MARION, SC (WBTW) – The new Marion County Administration Building is now open for business.
The county has seen several businesses come and go in the last several years, leaving several empty buildings in the area. That’s why county leaders decided to take advantage of one of the buildings that’s been called an “eyesore” in the community and turn it into something community members say they’re proud of.
Kerry White has lived in Marion his whole life, and he says he remembers walking in the building as a Walmart several years ago.
“Nothing like Walmart anymore, nothing like Walmart. It doesn’t even look like it really belongs here, but it looks good,” said White.
Senator Kent Williams says the state-of-the-art building now acts as a one-stop-shop for residents, housing a majority of county offices, council chambers, and a new family court complex.
“People who have come in they’re like ‘Wow! Man, I never would’ve dreamed you could’ve taken a building like this a Walmart building like this and take it and build it into something like this’,” said Williams.
The old county administration building was on North Main Street in Marion, and while that building may sit empty now, Williams says it won’t for long. He says the county is already discussing plans to move some state agencies there.
“There are plans. I mean, they’re not in concrete, but they’re ideas,” said Williams.
Williams says court administration mandated construction of a new family court ten years ago, and council leaders wanted to use one of the many empty buildings left in the county to house it.
“When you see that it sends the wrong message that people have come and gone or are leaving and so forth,” said Williams.
People in Marion say they hope the county’s example of using old buildings to bring new growth to the area will attract other industry.
“It’s a great example. You got to start somewhere, you got to start somewhere, and this is a good place to start because it looks good in here,” said White.
County leaders say the cost of building a new building would have been between five and six million dollars without including plans for parking.
Using the old Walmart, the county says they now have ample parking, all offices under one roof with space for growth for 6.1 million dollars.
