Florence, South Carolina – Downtown Florence’s revival is no longer being measured only by storefronts, restaurants and office space. Its latest statewide honor centers on something just as important to a thriving city center: giving people a place to live.
The Pine Street Townhomes project has earned Downtown Florence the Excellence on Main Street Award, the highest project recognition presented this year by Main Street South Carolina.
The award was announced during the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Greenville. Each year, Main Street South Carolina highlights the work of communities making measurable progress in downtown revitalization through its Main Street Inspiration Awards.
Projects are recognized across eight categories, but the Excellence on Main Street Award goes one step further. It identifies the top project from among all category winners, placing the Pine Street Townhomes at the forefront of this year’s downtown development efforts across the state.
For Florence, the recognition reflects a broader shift in how the city is rebuilding its historic core. Downtown leaders have successfully recruited important commercial tenants, but creating a district that remains active beyond normal business hours requires more than shops and offices.
Housing is a central part of that strategy.
The Downtown Florence 2030 Master Plan calls for 1,000 new residential units within a decade. The plan includes affordable homes, “missing middle” housing and market-rate options offered at different prices and in different styles.
The Pine Street Townhomes move Florence closer to that target while helping define downtown’s eastern boundary. The development was designed in part for working professionals, with particular attention given to employees in the area’s healthcare sector.
Its location also gives the project a larger role in Florence’s long-term plans. The townhomes create a connection between the downtown district and eastern neighborhoods identified for additional revitalization, allowing new investment to extend beyond the city center rather than stop at its edge.
That combination of housing, workforce support and neighborhood connectivity helped the project stand out among Main Street South Carolina’s award recipients.
The honor also signals that Florence’s downtown redevelopment is entering a new stage. Commercial activity helped bring people back to the historic core. Residential projects such as the Pine Street Townhomes are intended to keep them there, creating the steady foot traffic needed for a downtown that remains active throughout the day and into the evening.
