Gville29601

Soft pretzels, good. Schnitzel (boneless thin meat that is fried), good. Spatzle (basically mac n' cheese), good. Sausages, good. Potato Pancakes (fried potatoes / hashbrowns), good. Color me happy, I can't wait to try it!

Maybe, but I still hope it gets built. I like the description: "A historic brownstone inspired 10 unit townhome community.....Modern architecture and design combine timeless brick exterior, floor to ceiling aluminum windows....

How is the parking? Doesn't seem like enough spots for such a large store.

Better than anything I had expected for this location. Just awesome.

Can't agree more. A very large and open public gathering space is vital for the civic health of a city. Concerts, plays, festivals, speeches, rallies, races (bike and running), and debates. Falls Park and Cleveland Park are not big enough for these events. Hopefully the gathering hall will be large and adjacent to acres of open space (and with plenty of public restrooms). For me, this is the biggest possible added value of the new park.

Can anyone convert the tax map numbers? City and Smith Dray Line & Storage Co, Inc. and T&N Enterprises dated March 13, 2018 (Tax Map Numbers 55-1-3.1 and 55-1-3.4); City and Richard William Hills, Jr., dated April 27, 2018 (Tax Map Number 52- 4.11.6); City and S.C. Asset Management Company, LLC, dated April 11, 2018 (Tax Map Numbers 52-4-12 and 52-4-9.6); City and Willimon Investments, LLC, dated May 4, 2018 (Tax Map Number 52-4-11.7)

I like how University Ridge will be cut into Thurston. Looking forward to seeing the Master Plan.

Density, with no surface parking lots, will be perfect for that location. Looks like a great start. We'll have the best county building in the state (region?). RocaPoint Partners/The Georgetown Company have a good track record? From Greenville News article: "The public health department, family court, Department of Motor Vehicles and state departments of juvenile justice and social services will be moved." Seems like county / developer want lower income users to go somewhere else? I wonder where they'll put these services? At least we'll be able to actually watch "our tax dollars at work" - literally.

Traffic counting strip appear to have been set up in this area (Thurston/Howe/President Streets).

Do you think the County Square project will directly compete with the Bridgeway Station project in Mauldin? I'm assuming Hughes did not win the County Square project and wants to fire off his development / capture tenants in Mauldin before the developer for County Square competes for the same business. If office space and hotel space is starting to get fat in Greenville's CBD then will the County Square project focus more on residential, restaurants, and small commercial tenants and businesses? Maybe there is a large corporate relocation rumor out there? Who wins the faceoff between County Square and Bridegeway Station, or are they playing in different leagues?

100% agree. I can't read tea leaves, but I feel we're on borrowed time.

Regardless, this will be the biggest announcement in years. I'm glad the county is taking their time and doing due diligence. This development will completely shape the city. Acreage equals to about 22 square blocks. A lot of development can fit inside that space.

Billion....one and a half of'em....

Like the height. Cool with the design, and like the ground level action; plus, I'm all for any building that will hide the ugly Link building . My concerns: We're at a completion date of probably 2020: "a late spring 2018 groundbreaking, with the first-floor retail portion completed within 12 months and five floors of residential completed in 18 months." "Late spring" usually means June, or later. Maybe longer, and a real possibility of the design be amended further due to budget issues.... "The 84-foot water feature fabricated by Florida-based BluWorld of Water will face River Street and is the tallest water feature the company has ever built," "A typical parking garage requires 375 square feet per vehicle, but the automated system uses less than 200 square feet per vehicle, according to Michael Beck of Park Plus. Ryan Astrup, principal of Park Plus, says this will be one of the largest systems of its type the company has installed."

Very dense, grid street pattern, proven developer, and it develops Mauldin along I-85. Was is not to like love about this?

https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/news/drb-tells-developer-proposed-hotel-go-back-drawing-board/ (fist pump after reading this from the article): "Fountaine said the new look of the parking garage was unacceptable because Rhett Street is a pedestrian street and the new look of the garage is “very industrial.” “We cannot have an exposed garage structure like this on this street,” she said. “I hope your clients understand there is additional cost building a hotel on Main Street rather than a block off or in the suburbs,” she said. “This is not on some exit on 385. It’s on Main Street, not only Main Street but in the West End in which brick is dominant.” Nice work, DRB. Way to step up for Greenville!

Seriously, if you want to be on Main Street across from a baseball stadium the city has heavily invested in, then you should be able to afford brick or limestone. Not EIFS. The changes make it look like it could be built next to an airport or a suburban mall.

Can the design review board just say, "sorry, no take backs!"?

"DRB member Carmella M. Cioffi said the overall design needs to be more urban, presenting more of a clean contemporary line while likely being able to use the same materials in the plan. She cited the modern lines of the Liberty Bridge that would be in stark contrast to the current design of the hotel. She further recommended moving away from the idea of a park-based architectural design. “I think the building can rise organically from the park and still feel like today’s architecture,” she said." Why does she think everything need to be like "today's architecture"? If anything, the DRB should be protecting downtown from "today's architecture" and not demanding changes to proven architectural styles. If she liked and approved the "today's architecture" of the Link Apartments I shudder to think about the hand she has in the design of future projects. I also wonder how Christian Sottile accepted this criticism? Anyone compare his CV to Ms. Cioffi's CV?

A simple upvote wouldn't do this comment justice. Agree x 100. The residences here are selling for a hefty price, but the architecture and quality build allows for that. I wonder if the windows are soundproof? Games played weekly at Sirrine Stadium make that block pretty loud.

http://gvltoday.6amcity.com/read-mayor-knoxs-white-letter-about-the-future-of-downtown/ I took the survey on rating the new buildings. Everyone will have a different opinion. Most buildings I'm ambivalent about, but I wish the survey had negative stars for the Link Apartments building (Rhett and River Streets). I get depressed every time I have see it driving down Augusta Street into downtown. It's bad now, and I think it will only get worse with time. What were they thinking? Otherwise, I'm glad the city is now pushing hard for 1st floor pedestrian use in all new construction.

"County officials say they prefer the county headquarters to remain on the County Square property but they are willing to consider another site with city limits." Anyone of an idea on where else the county headquarters would be a good fit? “The county encourages creative thinking to achieve a stunning, vibrant mixed-use development with architectural and urban design quality fitting to this extraordinary location and capable of attracting significant investment to and around the site....County officials say in the RFP that they might use tax incentives to participate in the building of “necessary public infrastructure improvements.” I like this quote

It's interesting to use Google's Timelapse Engine to quickly look at local growth through 22 years of satellite imagery. https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/ A couple of observations: (1) growth east of Hwy 25 / White Horse has significantly outpaced westward development. (2) Watching Woodruff, and then Verdae, almost explode in growth overnight is very interesting (and disappointing, where are the new roads to support this development?).

Nice post, NBNY. This right here: "I do not think that particular property is the right space for low income or controlled cost housing." This parcel is very unique. Looking at a map, it appears that is roughly one quarter the size of the current downtown area alone. This development will shape the future of Greenville. I agree with what was said above. Density, planning of a proper mixed use, and quality / timeless construction.Controlled cost housing is needed, but can be developed in so many other areas. I hope the county becomes very actively involved with the development beyond the scope of their current concerns involving the future county building and parking situation. Measure twice and cut once. Greenville will not get another chance to make such a big impact, at one time, anytime in the foreseeable future.