Plans for the Summerville Streetscape

Over the past several weeks the Summerville City Council has been discussing plans for an entertainment district in downtown Summerville that would allow for events where attendees could drink alcohol in an defined area of the city’s public streets.

Originally, the plans were for a broad area of downtown to be included.  Now, it appears that the council is looking at the Street Scape area – basically between Jefferson’s and the downtown Mexican restaurant – both of which serve alcohol.

The council is looking at amending the alcohol ordinance to provide an area for events similar to the entertainment district in Rome.  At the last council meeting, the council heard from Megan Otwell, the Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for the City of Rome.  Otwell told council members that the City of Rome has had almost no issues with their entertainment district.  Otwell pointed out that Rome Braves games and popular venues like Six Flags and Disney World all allow for public consumption of alcohol.  Otwell said that in Rome, no extra police presence has been needed since they implemented their entertainment district.

Summerville Mayor Harry Harvey has expressed reservations about the idea, and some have termed the entertainment district as “Beer Alley”.

Still, it appears that the council is in favor or the idea, and believes that it will help attract more tourism and event goers to the downtown area.