"I'm very sad to see the iconic orange brick cobblestones go," Clemson University senior Owen Branch told The Tiger in April, a few weeks after crews broke ground on downtown College Avenue. The pavers are gone now. Smooth ADA-compliant stamped concrete has replaced them, and the sidewalks are wider. Most people who come downtown have already walked on the result.
The new concrete is the part of the project people noticed most, but it was mainly the base for what comes next. The City of Clemson designed Phase 1 around closing the street for events. It includes sockets for removable bollards, extra street lighting and electrical upgrades that the city describes as creating "a festival-type street atmosphere," a pedestrian plaza on Addison Lane, and larger shade trees. The city's latest timeline put the plaza's completion at the end of September and scheduled the new power poles and trees for mid-October. Trick or Treat on College Avenue is three weeks away.
What the August Reopening Actually Changed
Phase 1 covers downtown from Highway 93 to Sloan Street. The $3.3 million budget comes from a $750,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant, $1.2 million in hospitality funds, $1 million in bond proceeds, and $450,000 in impact fees. Trae's Clearing and Grading is doing the work.
On August 5, the city reported College Avenue and Sloan Street open to cars and pedestrians. North Clemson was expected to reopen two days later, on August 7. If you haven't driven downtown since spring, here is what changed:
- Sloan Street's one-way section now runs the opposite direction. The city had reopened it with the new traffic pattern by April 13, so this change came early.
- The dedicated turn lane at College Avenue and Highway 93 is gone.
- There's a raised crosswalk at North Clemson and College Avenue. It slows cars at the busiest pedestrian crossing downtown.
- Bicycles and vehicles now share the travel lanes.
- Delivery zones are clearly marked to make deliveries easier for downtown businesses.
- Nine on-street parking spaces and four moped spots were removed to make room for the wider sidewalks and other changes.
These changes all affect people moving through downtown. The rest of the project is about people staying there.
Addison Lane Becomes a Plaza
The original schedule had Phase 1 wrapping up by August 15. The plaza fell behind that date. According to the city's project log, crews demolished Addison Lane and its old plaza on August 14 and poured the main concrete and a seat wall on August 27. When WSPA previewed the design in February, it described a turf area, string lighting, and trees.
In its September update, the city said "most of this phase" was complete and gave estimated dates for the rest:
| Remaining Phase 1 element | City's estimated finish |
|---|---|
| Addison Lane Plaza | End of September |
| Duke Energy power poles | Mid-October |
| New trees planted | Mid-October |
As of October 6, we couldn't find a city announcement or news report confirming that the plaza has officially opened. The September date is the city's estimate and hasn't been confirmed as finished. The other two items are due in the next week or two. The new poles matter more than they might seem, because the festival-style lighting and electrical upgrades depend on them.
Why the New Trees Are Oaks
The city took out 24 smaller trees, 22 crape myrtles and two birches. The September project page says 28 larger canopy trees will replace them, with decorative shrubs in some spots. The city's March launch announcement had said 30 replacement trees. The newer page gives the lower number.
The reason for the switch is underground. The city says compacted soil under a busy downtown limits a street tree's life to about 10 to 15 years, and that large canopy trees like the oaks going in along College Avenue need more than 1,000 cubic feet of soil each. Each new tree sits in a silva cell, a suspended pavement system that leaves loose soil under the sidewalk for roots to spread without buckling the concrete above.
City engineer Nathan Hinkle told The Tiger in April that changes like this "might not be something where people realize today, but they will be beneficial in the future." The crape myrtles were planted in the kind of conditions that cap a tree at 10 to 15 years. The oaks are planted so they can outlast that. For now, the stretches of sidewalk where trees came out are still bare, and they'll stay that way until the mid-October planting. The Tiger noted in August that the removed trees hadn't been replaced yet.
Where to Park on a Downtown Evening Now
A downtown built for gatherings brings people in, and they need somewhere to put their cars. The city points visitors to its two parking decks. In its July project update, it said metered spaces in the Keith Street and Fendley Street decks stayed free for the first four hours.
On October 6, Parking Services announced three new free passes. The announcement says the passes were proposed to City Council, and it also invites applications. To apply, call Parking Services at (864) 624-4460 or go to City Hall at 1250 Tiger Boulevard.
| Option | Who it's for | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Keith Street and Fendley Street decks | Anyone visiting downtown | First four hours free on metered spaces, per the city's July update |
| Silver Pass | Clemson residents 67 and older | Two free hours a day in any public, non-reserved space. Annual placard, renewed each year |
| Funeral Services Pass | People attending services at downtown churches | Up to three free hours, using a code the church activates for that day |
| Business Overnight Pass | Downtown businesses with early or late shifts | Hangtag that protects against overnight violations from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. |
| City garages on football Saturdays | Game-day visitors | About 220 spaces, first-come, first-served, $40 all day starting at 7 a.m., cars out before 4 a.m. |
The release's fine print says the passes are not valid on Special Event Saturdays. Overnight vehicles have to be moved or paid for by 8 a.m. On game days, you can't reserve or prepay for City garage spaces. Over the longer term, the city's goal is 300 downtown parking spaces by 2028.
Who's Open Along the New Sidewalks
Some businesses on the block have changed during construction. ¡Buenos Días!, a Mexican-inspired breakfast and lunch restaurant, opened in mid-September in the former Palmetto's Smokehouse and Oyster Bar space beside TD's. The Tiger reported around the same time that Tiger Town Tavern had opened a separate merchandise shop on North Clemson Avenue. Andee's SIPS & such, described as Clemson's first mocktail bar, closed in early September after seven months on Clemson Avenue.
The First Evenings on the Finished Street
The first big test of the new streetscape is Trick or Treat on College Avenue on Tuesday, October 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. The city lists it as a walkable downtown event. If the mid-October estimates hold, it will be the first downtown event with the new trees in the ground and the new poles up.
The 33rd Annual Christmas Parade is Thursday, December 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The city's 2026 listing gives only "Clemson, SC" as the location. Wait for the city to post the route and road closures instead of assuming last year's apply.
Away from College Avenue, the Clemson Farmers Market's regular weekly season ended September 30. It holds seasonal markets at Patrick Square Village Green on October 7, November 4, and December 2.
Phase 1 is the first of four phases. The city expects all four to be finished within about 10 years. We haven't found a start date or exact boundaries for Phase 2 yet. For now, the stretch from Highway 93 to Sloan Street is the only finished example of what the plan will look like on the ground.
Changes like a new plaza, walkable sidewalks, and a parking plan for downtown visitors can affect how homes nearby fit someone's daily routine. If you're weighing a home within walking distance of College Avenue, or thinking about how to present one you already own, Philip Kalchthaler can walk you through how the new streetscape relates to your plans. Reach Out Today.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
