Unity Park (New 160 Acre West End Park)

[GvilleSC]

The shade structures look awesome! 
 

[gman430]

Meh…still not really impressed with this park so far. I thought there would be a lot more with $60 million being spent on it but I guess not. Honestly, I think the money should have gone to more important issues within the city instead like transit, affordable housing, sewer upgrades, litter control, paving roads, upgrading current parks, burying power lines, new landscaping, fixing street lights, etc. 

I also find it pretty hilarious the city can find all of this money for a new park but can’t find any for Greenlink and a pedestrian bridge over Verdae Blvd. Priorities. 

Edited October 15, 2021 by gman430

[GvilleSC]

1 hour ago, gman430 said:

Meh…still not really impressed with this park so far. I thought there would be a lot more with $60 million being spent on it but I guess not. Honestly, I think the money should have gone to more important issues within the city instead like transit, affordable housing, sewer upgrades, litter control, paving roads, upgrading current parks, burying power lines, new landscaping, fixing street lights, etc. 

I also find it pretty hilarious the city can find all of this money for a new park but can’t find any for Greenlink and a pedestrian bridge over Verdae Blvd. Priorities. 

 

You clearly have no memory of what this area was like before, and no vision for what it is going to be or the spin-off development that it is going to generate. Stop complaining. 

[gvegascple]

On 10/14/2021 at 7:55 AM, GvilleSC said:

The shade structures look awesome! 
 

No one will be calling them shade structures next July.    I love how these look (walked past them a few times already) and I love how little they obstruct any views  (in any direction, you can see across the "river" and through them and all around ) and seem to blend in so well with what is around them despite their modern appearance.  I mean that is quite a feat.   They should not be referred to as any kind of shelter (I asked the installers what they were and was told "picnic shelters")  in their current incantation, however. They wont shelter against sun or rain.   This is the south folks.  Maybe there will be more to these so there is more functionality added to their, again, really top notch, aesthetic. 

Edited October 15, 2021 by gvegascple

[distortedlogic]

5 hours ago, gvegascple said:

No one will be calling them shade structures next July.    I love how these look (walked past them a few times already) and I love how little they obstruct any views  (in any direction, you can see across the "river" and through them and all around ) and seem to blend in so well with what is around them despite their modern appearance.  I mean that is quite a feat.   They should not be referred to as any kind of shelter (I asked the installers what they were and was told "picnic shelters")  in their current incantation, however. They wont shelter against sun or rain.   This is the south folks.  Maybe there will be more to these so there is more functionality added to their, again, really top notch, aesthetic. 

Very interesting and I tend to agree. They may look cool but do they serve their purpose? I have been other places with "shelters" that have slots or holes and don't do a good job of sheltering. If they are not going to serve their purpose why spend money on them? If we are determined to spend the money, why not get ones that serve the purpose? It's kind of the same argument I have with the tower; why spend the money on an observation tower that isn't tall enough to observe anything?

[vicupstate]

The shade structure in One City Plaza is very effective, IMO. 

[gman430]

7 hours ago, gvegascple said:

No one will be calling them shade structures next July.    I love how these look (walked past them a few times already) and I love how little they obstruct any views  (in any direction, you can see across the "river" and through them and all around ) and seem to blend in so well with what is around them despite their modern appearance.  I mean that is quite a feat.   They should not be referred to as any kind of shelter (I asked the installers what they were and was told "picnic shelters")  in their current incantation, however. They wont shelter against sun or rain.   This is the south folks.  Maybe there will be more to these so there is more functionality added to their, again, really top notch, aesthetic. 

Look at the bright side. At least they didn’t tear down any of the big trees on site that can provide shade. Oh wait…

[cabelagent]

2 hours ago, distortedlogic said:

Very interesting and I tend to agree. They may look cool but do they serve their purpose? I have been other places with "shelters" that have slots or holes and don't do a good job of sheltering. If they are not going to serve their purpose why spend money on them? If we are determined to spend the money, why not get ones that serve the purpose? It's kind of the same argument I have with the tower; why spend the money on an observation tower that isn't tall enough to observe anything?

They should rename this to Disunity Park…

[vicupstate]

16 hours ago, gman430 said:

Look at the bright side. At least they didn’t tear down any of the big trees on site that can provide shade. Oh wait…

Somewhere in this thread there is a video that explains why and what trees were removed. They were invasive/non-native or of similar nature to warranty their removal.  They are adding back other trees that are more appropriate as well.

[GvilleSC]

10 minutes ago, vicupstate said:

Somewhere in this thread there is a video that explains why and what trees were removed. They were invasive/non-native or of similar nature to warranty their removal.  They are adding back other trees that are more appropriate as well.

Yea -- they went about it very sensibly and with a lot of thought from people who know what they're doing.

Unity Park is probably one of the most impactful projects in the state of South Carolina of the last (and next) decade. UrbanPlanet needs to have a warning label to caution against the whiplash caused by changing opinions/attitudes in the Greenville forum. Greenville lacks high design and good aesthetic one day. The next: beautiful, contemporary canopy sculptures are a waste of money and insufficient to serve as full shade and protection against rain. 

[distortedlogic]

27 minutes ago, GvilleSC said:

Yea -- they went about it very sensibly and with a lot of thought from people who know what they're doing.

Unity Park is probably one of the most impactful projects in the state of South Carolina of the last (and next) decade. UrbanPlanet needs to have a warning label to caution against the whiplash caused by changing opinions/attitudes in the Greenville forum. Greenville lacks high design and good aesthetic one day. The next: beautiful, contemporary canopy sculptures are a waste of money and insufficient to serve as full shade and protection against rain. 

You forgot to mention that whole city center with creative architecture and classical elements being built on 385 that is nothing but a cheap disney looking waste!

[GvilleSC]

1 minute ago, distortedlogic said:

You forgot to mention that whole city center with creative architecture and classical elements being built on 385 that is nothing but a cheap disney looking waste!

There's a reason I don't chose to live in Mauldin.    

[gman430]

42 minutes ago, distortedlogic said:

You forgot to mention that whole city center with creative architecture and classical elements being built on 385 that is nothing but a cheap disney looking waste!

I’m gonna take a wait and see approach on Bridgeway Station. 

Edited October 16, 2021 by gman430

[gman430]

1 hour ago, vicupstate said:

Somewhere in this thread there is a video that explains why and what trees were removed. They were invasive/non-native or of similar nature to warranty their removal.  They are adding back other trees that are more appropriate as well.

Thanks. Too bad it’s gonna take 30 years for those trees to fully mature and provide adequate shade. It is what it is I guess. I still don’t how this park is costing $60 million either. I think the city got screwed over by Harper Corp. $10-$20 million is what I am seeing. Maybe I am missing something.

Edited October 16, 2021 by gman430

[GvilleSC]

6 minutes ago, gman430 said:

Thanks. Too bad it’s gonna take 30 years for those trees to fully mature and provide adequate shade. It is what it is I guess. I still don’t how this park is costing $60 million either. I think the city got screwed over by Harper Corp. $10-$20 million is what I am seeing. Maybe I am missing something.

Price of land. Construction. Utilities (especially the under grounding). Demolition. Visitor Center. Widening the river. Bridges. New plantings. Soft costs— designers, planning, etc. it all adds up quickly. 

[Tigers81]

Not sure this has a home, but the Delano has impressed DRB prior to their meeting on the 21st.

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/business/first-major-development-attached-to-greenvilles-unity-park-on-track-with-design-blessing/article_08361b08-2df1-11ec-8129-bfff1e3bd5c8.html

[distortedlogic]

2 hours ago, Tigers81 said:

Not sure this has a home, but the Delano has impressed DRB prior to their meeting on the 21st.

https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/business/first-major-development-attached-to-greenvilles-unity-park-on-track-with-design-blessing/article_08361b08-2df1-11ec-8129-bfff1e3bd5c8.html

Maybe the DRB just isn't use to seeing decent architectural bids come across; they're so used to the 4 story brick boxes!

[Horatio Nelson]

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/downtown/2021/10/22/greenville-sc-unity-park-pedestrian-bridge-opens/6136343001/

Sounds like the businesses on the other side of the river were able to convince them to open it early. Was supposed to open in the Spring.

[vicupstate]

On 10/14/2021 at 7:55 AM, GvilleSC said:

The shade structures look awesome! 
 

Unity Park picnic shelters

[gman430]

[Horatio Nelson]

Are there plans to bury those electrical lines?

[gman430]

4 minutes ago, Horatio Nelson said:

Are there plans to bury those electrical lines?

Yes: https://greenvillejournal.com/community/greenville-sc-city-council-notes-webb-road-annexation-unity-park-power-line-burial-approved/

[bikeoid]

Auro bridge to be constructed over the next 4 days by the workers suspended from cables.  https://www.facebook.com/cityofgreenvillesc/videos/616071882924031/

[GvilleSC]

They've installed clear, hard plastic covers over the wooden shade structures. This should put some of the concerns over shade and precipitation to rest. I think these will yellow over time, but hopefully they've already got plans for maintenance and replacement over time. 

[GVLer]

I walked the SRT along Unity Park today for the first time in quite a while. The park is larger than it seemed previously. Burying the power lines will help. I’m not sure why the trees along the river on the Southernside Brewery bank were not removed? And does anyone know of the riverbanks between the park and downtown will be similarly restored?