization devoted to revitalizing and restoring civic pride in Downtown Florence. Founded in 2002, FDDC is a quasi-public organization and a South Carolina Main Street member.

The impetus for creating the FDDC evolved from recommendations outlined in the Downtown Master Plan & City-wide Structure Plan. Residents, dismayed by the state of Downtown, made it a priority to prepare a master plan in order to revitalize the area. As a result, these stakeholders who desired the prosperous, attractive, and vital city center that Downtown once was, then set out to put their visions on paper. Led by the Florence 2010 Committee and PeeDee Visions Foundation, Inc., numerous public involvement activities occurred in order to produce the 2001 document, Florence 2010, that outlines the initial strategy for revitalizing the civic, cultural, and economic life of Downtown Florence. To this end, the plan recommended revitalization efforts be coordinated through a non-profit organization, which became FDDC.

In 2006 with the help of Hunter Interests Inc., an additional master plan was completed and bound into a three-phase document entitled the Downtown Florence Revitalization Strategy. This strategy, a continuation of the Downtown Master Plan, includes project feasibility studies, market data, and suggests redevelopment projects that would further the revitalization effort. In addition, it also contains recommendations of more than $180 million worth of new private-sector projects ranging from mixed-use development to lodging facilities and eating establishments.

Therefore, FDDC’s effort to revitalize the area involves administering the Revitalization Strategy and organizing and/or implementing projects outlined in the strategy such as:

  • Property acquisition
  • Design guidelines
  • Streetscape improvement
  • Historic preservation
  • Public-private partnerships
  • Economic incentive programs
  • Property development facilitation
  • Community rebuilding

Florence Downtown Development Corporation Board of Directors — January 2009

Tom Ewart, Immediate Past Chairman

First Reliance Bank

Tewart@firstreliance.com


Mindy Taylor

Progress Energy

Mindy.taylor@pgnmail.com

2nd Term expires- 12/31/09


Phillip Lookadoo, Executive Director

Director, Urban Planning & Development

City of Florence

plookadoo@cityofflorence.com


Dr. Annie Brown

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Annie.brown@fdtc.edu

1st Term Expires- 12/31/10


Peter Mazzaroni, Chairman

Roche Carolina

Pete.mazzaroni@roche.com

1st Term Expires – 12/31/09


Tom Marchel

Chamber of Commerce

Tmarchel@Florencescchamber.com


Charlene Lowery

Charlene.lowery@mail.house.gov

2nd Term Expires – 12/31/11


Douglas Hawkins

Ideal Funeral Home

doughawk@bellsouth.net

2nd Term Expires – 12/31/10


Mark Laskowski

Morning News

mlaskowski@florencenews.com

1st Term Expires – 12/31/10


Paula Lawson, Secretary

Pdlaw816@aol.com

2nd Term Expires – 12/31/11


Councilman Frank “Buddy” J. Brand II

City Council

brandf@stifel.com

2nd Term Expires – 12/31/11


John Keith, MD

Jakeith13@gmail.com

1st Term Expires 12/31/11


Ed Love, Vice Chairman

Willcox Law Firm

elove@willcoxlaw.com

1st Term Expires – 12/31/10


Karen Leatherman, Treasurer

Fitness Forum

kleatherman@fitnessforumonline.com

1st Term Expires – 12/31/10


Darryl Bridges

Francis Marion University

dbridges@fmarion.edu


Dr. Sharon Davis

Florence Darlington Technical College

Sharon.davis@fdct.edu


Barbara Moore

Florence Regional Arts Alliance

Winsboro69@aol.com


Mike Richenbach

1st Term Expires – 12/31/11


Bob Ericksen

Roche Carolina

Robert.ericksen@roche.com

2nd Term Expires – 12/31/11


Councilman Steve Powers

c/o S/W Printing

Pres. Downtown Merchants Association

SPowers208@aol.com


Jackie Wukela

Mayor’s Appointee

juwukela@aol.com


David Williams

City of Florence – City Manager

Dwilliams@cityofflorence.com