Police meet with Short Central business owners on vandalism

Edward C. Fennell
The Post and Courier

Summerville Police Chief Bruce Owens (back left, arm raised) meets with Short Central shop operators and owners to discuss repeated acts of vandalism in the pedestrian-friendly commercial district. Merchants reported early morning incidents of windows broken, flower boxes smashed, furniture and umbrellas stolen and vomit and urine on sidewalks.

Seated around umbrella-covered outdoor tables in Short Central, some people sipped coffee or juice as they carried on a lively conversation.

But this was no ordinary outing at the colorful, shop-lined, pedestrian-friendly city block in Summerville. Shop owners and operators, and some of the town's highest ranking police officers, occupied the tables — and the talk was about acts of vandalism and trashing of the corridor that's been so attractive to tourists and locals.

Merchants told of predawn damages to their store fronts — including smashing of windows costing $300 to $1,000 to replace — and of their frequent need to repair flower boxes, sweep up scattered contents of trash cans and clean up sidewalks that have been splashed with vomit and urine.

Door mats, and even the umbrellas like those the meeting took place under, often vanish, Ben McCollom of Eclectic Chef said.

"It's nonstop. You almost hate to come in in the morning and see what happened next," he said.

Summerville Police Chief Bruce Owens promised officers would pay more attention to Short Central, but said organization of a Neighborhood Crime Watch, augmented possibly by uses of private security devices or personnel, would be the merchants' best bet.

Police have had little success stopping the spray paintings and other acts of vandalism occurring frequently in the town's parking garage next door to Short Central, he confided.

Police Capt. Roger Pierce said a check of police department records turned up only six reports of vandalism at Short Central in the past 18 months. He said merchants there need to report incidents they know about so that the use of more police manpower in Short Central can be justified.

Shop owner Heidi Inabinett told the officers the problem is severe. "As a collective group, we are here telling you it's been going on longer than you are aware of. Over time it's getting progressively worse," she said.

Some merchants blame the acts of vandalism on people leaving O'Lacy's nightclub on Short Central, and/or youths who are seen often in the area on skateboards. John Lamar, owner of O'Lacy's, discounted the idea that patrons leaving the bar are to blame. "We are outside cleaning at 3 or 4 in the morning and would have seen something," he said.

He said there has been just one fight in the club in 15 months. "I am getting a bad rap for the whole thing," he said about the issue of blame. He said, he tries to keep an eye on patrons who venture outside and vowed to do better.

Merchants insisted the incidents are frequent and said that unless something is done Short Central will lose its growing appeal to shoppers, tourists and merchants. The effort to restore the Historic Downtown will be a failure, they said.

Celeste Massey, owner of Marigold's Home & Vintage Treasures, lost a storefront window early this week. An old door was nailed over the shattered glass, pending a $300 repair job.

Massey said she and her neighbors on Short Central too often come to work and discover their businesses spray painted, planters torn apart and windows kicked out.

L.L. Biggs, also a Short Central shop owner, said shop owners may relocate if the situation remains unchanged.

"The issue is simply quality of life in downtown Summerville," Biggs said.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.