[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

5 minutes ago, gman said:

As for point #2. I live at the foot of Paris Mountain. I would rather have the view of the mountain than be on the mountain. It's like driving Highway 11 to get a view of the mountains and the leaves. It is much prettier looking at it from a distance than from being in or on it. 

Totally fair - but vicupstate's point #2 was about a place to take kids to see the mountains that was free - not about the quality of the view. You have a free view that's safe for kids at the lookout on Highway 11 - you don't need an $11 million tower just for that. 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

1 hour ago, vicupstate said:

1. It is built on a mound so to speak, not a hill.  The video clearly shows the view is far better than the third floor of the Hyatt, which shows literally nothing other than the third floor across the street. 

2. Your second point is ridiculous.  Two entirely different things. Visiting and exploring a city vs driving 45-60 minutes north to take a hike on a mountain trail.

3. They will not just give money to something else.  This is the first time I recall BMW doing anything like this other than their Golf event.  

1. Please google synonym for mound. You will find that the #1 answer is hill. Thank you for giving me that chuckle. My point is that a 3rd floor view from the Hyatt is not something people are going to drive from hours to see. And even if it's the fifth floor of the Hyatt from your "mound," it still isn't that impressive. Liberty Bridge, however, is that impressive. 

2.  Thank you for proving my point - you don't drive for hours to visit a city to take a view of the mountains when the mountains are less than 15 minutes away! (Again, you are exaggerating to attempt to prove your point because Paris Mountain State Park is a 15 minute drive from Unity Park)

3. Did BMW give money to Honor Tower? I must have missed that, because I saw that BMW gave money to the restoration of the Reedy, not a tower. In fact, I read that the money had not been raised yet for Honor Tower, which is no surprise to me, but perhaps some on here will donate. 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

3 minutes ago, gvegascple said:

You seem oddly over passionate about spending money on this park.   Money spent on the tower will be  more than just made back in tourism and tax revenue and nearby development.   The land the tower is being built on is being built up so its not the lowest spot in the city not that it matters, it is for views of the park, the skyline, and the mountains which it will do.   So if its not about money or the views, what is the real reason you don't want money spent on this park?

There is a massive difference in spending money in the park and spending money on a taj mahal to the mayor when the city cannot maintain its other assets. My personal belief is that Unity Park has been long needed and will be a great asset for the entire community. It's how the money is being spent that is the issue. 

[United Community Bank Corporate HQ project.]

This is going to be a great addition to downtown and really fill out the Church Street corridor. What ever happened with the conversations about lowering Church Street to grade and removing the bridge? 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

56 minutes ago, vicupstate said:

Considering their will be plaques and memorials including in this project,  the average tourist would understand why the name Honor was chosen.  

This isn't the point. Why can't you just admit that all of our new "attractions" sound the same and it's just a smidge funny - Peace, Liberty, Unity, Honor...next will be Valor and Dignity - too bad Charlotte already took Freedom 

1 hour ago, vicupstate said:

1. It won't be one of the lowest points in our city.  Fill will raise the base of the tower to something much closer to the city average.

2. The whole point is to give views to the mountains to anyone, not just   those that work in our taller buildings.  Who is going to go to a restaurant with kids in tow just to  see the view.  The tallest rooftop bar is 8 floors by my count anyway.

3.  You would not get $5.5 donated merely to fix swings and tennis courts in neighborhood parks. It would only be donated for something new, high profile/iconic that the whole city and visitors would want to go to.   

1. So now we're going to walk up a hill of fill to get to the base of the Honor Tower? That part of Unity Park is 918ft above sea-level according to GIS. Main Street in front of the Hyatt is 988ft above sea level. If each of the 10-stories is 10-feet tall, that will make the top of Honor Tower 1,018 feet above sea level - or on the 3rd floor of the Hyatt Office Building...

2. Now it's about giving a "free" view of the mountains? Or one that's easy with kids? Just take a drive to one of our beautiful state parks IN THE MOUNTAINS! Or stop at a lookout on the side of our many state highways. That is an absurd point

3. This is a fair point, but you must admit that people are going to give their money somewhere - so if this $5.5 million is being given here, it's $5.5 million less that could be given somewhere else... 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

52 minutes ago, clemsonfan said:

How about sprucing up the zoo? Some of the enclosures really need a makeover, like the lions and the orangutans.

Great idea. Another example of something that is old/run-down that the City has not truly invested in for years. This tower is a glory project for our Mayor and nothing else. 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

5 minutes ago, vicupstate said:

Liberty Bridge is called that because the LIBERTY CORPORATION donated their funds to name it. 

Honor Tower is because it is dedicated to fallen police/firemen/vets

Unity because it is finally building the park that was eliminated in 1939  that was the only black park in the city at the time. 

You are Assuming this tower will not be maintained but given its prominence and tourism  function, I do not believe that will happen.     

Yes - these are all facts that locals know, including the Peace Center being named after the Peace family. Tourists will not know that and find it cliché, especially because Honor/Unity were picked by the City, while Liberty and Peace were led by the private sector. 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

1 minute ago, NewlyUpstate said:

As far as what the Honor Tower could possibly bring - it turns the park into a tourist destination that is photographed and shown in magazines / news articles globally.  It's like asking what would Falls Park be if there was no Liberty Bridge.  The bridge and the falls is what makes that park, without BOTH of them, its just a very nice local park.  So, basically, the Honor Park makes Unity Park a tourist destination that attracts visitors who spend money at our bars, restaurants, and hotels. 

You really think a 10-story tower at one of the lowest points in the City is going to be comparable to Liberty Bridge? And will become the postcard for our city?! People will walk it once, realize the views are better at several rooftop bars in Greenville, and never return. Why would a tourist walk it? To see what?

Every dollar that goes into Honor Tower is a dollar that could have gone to something else - and that includes the private money. So while $5.5 million is restricted for tourist related items, the other $5.5 million is not. $11 million could help so many in so many ways, yet we're going to build a lookout tower in a hole, name it something cliché like we're on a military base or something, and then not maintain it like we do with our other public investments. Lose, lose, lose and a moment in time we're going to reflect upon in the years to come and be disappointed by the waste. 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

3 minutes ago, NewlyUpstate said:

Do you have any suggestions for other places to use tourist dollars for capital projects?  The return on investment on the Honor Tower would be substantial. 

What ROI will the tower possibly bring? What will happen around Unity Park because of Honor Tower that would not have happened otherwise? Please answer that

And just off the top of my head, other places the funds could go that would bring real ROI: any of our gateways, specifically the old Memorial Auditorium site - which Mayor Knox said would be developed immediately after demolition! It is private land, yes, but imagine if the city told the developer we have $5.5 million to create a public destination inside your project. Repairing public fountains throughout downtown, many of which have been broken for years, like the RiverPlace fountain/splashpad. Funding the Greenville Triumph stadium somewhere in the city, instead of letting it go to Mauldin. A handicap accessible playground (it's Unity Park, yet there is not a single playground in our city designed for the disabled!). That took 2 minutes - do you want more? 

[Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)]

$5.5 million public dollars for a tower down in a hole?! And the name is "Honor" Tower? Liberty, Unity and now Honor - how cliché are we trying to be? It is shocking that more people aren't upset about the amount of money going into this park, while other public spaces all over the city sit in disrepair. That "tower" will be another item that is not maintained and is ultimately shuttered. Imagine what real good could be done with $11 million dollars!