Accomplishments of Year 1

• Complete design of the pedestrian bridge • Open the Sports and Events Center, host thousands of visitors each week • Continue development of University Center: hotel, apartments, student housing, more • Launch new projects: The Exchange, The Link, Engage@Knowledge Park, The Thread, Oakland Auto • Initiate Impact York County community needs assessment • “The Clinton Connection”: support growth on the south side, including efforts to attract a grocery store • Adoption of an affordable housing policy by City Council; enter into agreements for at least 30 new affordable units • Launch KnowledgeParkWorks.com as a resource for training and careers • BELL: training and mentoring of 25 individuals • X-Prize: support the growth of African-American-owned businesses • Expand Venture Mentoring System to serve more entrepreneurs • Select an artist and complete designs and funding for the Bleachery Heritage Project • Implement a public mural program

Bathroom remodels are the projects that people frequently look forward to the most but usually leave for last. Aside from the fact that it’s quite difficult to imagine going through a single day without the chance to access your bathroom – let alone a week or more, these types of projects usually tend to cost a pretty penny too. However, there are definitely certain things you can do to your bathroom that will still turn it into a beautiful space that feels fresh and new without necessarily having to spend a fortune on it. With that in mind, here are 5 bathroom fixes that will make your bathroom look fresh without breaking your bank. Update bathroom fixtures Bathroom fixtures are one of the things that can instantly diminish the look of your bathroom. Worn-out and outdated faucets and showerheads will be the first thing people notice in your bathroom, no matter how pretty or clean the rest of the space is. That’s why replacing bathroom fixtures should be your first course of action. If you want to avoid having to remodel the space entirely, make sure you measure all the fixtures the right way, so you don’t end up buying something that just doesn’t fit with the existing fixture outlets. Change the look of your tiles Wall and floor tiles make a huge part of your bathroom. That’s why if you’re not quite happy with the way they look you only have two options – either get rid of them entirely or find a way to change them up a bit. An interesting way you can change the look of your tiles without necessarily having to replace them entirely would be to either paint them or cover them with vinyl wallpaper. Sure, neither of these two options will last as long as new tiles would, but both of them are significantly cheaper than getting rid of your old tiles and putting the new tiles in. Replace outdated fittings Outdated bathroom fittings also need to go. If you’re aiming at creating a new look in your bathroom, you will certainly have to do something about these pieces. Now, while you can easily just change the toilet seat and make this fitting look brand new, your bathroom sink will be a different story. When exploring your options look for a bathroom sink that’s not only pretty but durable as well. Finding the perfect sink that will both fit into your new bathroom and last you a long time will be a true win-win scenario. Add unexpected décor Adding some unexpected pieces into your bathroom will also instantly elevate its style and pizzazz. Hanging a framed picture or an interesting print, adding some potted plants and playing around with décor can add a lot of personality to your bathroom. In smaller bathrooms, you will usually only have enough room to display a thing or two. So, if that’s the case with your bathroom as well, choose those pieces carefully and make them count. As far as plants are concerned, you can go either faux or real. If you’re opting for real plants, base your choice of the type of plant depending on the amount of natural light you have in this area. Light it up Finally, nothing can make such a difference in a space quite like lighting can. Aside from making sure that you have opulent lighting sources, you also need to ensure that your lighting fixtures match your bathroom fixtures in either style, color or finish if you’re aiming at creating a cohesive look. Furthermore, consider adding a framed mirror to your bathroom that will also feature a similar finish. Not only is a mirror an integral part of any bathroom design but it will also help bounce the light off, making the space look brighter and livelier. Finally, when choosing light bulbs, make sure you go with eco-friendly and energy-efficient LED light bulbs as these will significantly reduce the amount of energy your household uses. In the end, LED lights are also excellent at mimicking natural light which can be beneficial for your bathroom plants, if natural light is not quite opulent. As you can see, changing the look of your bathroom won’t require an astronomical budget nor it requires a lot of time. The secret is to try and find small ways you can improve the look of your bathroom that will make the biggest change. And the best part is that the majority of these ideas you can even do yourself, which makes them even more fun to try out!

This is one thing that led me to stay in Rock Hill after graduating from Winthrop. Although this is a 5 year plan, I can already see Rock Hill changing which makes me feel indifferent. Do not get me wrong or misunderstand me, I love the idea. I have engaged in conversations with various community members and students on a social media platform that feel that those who already live here feel neglected/overlooked because the focus are on those coming and not those already here. I will read the plan and rely the information to those individuals as well as refer them to this site. Please let me know if there is an initiative on the plan that I overlooked that will soothe the concerns and frustrations of some of Rock Hill's current residents. I would love to bridge the gaps.