MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Myrtle Beach city officials credit downtown revitalization with a steep decline in violent crime in the former Superblock area since 2016.
The city announced on Thursday morning that, in 2016, before the revitalization project, 18 violent crimes had been reported in the area. That number dropped to zero in 2023 and two in 2025, the city says.
In an interview with Interim Police Chief Chris Smith and Lt. Tom Vest, the two said that the revitalization has made all the difference.
Vest said that “the long-term fix was revitalization… We don’t have to station people out here to keep you safe. The area keeps you safe, and we just come out here to say ‘hi.’”…