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Jessica Nelms

Construction of the new Chick-fil-A on Tiger Boulevard is just one of the nearly $50 million in new construction projects, renovations or pending projects taking place in the city of Clemson.

CLEMSON — In a time when stimulus has become a daily buzzword where the economy is concerned, the city of Clemson is experiencing its own stimulus through business growth that is evidenced by nearly $50 million of new construction and renovations.

“We’re comparatively in pretty darn good shape,” said Mayor Larry Abernathy Thursday afternoon. “Universally, small college towns have a layer of protection against bad economic times by the pure nature of the fact that people are still going to send their kids to college.

“Tourism is also a huge part of our revenue and that, along with the fact that people still want to build things in Clemson and still want to come to Clemson, means we’re doing OK.”

Abernathy said the nearly $50 million (approximately $49.6 million) is the amount of growth in the city, rather than the actual amount of revenue generated by the city. But he added, “That’s still a pretty good chunk of money.”

Approximately $19 million worth of projects has been completed or are currently under construction. Those projects, along with their individual price tags and construction schedules are: First Citizens Bank, completed, $2.8 million; Chick-fil-A, $900,000, with an anticipated July opening; Walgreens, $1.9 million, opening at the end of this month or early July; Holiday Inn Express, $5.8 million, with an anticipated opening at the end of July; and Marriott, $7.6 million, ahead of schedule with an anticipated opening at the end of October.

A total of $14.5 million in building permits is pending for Lowe’s and Cambridge Assisted Living. Earth work is in progress for Lowe’s, an $8.5 million project, after a review by DHEC and city staff and a final review for the building and site plans are in progress. The developer anticipates a request for the name change to the road this summer.

Cambridge Assisted Living, $6 million, has seen DHEC and local grading permits approved. Building plans are under review and are awaiting final approval.

Approximately $1.5 million worth of up fits and renovations are scheduled, including a $220,000 up fit and renovation of the nine-year-old Xaxby’s restaurant on Tiger Boulevard and a $1.3 million renovation for the former Gold’s Gym — also on Tiger Boulevard, to convert it to a religious assembly area. Crosspoint Church has purchased the entire parcel and plans to phase out all retail uses over the next two years for their ministry.

Other projects of note for Clemson, totaling $14.6 million, consist of the following:

• Patrick Square, $1 million plus $900,000, currently has four single-family dwellings under construction with another pending permit payment and the clubhouse has been approved for construction. Discussion is currently taking place regarding the protocol for road realignment;

• Tower Place, $3 million — another contractor has been selected and completed their due diligence with the city. Officials desire to finish the residential floors by this fall and the second floor (commercial) immediately thereafter and will visit with the Board of Architectural Review for some exterior changes;

• Lake Hartwell Inn, $5 million range — architect has been selected to revisit the building design and location and will be coming back to the Board of Architectural Review;

• City Hall Expansion, $2.2 million — city anticipates going “out to bid” in July for this project. The expansion will include locating Planning and Codes and Courts at City Hall, while adding new council chambers for public meetings; and

• Clemson Area Transit (CAT) system garage, $2.5 million — city anticipates construction of the CAT terminal on West Lane in 2010. The terminal will house all the buses and feature an administrative area, possible Greyhound bus pickup point and kiosks for Amtrak.

“A few years ago, we had $100 million come out of the ground and that was our best year yet,” Abernathy said. “But $49 million in a bad economy is something we’ll take any day.”