Bill
tourism is to attract a
Collins
boutique hotel to the down- town area, allowing more
visitors to stay in the historic district and walk to the nearby shops, galleries and restaurants. He believes that with more guest room capacity, Summerville can increase its marketing to other South Carolina residents as a short-trip destination.
Collins would like to attract some four- and five-story buildings to the downtown area, with shops and stores on the ground level and office space
“I want the citizens to realize that we work for them.”
and condominiums or apartments above so people can live downtown. “We’ve got a population that’s aging. I think a lot of seniors would love the opportunity to be downtown where you can walk to do things here. I just see the community changing. We don’t want to abuse or destroy the character and the ambience that we have; we want to enhance it,” said Collins.
While much of the town’s growth is occurring outside the town center, Col- lins thinks the downtown district can be maintained. It can be unique, with its own flavor and its own attractions. When the Berlin G. Myers Parkway is completed, residents who are not coming downtown to shop or eat will be able to get to their homes on the other side of town without using Main Street, decreasing the traffic through the downtown area and making it more pedestrian-friendly. Summerville is large now. Te city limits extend from Interstate 26 to Oakbrook and from the interstate to Knightsville. Collins knows that along
R54-418308
those roads there are miles of property that are not part of the town, and annexation is on his agenda. He also wants to grow the opportunities in these areas and other parts of the city. “It’s not just about the central business district. Oakbrook needs attention. Te Knightsville area needs attention. North Summerville, the quadrant above the railroad track, needs attention. Tere’s a lot to be done,” said Collins. He also understands the need for
Summerville’s citizens to come together as a community. “You know, we have this tradition of
Friday night football that is a big, big deal here. I’d like to see us develop a tradition of concerts in the park for Friday’s during the summer, so that families can come together and listen to music and enjoy each other’s company.”
A lot has been said about 2011’s
mayoral change being the “beginning of a new era” in Summerville. Collins
hears the term and expresses his opinion with respect for what has come before. “I think Summerville has a wonder-
ful history and a very proud past, but I think it has an even more promising future,” he said. “We are almost at the stage where we are about to unleash this kind of sleeping community. … We want to see the city become an even more vibrant and an even more special place to live than we already think it is. “People are eager to see things
happen. If we can get people to come together to work on these things, I think we can have some fun making things happen and have a new and improved Summerville.
“I want to invite public input. I want the citizens to realize that we work for them. Tis isn’t about Bill Collins, and it isn’t about the new (town) council; it’s about their city and what they want it to be. … And I think it’s going to be exciting.”
2 Children 6 Grandchildren
1942 Born in Ware Shoals, South Carolina 1960 Graduated from Ware Shoals High School 1964 Graduated from the University of
South Carolina College of Journalism
BY THE NUMBERS
Bill
1964 Married Margaret Cork 1972 Moved to Summerville;
Collins started the Summerville Journal
1977 Purchased Summerville Scene and merged it with the Journal
2007 Sold Summerville Journal Scene
2009 Purchased Travelhost magazine franchise 2011 Elected mayor of Summerville
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