SC GIS Conference in Columbia, SC

I recently had the privilege of attending the SC GIS Conference in Columbia, SC.  One of the key GIS speakers was Matt Hebert, Director of Technology and GIS Director at Site Design, Inc. and he explained how GIS has played an integral role in the on-going planning and design of a challenged area of Greenville, SC.  Natasha Larson, A.S.L.A., R.L.A., also from Site Design, talked about the planning aspects of revitalizing a community.  She and Maxim Williams, Director of Community Relationship Building at Bon Secours Health System and Wayne Leftwich, City Planner for the City of Greenville, were discussing the different aspects of revitalizing a community and how GIS has been such a huge tool for the project.  All were in agreement that without GIS studying and planning for the community would have been a much more difficult task. 

The project is the Sterling Community that encompasses the main campus of the St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, SC.  It is an area rich in history, but has become a run down since the textile industry moved away from the area.  Maxim has taken it upon himself to directly engage the community residents and learn what they feel needs to happen with the community and what will be best to help revitalize the area.  Taking GIS maps that Matt and Natasha developed, Maxim has been able to work with Wayne Leftwich to best utilize the City of Greenville's area that lies within the Sterling Community.  Issues that arose were storm water runoff areas, buildings nostalgic to the area, and where residents that owned their homes were in relation to rental properties and vacant lots.  Here is an example of a GIS map that is being used in the planning process.
This map helps to show everyone in the planning process the different districts of the community that are involved in the revitalization project.  The map also helps to convey the idea of the size of the community in relationship to the area.  And, gives a clear representation of where the St. Francis Hospital site sits in relation to the surrounding community.  Showing these relationships makes it easier to visualize the overall area and plan out how the area can be most utilized from an overall community stand point.  GIS gives the ability to have an overall view of a project and at the same time, GIS is able to give crucial details about particular area.  This power is crucial and necessary to conduct effective planning and revitalization of areas.

GIS has been able to bring together many different community members.  Maxim Williams from Bon Secours Hospital System, Wayne Leftwich from the City of Greenville and Matt Hebert & Natasha Larson from Site Design Inc. have all been able to work together for the overall good of a struggling community, all from the aid of GIS.  The Sterling Phoenix League has manifested itself from the revitalization project of the Sterling Community.  The league is what Maxim has developed to help to overall well-being and rebirth of the community surrounding St. Francis Hospital.