US 21 / Cherry Road Corridor Revitalization Strategy
US 21 / Cherry Road Corridor Revitalization Strategy
Rock Hill, SC
Mr. Gross completed a Market Analysis and Revitalization Strategy for U.S. Highway 21, the Cherry Road Corridor, through the heart of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Cherry Road is the main commercial highway arterial traversing the northern half of the city of Rock Hill, located just outside of Charlotte. While the City of Rock Hill has made significant investments in the streetscape along Cherry Road, the corridor has suffered long-term impacts from commercial competition located in more suburban parts of York County. As a result the corridor is characterized as having underutilized and under-performing strip retail centers and declining competitiveness for once vibrant industrial nodes. Winthrop University, a growing institution located within the corridor, represents an important opportunity for re-capturing the vibrancy of Cherry Road and for attracting pedestrian-oriented activity that can help create a sense of place within the sprawling commercial strip. Randall Gross tested the market potentials for all land uses and determined a strategy for revitalization that included the establishment of identity districts and nodes. His sub-consultants at Third Coast Design Studio worked with RGDE on zoning policies that could help strengthen the corridor. This work was completed on behalf of the City of Rock Hill Planning Department.