More residential, restaurant and retail growth could be coming to the City of Cayce in the near future.

Cayce has contracted with Stewart Engineering to make changes to the city’s zoning codes this year in an effort to make the building process easier.

Tim James, Cayce City Council Member and Mayor Pro-Tem said: “As a leadership group, we are thinking differently today than five years ago. We want to put ourselves in a position to prosper. We have many developers consistently inquiring about property. This proves we are working well with developers.”

Cayce City Councilman Byron Thomas said: “The City of Cayce has always and will continue to actively build relationships and work with developers, with the goal of bringing smart development to our city.” He cited a new 12-house residential development on Lexington Avenue as an indication of the mindset.

“Hattie’s Crossing is a great example of this collaborative process.  The City of Cayce and Cypress Commercial worked together to bring 12 new homes to our city and my district. Cayce understands that with good development, we can keep taxes low on our citizens while increasing their quality of life,” Thomas said.

Cayce City Councilman Hunter Sox said he is connecting with others to perpetuate improvement in every part of Cayce, including beautification projects.

“Four years ago, when I ran for office, one of my three platform points was to put an emphasis on economic development in Cayce,” he said. “I am excited to say that we are communicating with revitalization consultants to enhance the process. I represent a district that is ripe for growth and am exploring options and talking with our staff and county and municipal partners on how we can improve the beautification and infrastructure in our district – specifically from I-26 at Charleston Highway and Airport Boulevard to connect back to Knox Abbott Drive. The extent will include, but will not be limited to sidewalks, tree plantings, updated street lighting, and other opportunities to upgrade the thoroughfares.”

Thomas said there are good reasons to advocate for growth.

“There are three “Rs” of development. Those are Rooftops, Restaurants and Retail. Cayce knows that Restaurants and Retail follow Rooftops and that a healthy balance leads to a healthy community.  We will succeed in planting the new rooftops necessary to draw these businesses and their dollars to Cayce.”

James also said more development in Cayce will be good for residents and the city’s tax base.

“I am eager to recruit all types of businesses to Cayce,” he said. “Other cities, like Greenville, have realized positive gain from multi-space food, beverage and play arenas that draw people into the community. As it is, people from Cayce drive to areas around the state and they spend their money when they are there. Merchandise stores for clothing and other items should serve as a primary focus for Cayce so our citizens won’t have to leave our community to buy goods. Let’s keep that tax base here.”

James encourages collaboration. “We need to work hand-in-hand with land and building owners to promote their properties and recruit businesses into areas that can be revitalized and become a vibrant part of our future,” he said.

Sox said it is important to respect Cayce’s character while preparing for an increasing population.

“One of the challenges that I am focused on as we work toward new, innovative infill and development opportunities is ensuring we recognize those who came before us and what they envisioned our city to be,” he said.  And we need to repurpose what has been built while understanding that we have to meet the demands and market trends of those moving here.”

Sox said an effort to place historical markers at certain sites – like the sites at Cayce Grammar School and old Busbee Middle School – has already begun.

Thomas said the opportunity to expand Cayce exists.

The City of Cayce is blessed with undeveloped land, which other cities in our area do not have,” he said. “We will work with property owners to bring smart development to those areas, which will continue to increase the quality of life in the City of Cayce.”

Sox said Cayce needs to plan for growth like other areas of the state are already doing.

“With the influx of people moving to South Carolina, growth is inevitable,” he said. “Growth has been a constant talking point for the larger regions of our state for years now, and we are starting to see it in Cayce. People want to be here. We are in close proximity to the State Capital. We have a beautiful riverfront, a lake in close proximity, and a connection to three interstates. We are a desirable place to be.”