interestedexpat

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I've been trying for what seems like forever to get someone to snap a few photos of this since I haven't been in the upstate since August. Can't wait to see them in person... next August. Maybe they'll be almost finished then.

Coop's Fitness is coming to Anderson. They are building a $600,000 facility on Brown Road.

Bank putting offices in Downtown Anderson. Announced in today's AIM. Sorry I can't give you the link. Internet in Thailand has been miserable since the Taiwan earthquake. They keep calling the bank office a "branch" office in the article, but it's a prime piece of property they bought. I hope it's more than a one floor stop and shop. Three or four floors (even if the building itself is small) would really be awesome for that corner (Greenville and Main).

Anderson does serve as a major shopping center for NE Georgia. Commerce is definitely competition. When in Anderson on weekends and evenings you see a lot of Georgia cars. They don't shop for groceries, but they do come for restaurants, the mall, etc.... I think this development will get a lot of NE Georgia shoppers as it will be more convenient. My big concern is as Anderson continues to move the retail center toward 85, what will happen to the shopping centers further in town? Many of them are reasonably new. I forsee businesses picking up and moving to 85 for the better location leaving the existing shopping infrastructure empty. We've seen that on 28 bypass at Lakeside in particular. It's not a pretty site. Kind of the definition of sprawl. If Anderson doesn't get a grip on this kind of stuff in the near future it will really be victimized... I guess that's an old story.

A little more about the 50 million dollar, 1000 job development at Clemson Blvd and 85. I-85 Retail Development Poised for Success Anderson Independent December 27, 2006 BTW - the Anderson Independent website is much improved and you don't need to register to view articles anymore.

That's a good point and you sound like you have knowledge of this project beyond what's been in the papers. I wonder if the Anderson County Council was hearing arguments specific to this project regarding the abolition of the blue laws that didn't come up in the public conversations. That would explain the timing and would be the ultimate incentive package! Of course the other explanation for the timing is the annual Christmas suspension of the laws. Either way, nice Christmas present for the residents of Anderson.

I heard a rumor that the big project at 85 and Clemson blvd (possibly 1000 jobs!) will include one of those faux downtowns that have become so popular. I kindof hope that the rumor is false. Although that would mean there would be some urban style density which is a plus. It'll just be in a weird location.

Welcome to Urban Planet FISHHEAD. As you can see we don't have many people 'focused' on Anderson so if you can add to this discussion it will be wonderful. Thanks for the details about Watermarke. You can see the cranes from the double bridges? Wow. That is a long way! Feel free to share any info you can about other developments.

Thanks GvilleSC. Pictures speak a thousand words. I'm looking forward to them. Based on the site, I don't think this will be visible from 85. Right? But traveling down 76 from Anderson to Clemson, it should be very visible!

Are you sure this is the right company? I heard the group with eyes on Anderson was formed recently to do this project and that some of the key players were from Florence. So the 2004 copyright on your links page and them being based in NY is what is making me ask. Erm - why don't you take a few photos of the Watermark? Seeing how I live out of country right now, I can't very well do that.

You guys missed the big development news out of Anderson yesterday. Rosewood (??) Partners a limited liability company is pursuing a 50 million project that could bring 1000 jobs to the 85 / Clemson Blvd area! Not too much is known and it's definitely NOT a done deal. We know a couple of things. This is not the same proposal that faded last year due to inability to sign up major retailers. It is being talked about by their representative as a mixed us: retail, office and warehousing development with a major "lifestyle" center. (That last part sounds a bit like the old proposal.) If this one comes through ,it will be the biggest announcement out of Anderson since Walgreens. They are looking to finalize a deal by Feb. 2007. Also there is a rumored hitch in the blue laws thing. Cindy Wilson voted with the majority in the final vote. She'd been voting against giving up the blue laws up until then. She's a maverick (that's the nicest way I can think to say it) and rumor has it that she voted 'for' the motion so that she can bring the motion up for reconsideration in the new year with a new council. (There is a little known provision in Robert's Rules that in order to bring something up for reconsideration you have to have voted with the majority.) The thinking is that there might be new council members joining who would be against scraping the blue laws who might be willing to vote with her to re-instate. I really hope this isn't true. I have a bad feeling about the 2007 Anderson County Council. I hope I am wrong. I worry it's going to be bad enough to bring negative attention nationally. Ron Wilson (one of the newly elected members) has a national rep for his work with the John Birch Society. He's played national roles with southern heritage groups too! And many in those groups have accused him of being racist. When the southern heritage groups start calling you a racist, you must be pretty far out.

I'm a bit sentimental about this mall being torn down too. I was walking through G'ville Mall about 15 years ago when I found out that my girlfriend had been cheating! Good to see it go.

Couple of Development items in recent Anderson Independent Mail articles. There was an article yesterday about the New Economic Development Director and her thoughts on Anderson's development potential. She indicated she thought Anderson was underutilizing Lake Hartwell. And said she was really surprised at how much industry is looking at Anderson County. Read more here. An article today mentions that the City is planning to annex some commercial zones along Clemson Blvd, Liberty Hwy and Hwy 81/Greenville Street. Anderson (as all SC cities) could stand to do a lot of annexing. I'd like to see the city be more aggressive about this. Read about it here.

1. Pro baseball is coming to Anderson for 2007. Anderson Independent Article Anybody know the quality of play in these independent leagues? Is it like a high school game? College? Triple A? 2. Freedom Weekend Aloft is going to Simpsonville. The interesting thing is that Anderson's former Mayor Richard Shirley (who lost a pretty bitter election recently) caste the deciding vote to move it. I actually think it was a good decision to move it. But you can imagine how Shirley's vote is being viewed in Anderson. Bitter payback? City officials are talking about trying to put on their own event. They feel the reason FWA was not financially viable in Anderson was poor management. Apparently attendance had gone from 14,000 to 7,000 in four years. That does sound like a managment issue to me, but I'm not sure the solution is to put on your own festival. We'll see. Anderson politics is better than a soap opera. 3. I also saw an interesting idea (don't know how serious) for the Old Belks building in downtown. The idea was to make the area into an outdoor market with restaurants and street vendors. Build a parking deck where the old Belk's lot was and then also put retail and vendors underground where the old viaduct is. If this is a real vision, and if it is done right, this could be very, very cool.

The downtown design guidelines were passed earlier this week. For a link to the guidelines click here. I read through them and think they are quite good. There has been a lot of debate though. The question isn't so much are these good guidelines as it is about another layer of bureaucracy. The camp against the guidelines is saying that another layer of bureaucracy is enough to keep developers away. The camp in favor of the guidelines says that these guidelines will encourage developers because they can invest with confidence knowing that hubcap heaven won't be moving in next door. I'm curious what ya'll think. I've seen the G'ville thread with the frustration with the downtown district overseers. Is Anderson making a mistake or adding a crucial incentive to spur downtown growth?

I saw where a technology company based in Anderson is expanding with a 4 million investment and adding 35 employees. They are going to occupy the facilitek building in Alliance Park at Hwy 81 and I 85.

You can definitely see the crane from Clemson Blvd when you are near 85. This has to be the most low key (under the radar) highrise project in the area. Will this be the tallest building in Anderson? The Baptist Senior Home is about 8 floors, the Calhoun is about 8 floors and AmMed downtown is about 8 floors. Anyone know?

The field is fine and as far as I know it's in okay condition. Anderson University uses it for their baseball games. And I believe they have a contract to maintain it. The problems are (1) location, location, location. It's a few miles south of Downtown off of Shockley Ferry Road. This part of Anderson is run down. Has no major shopping. Is in general decline. And it suffers from a high crime reputation (I don't know if the reputation is warranted). I'd be willing to bet most people living in Anderson would have a hard time finding it without a map. I would and I lived there throughout my childhood back when the Braves had their triple A team in Anderson. I don't know anyone who ever went to a game. If it had been near a major shopping district, I'll bet I would have gone at least monthly and probably more often. I don't think that's where you want to try to make your baseball team float. (2) The bleachers are the old style concrete bleachers. No seats. Very uncomfortable. I'm glad Anderson continues to draw interest for pro baseball, but somebody's got to tell these guys that putting the team in an old stadium that most city (much less county) residents don't know about and wouldn't know how to get to is a death sentence.

Lots of good news for Anderson in the Independent Mail today. The guys doing the Chiquola Condos have signed on for another project on Main Street which will include street level retail with luxury condos on top. Read about it here. There is talk of still other projects by the same group. Sounds like they are taking things one step at a time. They've sold out the retail space for the Chiquola project and have sold most of the condos there. Very exciting. The Chiquola is scheduled to open in May 2007. This new project 300s South Main is scheduled to begin in February 2007. A Young Professionals Club is starting in Anderson. This will be key for networking purposes. Read about it here. Finally Professional Baseball looks like it's coming back to Anderson. The South Coast League wants to put a team in Anderson. The only downside (to me) is they are negotiating for use of the Memorial Stadium, which as far as I'm concerned will kill attendance and probably doom the thing to failure. Why they don't use the Rec Center fields or the Anderson Sports and Entertainment fields is beyond me. The article says they considered it, but want Memorial Stadium for more seats. Bad move. Spend a few thousand dollars to add temporary bleachers at one ofthe other two sites and survive and possibly thrive. Go to Memorial Stadium and be disappointed. That's my prediction. Read about it here.

Oops. the Chili Cookoff was last night (Tuesday). Reports were that thousands turned out. Many more people than expected. There is an okay photo gallery with a couple of really nice shots on the AIM website. Look at photos 7, 8, 9 and 11 to see some of downtown Anderson's charm last night. 11 has a photo with the Chiqoula in the background. It looks like great progress is being made. Also saw where Glen Raven Mills announced a 20 million expansion. Shuting down an Elberton GA operation to consolidate in Anderson. Jobs are jobs, but I feel better about new ones verses relocated ones from our neighbors.

What we'd really love would be to have you working on a midrise, mixed use development in DT Anderson. Can you arrange that?! Seriously, DT Anderson is making big strides, but it's really not in G'ville's or Spartanburg's league. At one time Anderson was actually the gem of the three cities. Those days are gone due largely to years of bad leadership. I think the new Mayor has potential to be the beginning of a new era. But county politics are still pretty sad. A lot of petty bickering that scares off anyone with any sense (IMO). I think the downtown Chili Cookoff is this weekend. Might be a good chance to check it out. I think 11 restaurants are participating.

Anderson had a really successful Greek Festival on Saturday. Estimates I heard were up near 5,000 people attended. It was at the downtown Farmer's Market and people complained that the venue was too small. It's funny. Andersonians seem to come out for some stuff and not for others. The key seems to be that you really have to hit the right button.

Maybe this is just my Anderson pessimism taking hold, but I don't see it staying in Anderson. From the Independent Mail interactive forum, I don't even get the impression that most folks want it to stay. Merchants say it has minimal impact. Apparently it doesn't attract many out of town guests (besides the actual balloonists) who would fill up hotel rooms and restaurants. I suspect this one will go to Simpsonville. I think that would be a shame for Anderson, but the County is too busy fighting over local politics for anyone really to notice this. Shame.

Freedom Weekend Aloft has been in Anderson for 8 years. It was in Greenville for 18 before that. Beyond that I don't know. Couple of interesting articles in today's Anderson Independent Mail. Nudists buying land in Belton. I'm not sure this has much to do with development. But you gotta admit it's interesting! Coca Cola bottling is moving out of Anderson. They have a distribution warehouse on the edge of the downtown district. They are consolidating in Simpsonville. 80 people are employed there. They've all been offered their jobs in Simpsonville. Most have accepted. And a little good news. Tri-County Tech's extention campus is on schedule. They intend to start offering continuing ed classes early in 2007 and by mid-year have some for credit classes going. The first building is 45,000 sq foot. They plan three more buildings on the campus and some athletic fields. Hopefully a better Tri-County Tech makes Anderson more attractive to employers.

To add to the point about students not really flying that much...most live within driving distance. All our local schools have a high percentage of students who live within a 2 hr drive. (I confess I don't really know about Bob Jones.) I actually like the proposal of just making the system free. That would substantially help the people currently being helped. It might promote ridership. "Free" might actually get me on the bus. And (as noted) the current fare collection is a drop in the bucket. Less than 1 million per year in revenue.