MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW)- Myrtle Beach city council is hiring a consultant to help them revamp downtown. City leaders say downtown redevelopment is one of their top goals and they think this consultant will make that happen.

The consultant will help council members define what their visions for downtown will look like. After hearing 5 different proposals, the city manager will hire Benchmark Consultants. They’ve done similar studies with cities like Wilmington, Raleigh, and Long Beach, California.
City manager John Peterson said this consultant is different than most and will work hand in hand with the city council.

“This really has got to be at the end of the day the local vision of what the downtown will look like and not a consultants vision,” said Peterson.

The cost is $88,000 and will last 6 months. The city hopes to have plans nailed down at the beginning of the new year.