Mayor: RR Corner project is big for universities, city

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler addresses Claflin student reporters.

Redevelopment of Railroad Corner and other city projects will help create a boom in Orangeburg, Mayor Michael C. Butler said.

Butler spoke to Panther reporters on Feb. 26 about new projects in the city. As a Claflin alumnus, he is a history maker, recently being re-elected to a fourth term as mayor. He hopes to make Orangeburg better than ever.  

“The Gateway,” as the project is known, will renovate Railroad Corner across from Claflin and South Carolina State universities. Changes to the area are necessary, Butler said. 

“Railroad Corner is a project of mine that I had in my mind in 2014. It was a blight area, dilapidated buildings just sit there,” Butler said. “When we would have economic developers come, especially if they brought their families, they would say, ‘Oh, my God, we turned on the wrong side of the tracks. Look at these buildings.’” 

To bring a new life to the area, every building under the city’s control will be remodeled. New additions will include walk-in restaurants, sports bars, retail, a civil rights museum, a dormitory for S.C. State students, and more. 

Butler said increased entertainment will make students and residents excited to live in Orangeburg. 

“That's why we have to get a sports bar here. We have to get nightclubs here. We have to get restaurants here because people are going to want to live here and they want to have a nightlife.” 

“We consider South Carolina State and Claflin as the economic engine for the city. Without those universities, we would not have a big city. So, we are developing anything that the city can do to help those schools.”  

To draw in the interests of alumni, a Bulldog Lounge will be created where high-scale brunch will be served, Butler said.

“It's going to be so nice. It's going to be like a gathering place where you can have nice meetings,” Butler said. “You know, we just can't do everything for the students, but we got to consider people that live here too, that we do stuff for them that make it comfortable.” 

Another aspect of the project will be a bridge that allows Claflin and S.C. State students to walk over to Railroad Corner safely.  

“It’s going to be in between Claflin and South Carolina State. It is going to be beautiful once we get that bridge across there.” 

Additionally, a new parking garage will satisfy the need for increased parking spaces near both campuses. 

“It's going to be a three-story parking garage [near the pedestrian bridge]. It will be for students and the general public. We got $33 million in federal money through Congressman Clyburn called the Rise Grant, and that's for transportation.” 

With all of the new development, Butler addressed the question of safety.

“We try our best to create a safe haven to help people relax in their minds,” Butler said. “We want to put safe mechanisms in place where people can feel comfortable.” 

One of these mechanisms will be the increased visibility of police. Butler said that visibility is everything.  

Butler said his hope is the new projects and increased safety will unite the city. “One of my major goals is to bring the community together.”