FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) – A new effort is under way to bring more people to downtown Florence. The latest additions will include luxury apartments and parking garage.

Construction of the Emerson luxury apartments and the attached parking garage are well underway. Downtown Florence Development Manager, Ray Reich said the new additions benefit visitors, residents and employees.”

Luxury living is a key component of the downtown Florence revitalization.

“Downtown living is a very critical component of successful downtowns. It gives it vibrancy, especially during the evening along with hotels. You want people on the streets not just during the day while working but at night too,” Explained Reich.

The Emerson is an upscale complex with 83 apartments— in the heart of Florence. Attached to the complex is a free public parking garage. The garage is expected to alleviate parking tension in the area.

Reich said, “It’s there for employees downtown, people who shop downtown, eat downtown, and for the apartment dwellers as well.

The shared parking garage has 340 parking spaces and 40 more spaces surround the garage.

“The demand for the apartment people is in the evening, when they are back from work, the demand for people that work and shop downtown is during the day. So that shared parking concept really works out well,” said Reich.

Reich said about 40 apartments will ready at the end of October. The parking garage should be ready mid-September.

Emerson property manager, Michele Godwin said “We are excited and feel the city of Florence opened their arms to the project.”

The Emerson project developer, Adam Purser, would like to recognize the following teams members.

Purser said, “They played huge roles in making this development happen.”

Special thanks to: