FUN THINGS
TO DO THIS FALL 

Where else can one enjoy dining outdoors on the cuisine of more than 40 restaurants while taking in live musical entertainment - all right in the heart of downtown Greenville? Here you'll find something to tempt your tastebuds while satisfying your appetite for a good time, too!

The event runs October 8-10 on downtown Main Street. 

For complete information on the event, click here.

Originally scheduled for the weekend of September 17 & 18, Art in the Park has been rescheduled for October 22 & 23. The event will take place in the new Falls Park with exhibits and activities flowing onto South Main Street. 

The centerpiece of this visual arts event is a gallery-styled exhibition of original works by local and regional artists. Art enthusiasts can also browse through the rows of artists’ booths offering a variety of work for sale. Seminars of interest to artists and art lovers are scheduled throughout the two-day festival.

EXTENDED THROUGH OCTOBER

The Saturday Market
East Court Street, Saturdays, 8:00 am – 12:00 noon, has extended its season through October, excluding Fall for Greenville weekend. Select from the finest in fall produce and flowers locally grown and delivered to the market each week. While shopping you can grab a bite to eat from participating food vendors and learn new cooking and gardening tips presented by area experts. Call Greenville Events for more details at 467-5780.

A Warm Welcome to New Downtown Businesses  

Block Gallery - 633 S. Main St.

Custom Designs by Tammy - 105 N. Spring St.

Enchantment - 421 S. Main St.

Invitations on Main - 209 N. Main St.

Island Blend Jerk & BBQ Grill - 28 S. Main St.

Next Step Dance Company - 928 S. Main St.

Overlook Grill - 601 S. Main St.

Pink Azalea - 17 S. Main St.

Pixies Expressions - 207 N. Main St.

Quiznos Subs - 21 S. Main St.

Soundhole Guitars - 709 N. Main St.

Sticky Fingers - 1 S. Main St.

Windows by Design - 8 E. Stone Ave.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE WEEKEND PARKING

Enjoy downtown parking - with free weekend parking, Friday night through Sunday evening, including Fall for Greenville weekend, at the Richardson Street Garage and GTA Parking Deck on Washington Street. 

For more information on parking in downtown Greenville, click here. 

FALLS PARK & BRIDGE NOW OPEN
FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

On September 10, enthusiastic crowds gathered at Falls Park to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated park and the landmark pedestrian bridge. City officials and those instrumental in the park and bridge design and construction addressed the crowds. And as soon as City Council cut the ceremonial ribbon across the bridge entrance, hundreds of park supporters took a walk across the beautiful expanse.

Above, Andrea Main of Washington D.C., landscape architect for the park, addresses the crowd at the opening festivities.

Since the opening, thousands of visitors have come to the park and enjoyed the breathtaking views from the bridge and the beautiful gardens below. Tours of the park - for children or adults - can be scheduled. Individuals and groups can also book areas of the park for private parties and events by calling 467-4355. 

The opening ceremony and inaugural bridge walk can be viewed at 9 a.m., noon, and 9 p.m. on GTV - Channel 15 on Charter Cable in the City of Greenville.

To learn more on Falls Park, visit the website at www.fallspark.com.

MORE TO ENJOY DOWNTOWN

It's officially the arts season!  And with four local theater groups, the Peace Center, the Greenville Symphony, the Greenville Art Museum and Bi-Lo Center all located in downtown Greenville, there's plenty of performances and shows to choose from. For a complete listing of upcoming arts events, visit the Metropolitan Arts Council  website at www.greenvillearts.com.

 AN ICE SKATING RINK DOWNTOWN ?

A local businessman has approached City Council with a partnership deal that will bring ice skating to downtown this winter. He has asked that the City allow him to build a temporary rink on part of the greenspace at Piazza Bergamo in front of the Bank of America building. The proposal calls for no financial contribution from the city and no tax dollars to be spent. Council will be making a decision whether to accept the proposal within the coming weeks.

If approved, details on the hours and rental fees to come. 

TAKE THE TROLLEY SURVEY 

Is there a trolley system in downtown Greenville's future? Can all the wonderful, diverse cultural, recreational, shopping and dining activities available downtown be better connected? Would those who visit, live and work downtown prefer to experience the full extent of the area without having to return to their car?

Let us know your thoughts: Take the online survey. Go to www.greenvilletrolley.com.

EXTRA! EXTRA!
READ ALL ABOUT IT! 

The hodge-podge of plastic publication racks dotted throughout downtown are gone. They've been replaced with new, attractive, consolidated racks that complement the downtown streetscape's benches and bicycle racks. The new publication racks can be found at seven convenient downtown locations.

This attention to detail is another example of why Greenville has an award-winning downtown.

THE WEST END - IT'S WORTH THE STROLL!

On September 14, West End merchants held a press conference to announce the creation of a new marketing campaign featuring the logo and tagline, “Old Charm. New Style.” To kick-off the new campaign, the merchants, all wearing caps bearing the logo, unveiled a large banner to be hung in the West End. 

According to Kudzu proprietor Allison Spinks, the campaign is intended to entice visitors to stroll into this unique district and patronize its array of restaurants, retail and interior design shops, coffee-houses, art galleries and spa.

We are extremely excited about all that is happening in the West End Historic District, especially the opening of the Falls Park,” she said. “With the park being in our own back yard, the West End will be a destination for many families and visitors and it only makes sense to ensure people know what this historic area has to offer. We feel this ongoing marketing campaign will do just that."

Downtown Development:
New Residential and Commercial Underway 

Poinsett Corners Located on the site of a former city parking lot, Poinsett Corners is an excellent example of a creative mixed-use project that includes 81residential units, 17,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and a city-owned parking garage with almost 300 spaces. This project, with a total investment of $15 million, is transforming a parking lot into an architecturally distinctive building with homes ranging from 550 to 2,000 sq. ft. and selling from $100,000 to $380,000. The developer,  Windsor/Aughtry Company, was selected by the City through a competitive process based on their vision for the site and their ability to create a quality mixed-use project completely surrounding a parking garage. For more information, visit: www.poinsettcorners.com.  

The "Bookends"  Thirty new residences and 6,200 sq. ft. of commercial space will soon front East McBee Avenue and later, East Washington Street, creating “bookends” for the City’s new Spring Street Garage. This project was initiated in response to City Council’s desire to minimize the impact of parking garages and ensure activity on pedestrian-oriented streets. Phase One, now under construction on McBee Avenue, is an 8-story, $7 million multi-use project, which has been registered as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) project and will meet rigorous “green building” criteria set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Although constructed as one building, the façade incorporates various architectural features, giving it the appearance of several different buildings. Residential units in this project range from $125,000 to $500,000. For more information, contact Charlie Whitmire at 242-5151 or visit www.bookends.us.

The Lofts @ Mills Mill: The renovation of the vacant Mills Mill, built in 1897, into 104 new loft style condominiums provides a significant new entrance into downtown. This stunning renovation and restoration project demonstrates the strength of the inner city housing market. Units in this project range from 800 to 2,300 sq. ft. and are selling from $115,000 to $400,000.  Construction has also begun on a companion 13,000 sq. ft. retail and office center on Mills Avenue and Lynn Street The facility will be built using brick from a demolished mill to complement the historic mill. These two projects represent an investment of more than $25 million by Mills Mill Associates, LLC. For more information visit www.millsmill.com.

The Richland @ Cleveland Park:      Close to downtown on East Washington Street, Park Properties is developing The Richland @ Cleveland Park. Now under construction along Richland Creek, the Richland will bring New York style penthouses to Greenville. The 24 units on 4 floors will be 1-2 bedroom penthouse condominiums ranging in size from 1200 to 2700 square feet and ranging in price from $200,000 to $500,000. The development will have all the luxuries and convenience of living in a downtown area, but will offer a city view with trees and a park.  

RiverPlace: The long awaited RiverPlace project is under construction after 15 years in the making. This project is located across the Reedy River from the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and will encompass 45 residential units, a new 100-room hotel, an 87,000 sq. ft. office building, artist studio spaces and 15,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. A subsurface parking facility is being constructed in the initial phase of the project. Three development groups are working together on RiverPlace: Hughes Real Estate, Inc., Allora LLC, and the Windsor/Aughtry Company. This private development will be a backdrop to a Riverwalk promenade connecting Falls Park and Linky Stone Park. A public plaza and pedestrian promenade descending from Camperdown Way and South Main Street will lead to the Riverwalk area with a four level water feature as the focal point of the public space.

The Park Downtown: Continuing the combination of park setting with new residences, Pierce Homes of Carolina plans a 35 unit residential development adjacent to McPherson Park on East Park Avenue. Sold at auction in March, these residences proved to be some of the most affordably priced homes offered to date. In addition, this development will be a model for stormwater management with water retained on site in a water garden with natural wetland vegetation. This is both a beautiful and environmentally friendly approach to stormwater management. The developer will then donate the water garden and surrounding area to the City to become an extension of McPherson Park. Private Investment in this project will be almost $5 million.  

For more information on downtown development and other economic development opportunities, call 467-4401 or email cityinfo@greatergreenville.com.