Down an alleyway known as Jarrett Court in the Elk City historic district of Charleston’s West Side is a faded 1900s-era commercial mural. The ad was once a promotion for Gold Medal Flour.
It lives on the side of the building that houses Elk City Records, one of the area’s newest businesses.
Local artist Kayleigh Phillips, 26, is in the process of restoring the sign, but updating it with a focus for the community so it’s not just an old ad. The effort is one component of transforming the area into a revitalized, art-friendly community.
Charleston Urban Renewal Authority is working on a West Side Community Development plan — which includes rehabilitation of existing structures, visual elements of streets and infrastructure improvements — and a strategic urban renewal plan for Downtown Charleston near the East End and West Side districts. The latter includes creating a West Side Square between Indiana and Bigley avenues along Washington Street West, according to CURA plan documents.
Advocates for Charleston’s West Side are leading the efforts to bring public art to the area…
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