York at A Crossroads

Project Olde Yorkville
Our town at a crossroads.
We must always remember our history while

planning our future.
We have vision and direction.....or do

we?
Jason Broadwater was hired last year to complete
a study for the City of York. Recently, he released
some initial thoughts based on data and
interactions with York citizens. There’s lots to read
and many numbers to study, however one
comment stood out more than anything said.
“York has lacked a shared community

vision and direction”
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I’ve lived here 20 years and he is absolutely
correct in my opinion. No one person is to blame.
If there’s blame, then we all have to share it. We
have all heard the phrase, “ we can’t just stand
here and do nothing.”
Sure we can!
Doing so however would have consequences.

The City already has major issues with its
infrastructure. Aging water and sewer lines and
the lack of them in areas we need them. The City
doesn’t have the funds to do what’s needed. We
rely on grant monies to do the little that is done.
Even then, the city must have monies set aside to
match those grants.
Again, We can ignore this. After all , we’ve done

that in the past. The results, are what we see
today.
The City of York stands at a cross

roads.
Our community leaders and residents will need to

become more invested in our own community.
After all, who’s vision is this?
“If we rely only on the government to invest in our

town, we become uninterested and stagnant. So
long as a we can continue, in ever increasing
amounts, to get grants, direct aid, low interest
loans and other subsidies from the state and/or
federal governments, to create new development
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opportunities through state and federal
transportation investments, to borrow money to
finance infrastructure or to induce outside
developers to build new infrastructure, we can
enjoy a faux-prosperity. We can avoid a most
certain death.” That is the reality for most small
cities and towns, including York. The City has
done well with managing what little discretionary
funds it has to work with. I am certain that moving
forward, this city will have an influx of people
moving here. The question will be, are we ready ?
At some point, residents are going to be

asked, how important their community is to
them. We are going to be asked to make a
decision. That decision will affect each and
everyone of us here. In order to grow
responsibly, we will need a solid foundation.
What’s left of the existing foundation is
extremely old. In some cases doesn’t even
exist. It is going to take all of us to make things
happen.
Let’s be honest.
We are talking about finding ways to Increase

revenue for the city. Yes, one possibility would
be increased Taxes. Most people understand,
that is the reality. The preferred way however,
would be to attract as many companies and
new residents as possible. The more who
employ here and live here, the more revenue
the city has. Here is the problem. The City
doesn’t have the infrastructure. The bypass
corridor is a prime example. There are no
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sewer lines there. The existing sewer and
water lines inside the city limits are very old.
We can not ignore this historic city’s crumbling

infrastructure any longer. We have delayed,
patched, patched over the patches and
watched historic structures begin to
deteriorate. The city is poised to experience
explosive growth over the next several years.
To ignore this or to pretend that things will
resolve themselves, is not an option.
What can you or I do? We can simply reach

out to our city councilman. Let them know our
city has been neglected long enough. We
aren’t saying that someone isn’t doing their
job. We are not pointing fingers. What we are
saying is that they will have our full support
moving forward. Ask your representative on
city council, what is their vision for our
community.
There will be resistance and those that are fine

with the status quo. They will toss everything
at us including the kitchen sink. We are ready!
In the coming months, we will begin to hear

about the results of the latest study conducted.
We will hear Jason Broadwater’s plan to
revitalize and grow the City of York. We’ve had
these studies before and very little has
happened. Mainly because of the lack of
funding. How many more studies do we need
before we realize that something needs to
happen? The city council will once again be
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faced with a difficult decision. We must support
a path forward of sustainable and intentional
growth. The alternative would be to play
defense. Struggling to play catch up. At some
point we begin doing what we should have
done in the beginning, the correct way.
Our community now stands at a crossroads.

One direction keeps us on a familiar road. A
road often traveled by many who have no
vision, passion or a “can do” spirit.
The other path leads us down a road of

restoration, revitalization and growing
responsibly. We have some tools in place. Our
new city manager is one of those tools. She
has vision and is ready to move forward. She
however, relies on our council to approve
funding. She is our city’s Chief executive
officer. She manages the city and relies on the
board of directors (council) to approve funding.
Our city leaders will need to make some very
important decisions in coming months and
years. We have great city leadership and
council members. I have faith that they are up
to the task. I have faith that each council
person will see the big picture.
Here is where we play an important role. You

and I can make our voices heard loud and
clear! Residents of York are completely in
charge of our community’s destination. We are
the crossing guard at that cross roads. We are
in charge of our communities future. No more
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excuses. No more sitting on the sidelines and
pretending this will take care of it self.
We will stay informed. We will encourage
everyone to become involved. Slow and
steady wins the race here. It’s time for some
hard decisions.
In 1841, the city of Yorkville became

incorporated. It didn’t happen because
everyone stood around and said nothing. It
happened because a group of citizens saw
what needed to be done and they did it. We
are at that same crossroads. Do we or don’t
we? Should we or should we not? They stood
up and made it happen. This is our moment!
We will grow responsibly! We will grow

intentionally. We will always look back cherishing
our history, while moving forward responsibly.
Project 1841
The Movement begins
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Below are some of the latest study
results and opinions from Jason’s
recent study.
Challenges
• York is historically and still mostly

racially, ethnically, and economically
segregated.
• York lacks safe & j connectivity for
walking, biking, and driving.
• York lacks amenities for more
affluent consumers.
• York downtown can have its lively
moments, but it lacks commercial
viability.
• York has a negative Retail Gap and
must draw people from outside of its
city limits to support its retail/
restaurant businesses.
• York faces complex, multi-
jurisdictional issues for economic
success.
• York has lacked a shared community

vision and direction
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Opportunities
• York is growing.
• Positive change is already happening in
York at the city level.
• Many positive things are happening in
all kinds of private, community, and/or
nonprofit initiatives in arts, history, agri-
commerce, downtown, health,
education, leadership, and more.
• The citizens of York have much pride
and love for the city.
• There is open interest in public dialogue
on positive change and working
together.
• There are a list of projects already
underway and unfolding that will have
significant impact on the city.
• The county will likely be very supportive
of York’s success.
• Rock Hill will likely be a supportive
partner to York’s success.
• There is plenty of money to be attracted
within a 20-mile drive of York’s center
For more information on The City of York’s most recent

study...... yorkscforward.com
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Project Olde Yorkville

Our town at a crossroads.

We must always remember our history while

We have vision and direction.....or do

“York has lacked a shared community

Doing so however would have consequences.

Again, We can ignore this. After all , we’ve done

The City of York stands at a cross

Our community leaders and residents will need to

“If we rely only on the government to invest in our

At some point, residents are going to be

We are talking about finding ways to Increase

We can not ignore this historic city’s crumbling

What can you or I do? We can simply reach

There will be resistance and those that are fine

In the coming months, we will begin to hear

Our community now stands at a crossroads.

The other path leads us down a road of

Here is where we play an important role. You

In 1841, the city of Yorkville became

We will grow responsibly! We will grow

• York is historically and still mostly

• York has lacked a shared community

For more information on The City of York’s most recent

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