The City of Camden, South Carolina (the “City”) is seeking professional architectural and engineering services for the assessment of the Robert Mills Courthouse located at 607 Broad Street. Read the full Request for Qualifications here.
An assessment of this building is needed to determine the structural integrity, as well as the condition of the interior and exterior of the building. Following the assessment, the City requires recommendations for the repairs, improvements, and restoration for each building, including prioritization of and estimated costs for each recommendation.
The selected firm must be experienced in the historically sensitive assessment and restoration of older buildings. It will be critical that the selected firm can accurately estimate the scope and cost of the recommended improvements in order to provide budgetary figures. The scope of work should be broken down into the following categories: exterior, interior first floor and interior second floor.
Sealed Proposals shall be delivered under the terms and conditions of this RFQ, via mail or hand-delivery, as follows:
By Mail: City of Camden Attention: Shawn Putnam Post Office Box 7002 Camden, SC 29021
Hand-Delivery: City of Camden Attention: Shawn Putnam 1000 Lyttleton Street Camden, SC 29020
Proposals will be accepted until 12:00 PM, November 27, 2024. Any Proposals received after 12:00 PM, November 27, 2024 shall not be accepted. Further, any delay in receipt of the Proposal, whether by mail or hand-delivery, or any incompleteness or illegible portions of any Proposal, will be the responsibility of the bidder.
On September 10, 2024, Camden City Council approved a moratorium on new residential development within the city limits.
The purpose of the moratorium is to pause residential development to determine if changes are needed to development ordinances in order to allow for orderly growth, address increased demand for public services and infrastructure, and consider possible environmental impacts of development.
The moratorium only applies to new residential subdivisions. This includes any subdivision that contains single-family or multi-family homes. Any residential subdivision that received preliminary plat approval prior to the enactment of the moratorium is not affected. Commercial and non-residential development is not affected by the moratorium.
The moratorium is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2025 and may be extended by a resolution approved by City Council.
The Kershaw County 250th committee, along with several organizing partners, is sponsoring a “Revolutionary November” from November 1 through November 21st.
This upcoming “Revolutionary November” will highlight Camden and Kershaw County’s importance to the outcome of the American Revolution. Local residents and vistiors alike are invited to enjoy and explore more than a dozen events throughout November, showcasing the area’s history, heritage and culture.
The month begins on November 1 with a commemorative program on the 250th anniversary of the Camden Distrct Resolves (Nov. 5, 1774), a document that set out the argument for independence later articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Other events include the Carolina Revolutionary War Weekend & Batte Reenactments on November 8-10, Colonial Cup Weekend on November 15-17, and a variety of other programs throughout the month – from tours, to presentations, to trivia night. Visit Kershaw250.com for a complete list of programs.
November 1-3 – Camden District Resolves On November 5th, 1774, Justice William Henry Drayton delivered a speech on the “Rights of Man under the Law”, arguing that there should be no taxation without the consent of the citizens, to the Camden District Grand Jury. His words resonated throughout the back country of South Carolina, and a “mini Declaration of Independence” was submitted to colonial legislature. Witness the reenactment of the 1774 Grand Jury Presentment, beginning at 12:00 pm on Friday, November 1 at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center, 212 Broad Street. Afterward, explore the Historic Camden Colonial Village and enjoy an afternoon at McCaa’s Tavern, visit the “Horses at the Battle of Camden” exhibit at the National Steeplechase Museum, or take a self-guided tour among fallen heroes at Quaker Cemetary, before embarking on a drive to see historic landmarks throughout Camden and Kershaw County.
November 8-10 – Carolinas Revolutionary War Weekend & Battle Reenactments Join the Southern Campaign 1780 for two whole days of life in the 18th century, featuring daily mock battles complete with cavalry, cannons, and cracking muskets. This is over a half century old Kershaw County tradition, bringing in reenactors and spectators as far away as the Midwest, New England, and the Deep South. The annual Carolinas Revolutionary War Weekend and the Battle Reenactment events will be held from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, November 9th and from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday, November 10th at The Meeting Place, 1208 Keys Lane in Kershaw, SC. Afternoon battle reenactments are scheduled for 1:00 pm each day.
This all outdoor, family-friendly event is the largest annual force-on-force Revolutionary War Reenactment in the nation, and this year has been named one of two national events by the Brigade of the American Revolution, British Brigade, and The Continental Line, all three premier national Revolutionary War Reenactment organizations. It is thrilling to win this trifecta designation and will mean increased reenactor participation and a bigger and better event for participants and visitors alike. You will see hundreds of Crown and Patriot reenactors, civilian reenactors, 18th C. craftsmen and merchants. Heavy rain may force a “rain delay” for battle reenactments, but the event is rain or shine. For more information, visit southerncampaign1780.org.
Also on this weekend, you can sample “revolutionary” BBQ during the aptly named Battle of Camden BBQ Festival Friday evening and Saturday, November 8th and 9th, hosted by the Camden Jaycees on the Historic Camden Foundation campus. Featuring two days of South Carolina’s best pit masters smoking up amazing barbecue for you to sample, Friday night is all about the chicken wing, starting at 6:00 pm, and Saturday is when you find out who will win it all in their pulled pork competition, beginning at 11:00 am. Free entry, tickets for samples. Learn more at www.facebook.com/battleofcamdenbbq.
November 15-17 – Colonial Cup Weekend Experience Camden and all it has to offer, as we celebrate the return of the Colonial Cup, one of the premiere steeplechase races of the season. The 49th running of the Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup Races will take place on Sunday, November 17th. The Colonial Cup, starting in 1970, was Mrs. Scott’s idea, and it became the first international steeplechase run in the United States with a purse of $100,000. Get ready for race day with a Pre-Cup Cocktail Party on Saturday evening. Learn more at carolinacup.org/colonialcup.
Get into town early to enjoy events in the Downtown Camden Cultural District leading up to the Colonial Cup, including a “Party at the Pavilion” Thursday, November 14th, hosted by the Kershaw County Young Professionals at the Arts Center of Kershaw County. And experience the first ever Silver Leaf Cigar Street Festival on Commerce Alley, beginning at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 15th behind Silver Leaf Cigar Lounge, 1015 Broad Street. Enjoy shopping and dining all day long in the cultural district. Learn more at www.facebook.com/Silverleaflounge.
More events are being added weekly to make this a simply “Revolutionary November” in Camden and Kershaw County. Keep up to date at Kershaw250.com.
The City of Camden is seeking to hire a consultant with experience producing successful nominations to the National Register of Historic Places to prepare an Additional Documentation nomination for the City of Camden Historic District.
The City of Camden Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The period of significance for the District ended, by default, at 1921, or 50 years prior to the date of listing. A survey of Camden’s historic resources in 1996 determined that the period of significance for the district could be extended up to 1946 (50 years prior to the date of the survey) in order to account for the historic development of Camden through the years of the Second World War.
In 2024, it is now anticipated that the period of significance may be extended at the local level of significance, potentially up to 1975. Through this project, the City’s goal is to produce a National Register of Historic Places “Additional Documentation” nomination for the City of Camden Historic District that documents and justifies an extended period of significance into the latter half of the twentieth century and identifies contributing properties that date from within this extended period. This Additional Documentation nomination will be submitted to SCDAH for review and approval by the State Board of Review and the National Park Service.
The African American Cultural Center of Camden, located at 517 York Street, will kick-off its 2024-2025 season with the theme, celebrating community. The public is invited to enjoy a number of events from September 14th through 22nd.
The opening event will be held on Saturday, September 14th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm with its symposium, “Let’s Talk About…Healing through Reconciliation?”, featuring Bishop Gary Rivas of Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church and Dr. James Coleman as moderator. The event will take place at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center, 212 Broad Street. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged by calling 803-432-2421 x1153 or emailing kspadacenta@camdensc.org.
On Tuesday, September 17th, the African American Cultural Center partners with Gallery 537 to present “Prose, Poetry, Etc.”. This event will provide an opportunity to strengthen community ties by sharing commonalities through poetry, prose and music. All are welcome to share their voice at the open mic. Doors open at 5:00 pm; light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Open mic will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The Gallery is located at 537 East DeKalb Street. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged by calling 803-432-2421 x1153 or emailing kspadacenta@camdensc.org. Performers for open mic may sign up at the door or call in advance for more details.
The highlight of the week-long celebration, Community Day at the Center, will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm in partnership with Concerned Citizens of Kershaw County and will take place at the African American Cultural Center and the Price House. This day will be an opportunity to learn more about the Cultural Center and its role in the community. Those interested in preserving their family history are encouraged to bring family photographs and documents to be scanned. There will also be a variety of entertainment for both children and adults, storytelling, games, bounce house, the Kershaw County Library Book Mobile, informational tables and vendors. This day will also be an opportunity to meet some of the 2024 candidates, who will speak briefly about their platform for the upcoming November election. Designated parking will be available.
The celebration concludes on Sunday, September 22nd at 2:00 pm with “Artists in the Sanctuary”. This event is in partnership with Camden Second Presbyterian Church and co-sponsored by the Althea J. Truitt Memorial Fund. The Community is invited to enjoy an afternoon of live jazz and blues. The event is free. Seating is limited. Registration is encouraged by calling 803-432-2421 x1153 or emailing kspadacenta@camdensc.org.
The African American Cultural Center of Camden exhibits artifacts and documents that examine and celebrate the lives and contributions of Camden’s African American community. The Center’s exhibits relate the stories of the African American experience in Camden. The African American Cultural Center of Camden, located at 517 York Street, is currently open on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
