Gville29601

I guess I'm on "Team Mayor White" on this. The other Council members are reluctant to spend $300k to flesh out and obtain a the best detailed plan for future development of this important downtown site because they aren't sure what the future holds and it's coming up right before the budget is due. Not to budget money for this plan is very short-sighted, in my opinion. Development is going to occur at that site, but how it develops and the speed it develops is dependent on the city being prepared and showing potential investors that it has a detailed plan and time table. Unplanned development in this area is not in the city's best interest. A great opportunity could be lost over a $300,000 line item.

I thought there was going to be a "pocket park" between Church Street and Parcel-B? I don't see room for one. Honestly, I wish they would build some type of wall along Church Street to hide the parking lot for Parcel B. For aesthetic reasons from Church street, and more importantly, for road noise issues in the interior. See page 35: http://www.greenvillesc.gov/PlanningZoning/PlanningApplications/Applications/2012/DECEMBER/PlanningCommission/12-13-2012/FDP-12-255-UniversityRidgeandChurchStreet.pdf

Based on the amount of development occurring elsewhere downtown, the importance of this project, the location of this project, and the size of this project --- I'm really glad the city has hired a specialist to assist the development and review. That's smart leadership. The DRB has a full plate and this project is too important to not monitor closely.

Interesting article about design firm the city hired. http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/news/design-workshop-downtown-greenville-news-site-bridge-past-future/

Agreed. This parcel is essentially the "front door" to the new city park and the developing West End. I believe it will negatively impact that area. Hopefully there is strong push back.

Good points have been made about traffic/accessibility to West End and the fact the old Memorial Auditorium site is very unlikely to be developed as a residential development. I guess I would lean more to the Memorial site now. I don't think the city is seeking development of a convention center similar to the TD Center. I think the city likely wants a large corporate meeting space attached to a vibrant hotel that is within walking distance to the downtown restaurants and amenities. Think large hotel with huge spaces for corporate meetings, weddings, and other business events. I've attended large business conventions with 1,000s of business attendees at these similar sites around the country (Washington, Chicago, New Orleans, and Vegas). A friend states that her company wants to hold a corporate event in Greenville, but none of our hotels downtown have the convention space big enough to host, and they don't want people shuttling between downtown and the TD Center. If this development goes to the Memorial site then the city could sell TD, use a new convention center/hotel public/private development for business & corporate events, and utilize the St. Francis arena ("The Well") for the gun, boat, and car shows. The Memorial site keeps visitor and convention traffic mostly out of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. That site would also be close enough to walk to most city amenities (google maps indicates it's about a 15 minute walk from "The Well" to Falls Park). The only issue in my mind is how to make the walk from the Memorial site to Downtown a safe and enjoyable experience.

I think County Square is too valuable of an area to put a full scale convention center at. I would imagine the city and county could generate more revenue at county square from a tightly clustered mixed-use hotel / business / restaurants / condos. I agree with you about the Academy / River location. I wonder if it is too small? Maybe something like the Hyatt's hotel / convention center in New Orleans could fit there (it has 200,000 sq. feet of class-A meeting space. http://www.neworleans.hyatt.com/en/hotel/meetings-and-events.html) And yes, too bad the county / city do not own the site where Gateway Lofts is pending. To me, and I'm not an expert, that would be the best site for a convention center / hotel / parking garage mix.

Looks like more townhomes. From website: http://www.asteriskdevelopmentllc.com/#!current-projects/c1x2s "COMING SOON: 20-24 luxury townhomes to be developed at the site of 104 South Hudson Street in Downtown Greenville, SC. Local amenities include The Swamp Rabbit Trail, The Kroc Center, a new proposed city park, A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School, and a short walking distance from the heart of Downtown. Contact us now for information regarding how to reserve your townhome."

Nice Gville News story about difficulties of connecting SRT to Lake Conestee. I don't agree with Sudduth. I think the trail should go along Parkins Mill. I don't agree with his statement that these homes are in a "neighborhood." Parkins Mill is a thoroughfare for many vehicles during the day. I think the city should tell the Parkins Mill residents that the trail will be extended there if a Gville Country Club agreement cannot be reached by 2016. Then maybe those 30-40 residents, who are likely also members of the Gville Country Club, will convince the country club board to agree to the easement the city wants. IMHO http://www.greenvilleonline.com/longform/news/local/2015/01/28/country-club-hesitant-solve-swamp-rabbits-missing-link/22490499/

Harper Construction appears to be massing equipment right next to the parcel where the Cancer Park will go. They are the lead contractor; so I'm assuming it is actually moving forward in February.

Fun to think about some of these projects actually happening. Some seem more likely than others: http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/heres-looking-another-improbable-year/

Thanks. Hopefully it does connect to E. Washington and links to downtown that way. That rail line appears to run to Simpsonville. It would be great if someone could hop on a bike and ride from Simpsonville to Travelers Rest, or beyond!

Can't seem to find a map showing exactly where the 5 mile extension of the SWT will be. Can anyone provide a link?

I would be all for this. E-North has certainly improved with the center turn lane. Didn't know about the DOT. That is unfortunate for local businesses along that stretch.

Agreed. Augusta Road is bad now. Wait until they add a 50,000 ft. HT to the mix. Augusta Road needs to be widened with turn lanes added. Overall, traffic inside the box of Pleastanburg / 291 (North & East); Augusta (south); and, Academy (west) is becoming very congested, in my opinion. Neighborhoods inside this box are now high-speed short cuts for many motorists.

I guess I'm on "Team Plaza." Large town squares function almost as a public living room for people to meet up, rest, hangout, people watch. Public squares are where people converge to enjoy quieter, cleaner, and car free spaces in an urban area. I think they are assets that add to civic pride and also increase the foot traffic to restaurants and stores around the square. This design is much better than a block to block building, imho. Where do you take people when they come to visit Greenville? The park, the swamp rabbit trail, the baseball stadium, and the shopping / restaurants on Main Street. Where do you stop to rest, and see other people resting, when walking downtown? One of the squares we have. This square could end up being the best of them. I almost think we're lucky to have a private company designing such a large outdoor space. If Trammel Crowe is going to let a lot of dollars per sq. foot purchased go to public use then I predict the buildings surrounding the square will be Class-A office, apartments, and a top tier hotel. You don't often see much trendy architecture with these type of buildings. I bet the architecture will be classical and conservative. In short, I'm pretty excited about this project. But I'm starting to get uncomfortable with the amount of apartments being built downtown. I know we want downtown residents, but I just don't know what traffic congestion will be like with thousands of residents moving into the 29601 area code.

It appears the City of Greenville and local business leaders are stepping up and looking to find a way to get road, sidewalk, and bridge improvements. Bravo! This is why Greenville is often ahead of the rest of the state. http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2014/11/16/greenville-looks-state-lawmakers-road-fix/19090463/

Agree with all who say this is a bit disappointing for a key gateway site to our downtown from the West. More plantings in the flood zone. More stucco and brick. I understand if it can't be mixed use because of flood zone issues.

Bridge in Cleveland park is closed for the next several months. Greenville News: "Rotted wood pilings will keep the Cleveland Park bridge spanning over the Reedy River near Canine Corner closed indefinitely until engineers can determine how best to fix it. The Woodland Way Bridge was closed last week after state inspectors discovered rotted wood supports and a sagging bridge deck, Greenville City Engineer Dwayne Cooper said. The bridge likely won't be open for at least "a couple months," Cooper said. The bridge, which is about a half-century old, had been inspected over the summer, but the record flooding that wrought havoc across the city in early August accelerated the deterioration, Cooper said. Inspectors found the bridge deck is sagging about 6 inches without proper support, a significant amount in engineering terms, he said. The bridge is one of three the city maintains that use wood resembling telephone poles as support, Cooper said. The city is inspecting the other two bridges, he said, on Reedy View Drive and Old Sulphur Springs Road. The city is investigating how best to replace the support beams, whether it be with wood or steel, he said. The decision will be based in part on what condition the underwater portion of the wood supports bored into the riverbed are in. Detours have diverted traffic around the cut-through connecting the McDaniel Avenue area with E. Washington Street. Pedestrians are still allowed to walk the bridge, Cooper said."

Never mind. Was able to find an answer to my previous question. The roads are all county maintained.

Greenville County has spoken. No additional funds for road improvements. Disappointing in my opinion, but I understand the concerns voiced by the majority of voters. Can the city propose a sales tax for additional road funding in the next election, or is that something only the county can do? I would like my neighborhood area to have smooth roads, safe bridges, and sidewalks. And I don't see that coming from the State Legislature anytime soon.

http://www.greenvillesc.gov/PlanningZoning/PlanningApplications/Applications/2014/NOVEMBER/PlanningCommission/11-13-2014/Z-33-2014-ComprehensicePlan-FiveYearUpdate.pdf Updated Master Plan.

Great article by the Greenville News on this development today. They really did the research and presented all the recent historical issues between the developer and city. http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/business/2014/10/22/apartments-shops-planned-main-river/17729547/

The sign for the project that was by the river and metal grate bridge has been taken done.

I heard that there is a 14 condo development, with underground parking, being proposed at the old 8 o'clock at the corner of university ridge and cleveland street. anyone heard this? know how many stories it might be?