ingvegas

This is a smart idea. The County needs a full-scale marketing campaign if they think this will be awarded. Someone posted the WYFF article on Reddit and most of the comments show a lack of education (i.e. "but what about that billion dollars the State just found?") or a belief that the money won't go to repairing the roads ("they won't use it for roads", "what about the money we already pay", etc.). If the County was smart, they would have started educating the public about this a year ago. The next best time is today. 1. I like your idea about having an active dashboard. 2. They need to address the public's perception that the money won't be spent correctly or it will be spent overpaying "the good ole' boys." Make it a requirement of the tax that a third-party auditor will conduct a yearly audit to verify contracts and spending - and publish this report. Make public all bids and contracts. Show the public that their money will be spent correctly. The public will care more about this than "improved safety" or "we need to get things updated before it costs more." 3. Get residents who approved it in other counties to talk about what it has done for them. 4. Show residents some before and after pictures. We have some bad roads and intersections - this won't be hard. 5. Run a PR campaign that makes it a matter of civic pride (be the good guy/lady). Get local conservative groups onboard. Greenville Republican party, and others, squarely behind this - it passes like the breeze. 6. Run up fees on new projects adding to sprawl. Demonize sprawl and make it clear to the public that sprawl is the reason the current rates can't cover keeping nice what we had before. Current tax rates from years ago cannot cover miles and miles of new developed area and keep current areas up to date. You want John Q. Public to feel like someone else is having to pay more than him. He will fix what is there, but these "damn newcomers" will have to pay their fair share.

Agreed. Ground floor mixed adds more energy to the area and adds value for the developer in the long-term. I didn't understand workforce housing issue until I talked to someone recently who said it's not worth driving 30 minutes to downtown (one way) to work at a restaurant. Soon, if it's not an issue already, downtown service providers (restaurants, bars, retail, etc.) will not have a talented and committed workforce. They will likely then need to substantially raise compensation and pass costs to consumers in the downtown area.

Thanks for info. This is going to be painful....

Yikes, that is bad. Hopefully they can hide it with a ton of landscaping.

https://www.wyff4.com/article/renovations-greenville-limit-public-access-sc/60445576 I get it, but I hate this. This place is part of what makes Greenville unique and fun for all. Now it will be for private use only.

Economic studies repeatedly show that these improvements will help businesses in that area (including yours) in the long-term. This is not a surprise. You've known about it for a long time. Short-term pains for long-term gains should have been prepared for. That's small business 101. I know, because I own one. Stop shouting at the sky and prepare.

What objective support do you have that a road diet will be detrimental? One study found: "Quantitative data do not support the notion that road diets lower surrounding local businesses and property values. Opposition to road diets on economic grounds therefore appears unfounded." (emphasis added). See: https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/yorkblvd_mccormick.pdf If it's "just your gut" telling you this then go find measured support for your theory.

Interesting case study. It was shut-down due to suicides. Considered an expensive debacle that stopped being frequented after a short period of time. In short, a complete waste. Will the Honor soon follow this? https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-the-vessel-new-york-city-hudson-yards-manhattan-2023-11#the-vessels-interior-was-cool-but-the-excitement-wore-off-quickly-6

Shhhhh, please. Let it die, quietly.

Better that, long term, than be stuck with a lame graffiti "tower" and a hardly used baseball field left in poor shape -- ten years from now.

The problem tax payers have is (1) they don't know exactly where the money will go and (2) who will make sure it goes there. Tax payers will suffer for road deterioration because nobody believes in politicians. They vast majority believes "government is always bad." If Greenville County wants any chance of passing this then: 1) they need to provide a detailed, easy to find, and easy to understand, statement about funding and what the money will do. Basically, a single website, highly publicized, that a fourth grader can understand. 2) they need to publicize that an outside independent auditor will account for the money coming in, and where it's going, on a quarterly basis. Otherwise, voters will believe the money will be wasted on fancy cop cars and other pork. Public education followed by public accountability. It's basic good government.

I think a soccer field would get more use. Kroc's field is never empty. We need more. Baseball field will not get used as much by general public, require more upkeep, and has a higher upfront cost.

What's the over/under on how long it makes it? I'm giving it 3 years.

I hope they build it.....so we can all see how terrible it looks.....and then open the doors and see how empty it is.

I hope they also go away from the fiber cement and go all brick masonry. The people that will rent them can afford the upgrade. Re-sale value (they plan to flip the property in about 10 years from their Q&A response) would also be higher. Too bad entrance / exit cannot be shared with Andover Apartments. The traffic darting left & right out of Andover Apartments already plays a very competitive game of chicken with oncoming / passing traffic. Now, add vehicles turning out of this new complex right next door and we have a great recipe for frequent auto-accidents at this stretch of road.

I tried to follow track origination / destination. It does not seem like a candidate to be converted from rails to trails. I don't see any other alternative routes for the shipping. However, it would be a major boon to the Great Sullivan / Dunean neighborhoods if this could be accomplished. It would provide a nice, and almost a direct, walk/bike path for those communities to be connected with downtown.

Hey now, I could be wrong. Settle down. Let's circle back on this in 2035. You're entitled to your opinion, but I think it will be just like The Battery in Atlanta (sans stadium). We'll re-name then to "The Corporate-Soulless-Square."

A better mix though. I'm not saying this place should be a strip mall, but don't call it "the new downtown." Call it what's it's planned to be so far - "the outdoor-mall and adult amusement area." Neighborhoods get their energy from people living there, running their errands there, art, landscaping, an open area or a park - and yes - a few great restaurants, amusements like the planned outdoor cinema or bull-riding bar, and ultra high end shopping to escape in. But don't forget the former for the later. Otherwise Apaladin is right - it's just going to be a fancy Shops at Greenridge. And time will degrade it's value, not inflate it. Would it be harder to plan? Yes. Will profits come in at a slower? Probably. But will it be more sustainable and overall profitable in the long run? Definitely.

I'm good with some high-end tenants for shopping and eating. But I do hope it is a true mix-use with a butcher, hair salon, dry cleaner, pharmacy, 24-hour gym, wine/cheese shop, bakery (not a $4.50 donut place like Salt), and a drop-in bodega or two. Build a neighborhood with a few popular destinations, not a destination spot that will lose popularity with time (they all eventually get stale).

Ha! It each their own. I'm Team-Door #1. All brick façade. Porches. Ground floor retail. Wide & shaded sidewalks with areas for flowers. Rooftop plantings. 6-8 stories. Give me this - everywhere.

Impressive. 2023 was demolition. 2024 infrastructure. So, what's everyone's guess for Phase I completion? 12/2026 (I have no idea how long it takes to build a 40 acre downtown). Which will hopefully include a 24-hour, high end, lifting gym. (the more I write it the higher the chance it comes, right?) ;0)

I wish every city / county council member would be required to watch this. Let government get out of the way. Allow for backyard-granny flats, sidewalks/bike lanes, small front yard service businesses, and corner stores. Link:

So...maybe there is still time to back out of this tower and give the current private donations back? What about gardens with shade, art statutes, fountains, and benches? What about a soccer field? I still maintain a "tower" will be initially met with a collective shrug, and then eventually rust and graffiti. A wearable albatross for future generations.

I would disagree. "Eyesore"comes to my mind.

Looks like a big Whole Foods. The number of "at lease" commitments is very impressive. Like that all parking is multi-level. Still trying to wrap my head around the road layout and how it spills onto Augusta Street. Keeping fingers crossed for an upscale 24-hour gym.....