Greenville County, SC Development News [Archive] - Page 11

g-man430

February 13th, 2008, 06:02 AM

Greer construction soars to all-time high

Hometown News

Fueled by two new hospitals and a pair of municipal buildings, construction starts soared to an all time record of $139 million in Greer during 2007.

The banner year broke the previous record of $116 million set in 2006, and City Codes Administrator Phil Rhoads anticipates that 2008 will produce another solid performance.

“We obviously won’t see new hospitals and city buildings so I don’t anticipate another year like the one we have just experienced. But there are other projects in the works that should make 2008 a substantial year for the construction industry”, Rhoads believes.

The largest project is likely to be a huge retail development, anchored by a Bass Pro Shop, on Highway 14 South near the I-85 interchange. Rhoads said “there is a lot of conjecture about this project. I do know the developer is working to recruit tenants, but I have no idea what retailers are being considered.” :D :banana:

Restaurants will continue to multiply in 2008. A Copper River Grille will open by late February or early March on East Wade Hampton. Rhoads said a new McDonald’s is planned for the corner of West Wade Hampton and Suber Rd., and the long-awaited Casbah restaurant should open in downtown Greer.

Other commercial projects, which Rhoads says will carry the load, include an Arthur State Bank branch and a CVS pharmacy, both of South Buncombe Rd. “We also could see another automobile dealer locate on East Wade Hampton.”

Residential construction starts may be the downside of the outlook, as Rhoads expects the depressed housing market to continue.

“Single family home starts were down 25% during 2007, and I don’t see any change right away. For one thing, many people are now beginning to wait and see how the Presidential election turns out this fall. After that, it may pick up.”

At least two new subdivisions and a pair of town home developments are expected in 2008, however. Rhoads said that an upscale development, Gap Creek Farms, will be built across from Greer High School on Gap Creek Rd. “They are planning 25 lots using five top notch builders. This will be a really nice development”, Rhoads believes.

Infrastructure is nearly complete for O’Neal Village, a new 400-home subdivision on Highway 101 North.

Brushy Creek Town Homes is planned for Brushy Creek Rd and a similar project is set for Hammett Bridge Rd. at Dillard Dr.

To cope with growth, during the past year the Codes Department added Justin Glenn to oversee GIS activities, and Rhoads hopes to hire a plan reviewer in 2008. Rhoads, along with Fire Marshal Scott Keeley, treview all building plans, “and it takes most of my time. I reviewed 74 commercial plans and a great many more residential plans during the past year. It is really a heavy load, especially since our department took over the storm water engineering”, Rhoads said.

Housing starts capped 2007 with the December start of a blockbuster $10.1 million apartment complex. DIR Construction is general contractor for the Preserve at West View at the intersection of South Buncombe Rd. and Jones Ave. Plans call for 17 buildings on the site, including a clubhouse and office. Individual apartment buildings will range from 13,790 square feet to 25,725 square feet.

Another town home complex was begun in the Seven Oaks section of Blue Ridge Plantation. Meritus Signature Homes of Seneca is developing the complex, starting out with four units that range in size from 2,466 to 2,516 square feet and in construction cost from $110,650 to $133,250.

Only 10 permits were issued for new single family homes, continuing the trend of a somewhat depressed housing market that began in August which was the first month to dip to 10 housing starts since January 1998.

Half of the new homes were begun in December were in Chartwell Estates off Gibbs Shoals Rd. Tower Homes began construction of five models, ranging in size from 1,970 square feet to 2,685 square feet and in construction cost from $88,150 to $123,250.

Elsewhere, S.K. Builders began a 2,500 square foot home costing $111,250 at 340 Half Rock Circle in Riverdale, off East Wade Hampton Blvd.

Working in Lismore Park on Suber Rd., Keystone of Charlotte started a $166,425 home of 3,692 square feet at 18 Galway Dr. Lazarus-Shouse launched a $123,200 model with 2,714 square feet at 31 Hurshfield Dr. in Blue Ridge Plantation.

Working in the Spring Hill section of Bent Creek Plantation on Westmoreland Rd., Mountain Top Homes stared a pair of 3,370 square foot houses costing $147,125 apiece.

The largest commercial project in December was the start of an expansion of Advanced Composite Materials to serve as a new corporate headquarters with additional research and manufacturing space. Located at 114 South Buncombe Rd., the 31,400 square foot building will be erected by Cunningham-Waters Construction Co. The project is expect to cost $2.3 million.

Bradshaw Automotive launched a new Cadillac showroom and sales office on East Wade Hampton Blvd. The $2 million project of 14,800 square feet will be tackled by Penreath Construction Co. Rounding out commercial starts was the Greer Laundromat at 613 East Poinsett St. Peake Construction Co. is general contractor for the $71,000 building of 3,200 square feet being built for Dennis Cooper.

Other commercial projects included upfits of several buildings. The largest permits were awarded to Cely Construction Co. to complete the interiors of two 30,000 square foot medical office buildings on the Greer Memorial Hospital campus on South Buncombe Rd. These projects were pegged at $1.8 and $1.9 million, respectively.

Price Construction Co. will upfit an area of a medical office building at the Village at Pelham, 2755 Highway 14 South, for the Piedmont Women’s Center. Finishing the 3,000 square foot areas is expected to cost $315,000.

A $110,000 renovation will convert the second story of a building at 230 Trade Street St. into an apartment. Scott Stevens has engaged Palmetto Construction Co. to tackle the 2,500 square foot project.

Rhoads noted that “this will be the third tenant on a second floor in the historic downtown business area, following apartments above Justin’s Steak House an Bin 112. An increasing number of people are looking for residential space like this, so I think this trend will continue."

g-man430

February 13th, 2008, 06:35 AM

Proposed Greenlink (bus rapid transit) line: http://www.greatergreenville.com/city_services/GreenwaysMasterPlan/Chapter3_22-27.pdf

RestedTraveler

February 13th, 2008, 06:55 AM

Proposed Greenlink (bus rapid transit) line: http://www.greatergreenville.com/city_services/GreenwaysMasterPlan/Chapter3_22-27.pdf

It looks yellow and red to me. :tyty:

Greenville

February 13th, 2008, 07:09 AM

It looks yellow and red to me. :tyty:

Where's the rimshot icon? :lol:

Greenville

February 14th, 2008, 12:03 AM

Are you taking pictures today, g-man? I haven't seen any Greenville updates or complaints from you today. :)

apaladin

February 14th, 2008, 03:20 AM

Greenville

February 14th, 2008, 04:16 AM

I have often thought an Imax would be great for downtown. Maybe at Riverplace? G-Man, remember there was a proposal for a theatre downtown(underground) but the dreaded DPC said no, they would rather have an eyesore instead. Go figure. That picture of Madison is nice. How much of that picture is UW. Isn't UW one of the largest universities in the country?

I agree without about an IMAX downtown. It would be an excellent component to the Woolworth's redevelopment at Main and Washington Streets. It would also work well at Riverplace. I wonder if either of these developers have considered the idea?

At the very least, I think we need a movie theater downtown. Even if it's a small one with 4 screens, it would do great and help take our downtown to the next level. Something like that could be built in the West End on one of the vacant properties, and could even be designed to look retro. How cool would that be?

GvilleSC

February 14th, 2008, 04:47 AM

At the very least, I think we need a movie theater downtown. Even if it's a small one with 4 screens, it would do great and help take our downtown to the next level. Something like that could be built in the West End on one of the vacant properties, and could even be designed to look retro. How cool would that be?

I would love to see a retro looking theater in the West End. Something authentic with all the bells and whistles, of course. I'm not sure the West End could handle the traffic of a large theater, though. At least not with baseball and all. Maybe near the Riverplace parking garage, though...

If it were at the Woolworth site, I'd rather see a mostly glassy, modern facade.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 05:35 AM

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 05:46 AM

Let's just say the Pinnacle on Main has a better chance of starting tomorrow than Frontier announcing they'll be flying in and out of GSP.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 05:53 AM

So, we're not growing fast right? There's nothing to talk about right? Nothing's getting built right? Apparently the outsiders don't think so: http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/Augusta-ranked-5-south-t44621.html Come on guys. Quit acting like a bunch of zombies and discuss things.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 06:11 AM

Testing one, two, three. :cool: The man in black is back. The G-Man is a mysterious recurring character. Always seen in a business suit with a tie and usually clutching a briefcase in one hand he is known to display peculiar behavior and capabilities beyond that of a normal human and his identity and motives remain almost completely unexplained http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-Man_(Half-Life)

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/Rendering_t600.jpg

Anderson officials break ground on downtown parking deck

By Heidi Cenac-Anderson Independent Mail

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

ANDERSON — Roughly 25 people braved the dark clouds Tuesday to watch city officials break ground on a parking garage that will offer up to 250 spaces in downtown Anderson.

The approximately $8 million parking deck is being constructed at Whitner Street and Murray Avenue. Once complete, it will include 10,000 square feet of first-floor retail space, a covered walkway to The Chiquola and a pedestrian bridge over the railroad line to the Anderson County Farmer’s Market.

The sun came out Tuesday just as Mayor Terence Roberts started to make his remarks, causing him to joke that the break was a sign of a good project.

Mayor Roberts said any viable city has to be the site of a parking garage, whether it’s for use by shoppers or, as in Anderson’s case, those visiting the city on county business. The ceremony Tuesday was the result of the City Council’s decision 10 years ago to invest in downtown, he said.

The city will keep Whitner Street open as much as possible during construction, but the road will close at times for liability reasons. The parking deck should be complete by the end of the year, officials said.

Developer changes Tall Pines community plans

Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 2:00 am

By Angelia Davis
BUSINESS WRITER
adavis@greenvillenews.com

CLEVELAND -- The 1,700-acre former timber farm in northern Greenville County may have fewer home sites than initially proposed.

Owners of the Tall Pines farm are considering about 600 home sites for the property, located at U.S. 276/State 11 and Moody Bridge Road, half of the 1,200 in the original plans, according to Elaine Barnhill, spokeswoman for the project.

Myrtle Beach-based Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc., and The Silver Cos., based in Washington, D.C. and Boca Raton, Fla., under Tall Pines Investments, purchased the farm last year for $17.1 million.

The new development being planned for the property will mark both companies' first project in the Upstate. It's part of Burroughs & Chapin's expansion in the Southeast, said Pat Dowling, company spokesman.

Barnhill, of Brett Communications, said the Tall Pines project was initially planned as a traditional residential golf course community.

After Burroughs & Chapin did its research, the company decided "that's not what the area needed," Barnhill said.

"They didn't want to do just another golf course community. So, they scaled way back and have started planning something that they hope will fit in with more of the character of the area," she said.

"It's going to be much different than anything else that's up there right now."

The community will have a new name, which has not yet been confirmed, Barnhill said. She said the lot sizes would range from one and a half to four acres, with the average being two acres.

Area entrepreneur says 3 companies interested in firm's nanotechnology

Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 6:27 pm

By Rudolph Bell
STAFF WRITER
dmbell@greenvillenews.com

An Upstate entrepreneur says three big corporations are interested in incorporating his startup company’s nanotechnology into their products.

Michael Bolick, founder and chief executive of Selah Technologies, a seven-employee startup trying to strike it rich with nanotechnology developed at Clemson University, said he hopes to sign a joint research agreement with one of the corporations, a major lighting company, by the end of the month.

Bolick said he’s also negotiating a joint research agreement with a major cosmetics company, though so far he’s hit a roadblock on terms, and has inked an agreement to provide sample materials to a major healthcare company.

He declined to identify the corporations, but said they are all part of the "Fortune 500," referring to the business magazine’s ranking of the largest public companies in the United States.

"We should have some exciting news no later than March," Bolick said Wednesday.

Bolick, a former executive at the Irix Pharmaceuticals plant in southern Greenville County, founded Selah Technologies in 2006 by securing the rights to commercialize two technologies invented by Clemson chemistry professor Ya-Ping Sun.

He provided an update on his company Wednesday during a luncheon sponsored by the Greenville Anderson Spartanburg Technology Council at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Bolick used the occasion to announce the hiring of Warren Weeks as Selah Technologies’ vice president of product development.

Weeks previously investigated startup companies across South Carolina as technology director for SC Launch, an arm of the South Carolina Research Authority which provides seed capital to startups and which provided $200,000 to Selah Technologies.

"Having been around the state in the last couple of years, I’ve been exposed to many, many startups, and to me Selah is one of the most-exciting startups in the state," Weeks said.

Weeks has a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Clemson and a master’s degree in materials science and engineering from North Carolina State University. He’s also been a co-founder and executive with advanced materials startups in Raleigh and Northern Virginia.

Selah Technologies occupies about 1,000 square feet in a business "incubator" in Pendleton operated by the Clemson University Research Foundation. It plans to move eventually into a different a business incubator that Clemson plans to build at its Advanced Materials Center in Anderson County, Bolick said.

Clemson recently secured $5 million in state money to build the 28,000-square-foot Innovation Center in Anderson County along State 87 between the university’s main campus and Interstate 85.

One of the technologies Selah Technologies has licensed from Clemson is light-emitting nanoparticles called "carbon-based quantum dots." The other is called "carbon single-walled nanotubes." Both have a wide range of commercial applications, Bolick has said.

Selah Technologies will sell the nanotechnology in a form that resembles black carbon powder. The company eventually hopes to launch a manufacturing facility in the Upstate.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 06:16 AM

Click, click, BOOM!!!!

Are you LivN:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/006-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/007.jpg

West Georgia Road developments-
CVS:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/010.jpg

Georgia Road Commons:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/008.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/009.jpg

Griffin Park:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/011.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/013-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/014-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/015-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/016-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/012-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/018-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/017-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/019-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/020-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/021-1.jpg

RestedTraveler

February 14th, 2008, 06:20 AM

That picture of Madison is nice. How much of that picture is UW. Isn't UW one of the largest universities in the country?

Roughly everything you see toward the middle background of the frame, just before all that green takes over.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 06:22 AM

^^And that's pretty much the only reason they have a nice skyline. If it wasn't for UW, their skyline wouldn't be any better than Greenville's.

RestedTraveler

February 14th, 2008, 06:24 AM

EVERYTHING you see in the foreground 1/3 of the frame and what you don't see off to the left of the frame and off to the right of the frame is Madison proper. It's just that slice through the middle back of that shot that is UW-Madison and there ain't a whole lot of it that's very much above mid-rise.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 06:25 AM

^^A lot of that might not be part of UW, but it definitely has an impact on what is built there. :D :rant: Joe isn't a trader:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r263/peacockdude/Picture256-1.jpg

RestedTraveler

February 14th, 2008, 06:33 AM

^^A lot of that might not be part of UW, but it definitely has an impact on what is built there. :D

I highly doubt that. Take my alma mater, for instance - the University of Florida. It's something like the 2nd or 3rd largest university in the country with nearly 60,000 students. Downtown Gainesville has no skyline to speak of at all. Madison has long been near the top of the "best places to live" rankings and offers a quality of life that Gainesville sure doesn't, albeit much colder life. Most of the development there is more likely due to the fact that it's the state capital and seat of government than due to UW-M.

GvilleSC

February 14th, 2008, 06:42 AM

G-man, thanks for the pics, but what's the first picture of? It must be in the Golden Strip since that's where you took the rest, but I have no idea what it is...???

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 06:45 AM

^^http://www.livnnsidout.com/

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 06:48 AM

I highly doubt that. Take my alma mater, for instance - the University of Florida. It's something like the 2nd or 3rd largest university in the country with nearly 60,000 students. Downtown Gainesville has no skyline to speak of at all. Madison has long been near the top of the "best places to live" rankings and offers a quality of life that Gainesville sure doesn't, albeit much colder life. Most of the development there is more likely due to the fact that it's the state capital and seat of government than due to UW-M.

Good point. I never really thought about it being the state capital had a lot to do with it having a nice skyline.

GvilleSC

February 14th, 2008, 06:56 AM

Good point. I never really thought about it being the state capital had a lot to do with it having a nice skyline.

Does this apply to Columbia? :| State capital and large university???

RestedTraveler

February 14th, 2008, 07:18 AM

Does this apply to Columbia? :| State capital and large university???

Seats of government do tend to attract many things - businesses, residents, students, lobbyists, pooper scoopers...

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 07:22 AM

^^They have pooper scoopers here too. :lol:

RestedTraveler

February 14th, 2008, 07:24 AM

^^They have pooper scoopers here too. :lol:

Those are cigarette scoopers, aren't they?

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 07:31 AM

^^They can be used either way. They have the bags too. :D

Raleigh-NC

February 14th, 2008, 04:41 PM

G-man... The living camera :lol: Thanks for the update photos :okay:

Greenville

February 14th, 2008, 04:50 PM

^^Nah. The West End already has enough sh*t. Put it at Woolworth site instead. I'm pretty sure downtown won't be getting a movie theater for a long time though. Not enough people go downtown to support one.

I think you're off base on this one, g-man. People most certainly will support a downtown theater, especially on the weekends. Would a 10-12 screen theater work there and be supported? Of course not. But a smaller 4-screen theater that was new with cool amenities and really popular new releases would do great downtown. And developers are surely aware of that.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 05:41 PM

Greenville

February 14th, 2008, 07:55 PM

^^If the developers are aware of this then why haven't they built one? I've talked about this to many of the developers who are putting developments downtown including Windsor/Aughtry and TIC. They think downtown can't support one along with an IMAX.

They have actually said "I don't think downtown Greenville can support a small movie theater or an IMAX?" I find that hard to believe, but if so then I would love to know what they base their opinion on.

distortedlogic1

February 14th, 2008, 11:15 PM

Absolutely DT can support a theater 4-6 screens with an IMAX. Keep in mind that such a development (especially with an IMAX) would be a destination, thereby bringing more people DT. I think it is sort of like asking in 2002, "Can DT support a Liberty Bridge based Falls Park?" At the time, few would have imagined the actual numbers of people it would draw, but look back now and see the market was (is) unqestionably there.

g-man430

February 14th, 2008, 11:27 PM

They have actually said "I don't think downtown Greenville can support a small movie theater or an IMAX?" I find that hard to believe, but if so then I would love to know what they base their opinion on.

That is correct. They base their opinion on how many people come downtown. I know it seems like a lot but look at other cities Greenville's size like Charleston. Their downtown doesn't have a movie theater to my knowledge and look at all of the tourists they get. If their downtown can't support an IMAX then there's no way downtown Greenville could. Here is an email I got from Windsor/Aughtry several months ago regarding putting a movie theater/IMAX downtown:

Thanks for sending me that link I had never visited urban planet before. Apparently I should be keeping up with that better. I saw the comments about the building from Jacksonville, and really felt like while that is a pretty building it would be out of place in Greenville, SC. The role of a developer is very difficult, because you have to balance interesting designs, with actual demand, and get it to stay within a realistic budget. Failing to do so, can easily bankrupt any developer. As far as having an IMAX downtown, I would live to see one. The problem here is that IMAX is a very special niche, and “we” as a developer are not willing to speculate on the old adage of “if you build it, they will come”. If you have someone interested in being the operating partner/owner, than we would be happy to meet with them and see about incorporating something into the project for them.

Charles S. Reyner, Jr., CCIM

Windsor/Aughtry Company, Inc.
PO Box 16449
Greenville, SC 29606
(864) 679-3628 Direct
(864) 370-0042 Fax

Raleigh-NC

February 15th, 2008, 12:21 AM

If I recall, the IMAX in DT Raleigh had troubles making it, I think. Our downtown area has a population of 5000+ people, but from my own experience it is mostly suburbanites who support the facilities, but I may be wrong on this. The idea of a movie theater was also considered, but developers are having troubles recruiting someone to open and operate such destination. Sorry for bringing Raleigh into the discussion, but I want to share with you our own experiences with recruiting and maintaining such a destination.

Another example, which may seem to be irrelevant in this conversation, shows how one area's "failures" can lose momentum for other locations. There was a Harris Teeter Express facility considered for DT Raleigh, but Harris Teeter pulled out because their uptown Charlotte location has been having great troubles - based on Harris Teeter's claims. If Uptown Charlotte, with at least 12,000 people living there, cannot [properly] support a Harris Teeter, how could the HQ of the latter would consider a smaller city's downtown? Tough, I am afraid, but I can understand their perspective. Can't blame them for not wanting to lose money...

The above may not apply to Greenville, but I think that IMAX operators look at other cities and hesitate to open a location in your downtown. Encouraging numbers from other areas may speed things up for y'all, but not any time soon, I am afraid. More success stories are desperately needed.

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 12:24 AM

^^The funny thing is we have a Publix downtown. Pretty much the same thing as Harris Teeter. Other than that, the penguin said it well. :D

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 02:10 AM

Drove down Laurens Road earlier today where gsupstate said he saw all of those stakes/flags in the ground at Millennium Campus. There is a financing by Palmetto Bank sign on site now. Hmmm.

Like I said, the POM has a better chance of starting then seeing gspairport get a low cost carrier. Frontier did not choose us: http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2008/02/11/daily20.html

apaladin

February 15th, 2008, 03:36 AM

G-Man, I don't see anything in the email from W-A to indicate they don't think a theatre would work downtown. I drove by the POM site today as I do often hoping to someday see something but again was disappointed. After I went by I got to thinking that the sign was gone. Is it still there? Maybe I've seen it so often I just ignored it, LOL.

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 03:44 AM

^^Are you sure? He said IMAX several times. Yes, the POM sign is still there. The project will not start until next week at the earliest, so you can quit driving by it until then. I'd rather see MPTC and the Point get built then the Pinnacle. However, I would like to see the gateway proposal get built more than anything else.

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 05:05 AM

Hearing a rumor that Tumi is looking at putting a store at Magnolia Park Town Center. It will most likely go in the "1,500 square foot accessories" space next to the "4,000 square foot electronics" store that is listed on the site plan: http://www.menindevelopment.com/magnolia2.html I never even noticed the health club that will be part of the development located to the right of "Restaurant A" until now. :)

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 05:31 AM

Better than it was for all the nitpickers out there: http://www.greenvilledrive.com/ ;) Working again for the Drive this season. :)

GvilleSC

February 15th, 2008, 07:56 AM

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 07:58 AM

^^Don't look at me. :D It's on the wrong side of the road to be St. Francis. There was also one of those signs up from Covington/Tutman saying what it will be but I didn't read it. I will next time I drive by the site.

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 08:20 AM

Kohl’s development back on Anderson County Council agenda

By Charmaine Smith Miles-Anderson Independent Mail

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Site plan: http://web.independentmail.com/Web/2007/realty-links-marketing-packet.pdf

ANDERSON COUNTY — A $28 million Kohl’s shopping center will come up at Tuesday’s Anderson County Council meeting, but it is still unclear if there are enough votes on the council to allow the project to move forward.

A month ago, County Council members voted unanimously to table a resolution to provide incentives for the project.

The incentive package would give the projects’ developers a 20 percent, 10-year tax credit. The Anderson City Council has already approved a 50 percent reduction in water and sewer rates for the development.

At least one county council member doesn’t agree with giving incentives to the retail development. And others say it is unfair to give the development a break on water rates while some county residents are paying double for water service.

Kohl’s signed a contract a week ago agreeing to locate in the shopping center on Clemson Boulevard, said Neil Wilson, part-owner of RealtyLink, the developer for the project.

According to the developers’ marketing plans, the shopping center would also include a sporting goods store (Dick's) and an office supply store (Staples). Two out parcels on the site may be used for a fast food chain (Hardees) and a national coffee chain (Starbucks). The entire project is expected to create 450 jobs.

“It is a great project for the city and the county. In today’s economic environment, it creates the opportunity for jobs,” Mr. Wilson said. “And we are optimistic that the council would be in favor. The council’s approval is a big factor in the project being successful.”

County Council member Ron Wilson said he is supportive of the project. But he still doesn’t agree with the way the city sets it water rates.

“I don’t much want to hold economic progress hostage to the water problem,” Mr. Wilson said. “I am probably going to vote for it. But I really don’t like the city’s narrow-minded view of this. They ought to stop sticking it to county residents that use city water.”

County Council Chairman Michael G. Thomson said he doesn’t agree with the City Council’s decision to give the developers a discount on water and sewer rates. He said the city promised not to go up on residents’ water rates, and he plans to hold the city to that.

“All I am doing is asking the city to keep its word,” Mr. Thompson said. “The ordinance for the incentive package will be put before the council as a whole. If it passes, it will pass without my vote. I will be voting no.”

County Council member Cindy Wilson said she doesn’t support the incentive package for the development. But her reasons have nothing to do with water.

“I welcome Kohl’s with open arms,” Ms. Wilson said. “But if we are going to give incentives to Kohl’s, then we need to come up with some measure to compensate the other stores. Some of them have come in recent years, and they didn’t get this largess.”

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 08:03 PM

Cascades at Verdae webcam:
http://s11235.gridserver.com/community/construction.html

Municipal Stadium plan fails
Buyers couldn’t line up financing

Published: Friday, February 15, 2008 - 11:34 am

By Ben Szobody
STAFF WRITER
bszobody@greenvillenews.com

An ambitious plan for six baseball diamonds at the city’s Municipal Stadium site on Mauldin Road fell through because buyers couldn’t line up the financing and acquire a slice of property they wanted for the complex, City Manager Jim Bourey said.

Greg Cassidy and two baseball coaches had offered to buy the 42-acre site of the city’s old minor league stadium for $2 million, where they envisioned an indoor training facility and five more fields where high schools could hold tournaments to showcase top talent for national scouts.

Bourey said the group "backed out" when it ran into problems getting another parcel it wanted from the adjacent Conestee Foundation, and that the city is now talking to other prospective buyers with varying ideas for the property.

The group’s financing problems came before the current nationwide credit crunch, he said.

GreenvilleOnline.com is trying to reach Cassidy.

Cassidy had said that major firms such as Striker Bat were interested in naming rights on the site.

Greenville mayor open to outside negotiator on buried power lines
Studies show burying power lines reduces outages

Published: Friday, February 15, 2008 - 12:48 pm

By Ben Szobody
STAFF WRITER
bszobody@greenvillenews.com

Mayor Knox White and some City Council members told GreenvilleOnline.com they’re open to using an outside negotiator to make sure city taxpayers get the best deal out of a plan to bury power lines currently being hammered out between city and Duke Energy officials.

The Greenville News reported this week that burial experts say it's crucial for the city to get an outside expert to negotiate the groundbreaking agreement because utilities can be loath to share information and resistant to change.

Ken Scarlett, a consultant with experience negotiating burials and a recent city task force member on the issue, said the agreement on the table may not address vital obstacles to widespread, affordable conversion.

City Manager Jim Bourey and an assistant are currently handling a new utility franchise agreement that would cost residents another $1 a month on their power bills to pay for a plan to gradually bury power lines in some of the areas hardest hit by a string of deadly ice storms.

White said today that he’s open to using an outsider with deep knowledge of the utility business, but has yet to talk to Bourey about it. He said the city has already consulted some outside experts during negotiations, though "whether there will be one person, I don’t know."

City Councilwoman Diane Smock said hiring a negotiator is something she wants to take a "good, hard look at," since converting overhead wires to underground lines is not a particular area of expertise for the city.

Councilwoman Amy Ryberg Doyle said she wanted to talk to colleagues about the idea.

Jerry Chapman, Duke's general manager of construction and maintenance, has said the company is "anxious" to begin burying Greenville lines in cooperation with the city.

Outages decline dramatically when lines are underground, although they don't entirely disappear, industry studies show. The most recent Upstate ice storm in December 2005 — the seventh major incident in 10 years — cost six lives and plunged more than half a million local residents into cold and darkness.

Following reports by The News, Duke agreed for the first time last year to put half a percent of its local revenues — about $364,000 a year — into a local fund to bury power lines, to be matched by the city. The specifics will be in the city’s new franchise agreement.

White said the city has used a negotiator on past franchise agreements, but that in this case Duke’s financial cooperation has been negotiated "at the top" with Ellen Ruff, CEO of Duke Energy Carolinas.

The biggest challenge now is to figure out the contsruction process, White said, though Scarlett and other experts have said the burial plan could cost city residents nothing if Duke first shored up an aging system of overhead wires that he said loses as much as twice the electric current of the industry average in some areas.

Chapman said the company typically doesn't look at line losses to justify system improvements, though that could change.

Among the vital parts of any agreement is a long-term goal to convert all power lines, unfettered city access to utility information and the utility's commitment to help citizens bury the service lines on their property, according to Scarlett and Nathan Bruner, underground program manager for San Diego.

Bourey has disagreed on setting an ultimate burial date, but said the city has received any information it asked for and is exploring how to bury service lines.

Bruner also said utilities are not allowed to install new overhead wires in San Diego except under extraordinary circumstances and that an agreement should specify that buried lines go in the public right of way instead of through private property.

Bourey has declined to comment on freezing overhead utility infrastructure and said city rights of way are too cramped in some cases.

White said today he agreed that lines should go in the right of way "when feasible" and that the city has talked about limiting the new poles Duke can erect.

Overall, White said he’s satisfied that the vital specifics of a burial plan will be included in the new franchise agreement but that "there’s a hesitancy on the manager’s part to negotiate in the newspaper."

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 10:47 PM

The sign on the Millennium Campus spot everybody is talking about says 1-10 acre site available; Hotel, restaurant and bank; and build to suit.

gsupstate

February 15th, 2008, 11:39 PM

The sign on the Millennium Campus spot everybody is talking about says 1-10 acre site available; Hotel, restaurant and bank; and build to suit.

That sign has been there for quite awhile. The flags, stakes, markers, etc are all new as was the guy in his truck on site this past week. So the question remains, what is going on with the site?

g-man430

February 15th, 2008, 11:42 PM

^^I'm guessing a hotel, restaurant, and bank. ;)

erm1981

February 16th, 2008, 12:04 AM

Well if they have it staked out then they must already have some kind of building plan drawn up.

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 12:06 AM

^^There's also a "financed by Palmetto Bank" sign on site. There wouldn't be that unless something is about to be built.

Greenville

February 16th, 2008, 01:25 AM

That is correct. They base their opinion on how many people come downtown. I know it seems like a lot but look at other cities Greenville's size like Charleston. Their downtown doesn't have a movie theater to my knowledge and look at all of the tourists they get. If their downtown can't support an IMAX then there's no way downtown Greenville could.

There is not a movie theater in downtown Charleston, but that has little to do with downtown Greenville supporting one. Their IMAX recently closed, but it was in a bad location near the SC Aquarium several blocks off the beaten path where tourists walk around. You pretty much had to drive to the Aquarium or IMAX. That is a totally different story than putting one in the heart of downtown Greenville where people are out walking around. Apples and oranges.

If I had to choose, I would probably prefer a regular movie theater downtown than an IMAX. But either would be great.

Greenville

February 16th, 2008, 01:29 AM

With regard to the municipal stadium site, I hope someone can do something there. Someone tell McChesney to look into it. :lol:

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 03:33 AM

^^I actually did earlier today. :D I also told them about Verdae and Millennium Campus as good places to put their development. The problem with the municipal stadium site for McChesney though is its off the beaten path and kind of in a rural/low-income area.

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 04:25 AM

:dj: Are you ready? Countdown: 7 days!!!! :dance:

Green about the gills
Bassmasters Classic expected to reel in millions

Francis B. Allgood, Managing Editor-GSA Business

The stage is set for the biggest weekend in bass fishing, and with it come thousands of fans – and their wallets.

“This event truly has the opportunity to be if not the largest, the second largest economic revenue dump into the state, which is tremendous,” says Doug McGrath, a Greenville businessman helping to manage the tournament.

The 2008 Bassmaster Classic will take place Feb. 22-24 on Lake Hartwell, accompanied by the ESPN Outdoors Classic Expo at the Carolina First Center in Greenville. The economic impact on the Upstate is expected to be unprecedented.

Last year, the tournament brought $19 million in spending to Birmingham, Ala. In 2006, the economic impact for Orlando was $23 million.

The current No. 1 revenue-generating event in South Carolina is the Verizon Heritage, an April PGA Tour stop in Hilton Head.

With visitor spending in Anderson County totaling $125.5 million for all of 2006, 2008 is starting off fast.
“In a week’s time we are going to have 20 percent of our tourism spending come into this area,” says Glenn Brill, executive director of the Anderson Convention and Visitors Bureau.

According to McGrath, president of Southern Hospitality Group Event Management LLC, there are more than 250,000 active BASS members within a 500-mile radius of Greenville. Predominately college-educated men, their household incomes are more than $93,000.

“It’s almost like NASCAR,” he says. “They are very loyal.”

Eyes on Upstate

ESPN2 will devote 13.5 hours of programming to the event. Hundreds of media credentials have been granted. ESPN’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” will broadcast live from 6-10 a.m. on Feb. 22 as the Bassmaster Classic launches from Portman Marina.

“Bassmaster Magazine, Sports Illustrated and all these different magazines are going to talk about this community,” McGrath says.

Captured fish will be placed in livewells and trucked to the Bi-Lo Center for weigh-ins that typically draw more than 10,000 screaming fans. The fish will then be taken back to the lake. Anglers are penalized for dead fish and fish that don’t meet the minimum size requirements.

“They have to be flippin’,” McGrath says. “Can you imagine being the same fish getting caught every day?”

The ESPN Outdoors Classic Expo originally contracted for 141,000 square feet at the Carolina First Center, but has since expanded its footprint to 210,000.

The 2006 expo garnered $3.2 million in sales, including $600,000 in boats sold. Approximately 65,000 people are expected to attend the show at the Carolina First Center.

Grady’s Great Outdoors in Anderson will be the largest independent retailer to exhibit at the expo.

“When they announced this worldwide in May or June (2007), my cell phone started ringing a quarter after 8 (a.m.),” says Don Artman, fishing/cutlery department head for Grady’s. “We’re excited about it.”

Quoted in an article on ESPN’s Web site, Artman got more calls.

“I had callers from Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio and Pennsylvania,” he says. “I spent most of my day on the phone.”

‘Good water’

The normal level for Lake Hartwell is 660 feet above sea level. At press time, the lake was at 648.23. Bassmaster Classic spokesman Doug Grassian says there’s no concern over the low waters.

Bill Brissey says he hopes the event will generate interest in lakeside property. Due to the drought, properties that are selling are on land where there’s “good water.”

“The problem is the shortage of good stuff that has really good water,” says the real estate agent. “The things that won’t sell will be higher when the water comes back. So somebody looking for lake property, it is a good time to buy.”

Brissey says top-dollar land that was selling for $55,000 in the 1990s now goes for five times that amount.

“I saw a lot the other day I had 20 years ago for $26,000,” he says. “It recently sold for $340,000 to an agent who is going to resell it.”

Sleeping with the fishes

It’s difficult to identify how many fishing fans have reserved hotel rooms in the Upstate. About 12,000 rooms were reserved through ESPN’s Web site and its partner Orbitz.com.

According to Brill, ESPN alone reserved 150 rooms for seven nights in hotels at Exit 19 off Interstate 85 in Anderson.

“Every filled hotel room will be worth $120 to our local economy,” he says. “It’s not just the hotels that will benefit from this spending.”

Tina Anderson, assistant manager at La Quinta on Clemson Boulevard in Anderson, says several reservations have been made, but rooms remain available.

“I’d love to have some fishermen,” she says. “They’ve been very good for us in the past.”

The Hilton Greenville is sold out for the tournament, booked for 800 room nights. General Manager Bill Bennett says the economic impact generated by his hotel guests alone will be about $144,000.

Most Upstate hotels do well with business travelers mid-week, but weekend bookings during the winter months are sparse.

“When we get Thursday, Friday, Saturday and even Sunday during February, the value is much greater,” Bennett says.

McGrath says some hotel reservations may be crossing over into Spartanburg.

Jim Ryan of the Radisson Hotel & Suites in Spartanburg says the hotel is 80 percent occupied for the weekend.

A guitar show and a youth program account for some of the demand, but that’s not all. “With all the rooms taken at our cheaper rates tells me something in town is going on,” he says.

The bait

They call it the Super Bowl of bass fishing. To get to the Bassmaster Classic, one must be a top angler. This year’s competitors can leave Lake Hartwell without catching a fish and still make $10,000.

However, much like the NFL’s biggest game, the winner takes the glory. Win and you get $500,000. Come in second, you walk away with $45,000.

In many ways, BASS is like NASCAR, where sponsorship is a priority.

“The anglers pay $66,000 up front to have the opportunity to fish in these tournaments,” Artman says of the Elite Series, by which most of the anglers qualify for the Classic.

Artman says Casey Ashley of Donalds took a risk with the entry fee as a rookie, but managed to catch $232,000 in prize money.

Cashing in

Greenville is already seeking to get the tournament back in 2009. No host city has held the tournament two years in a row. However, the greater challenge is raising a $500,000 hosting fee and another $325,000 to help put on the event.

“The budget cycle doesn’t coincide with the announcement of things for 2009,” McGrath says.

The South Carolina Legislature will consider a $750,000 funding proposal for the event. Upstate counties and municipalities are also being asked to kick in financial support.

Should the tournament bring in at least $15 million, about $750,000 will be recouped through tax revenue, McGrath says.

“If we don’t get it for 2009, we’ll work for 2010, 2011 and/or 2012,” he adds.

According to Brill, Anderson will host a stop on the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series June 21. Several other tournaments are also being courted, including a collegiate bass tournament.

In addition to the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, the second annual Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship will be held Feb. 21-23 on nearby Lake Keowee. The top 12 professionals will compete for a first-place prize of $60,000.

The 2008 Junior Bassmaster World Championship that was slated to take place the same weekend as the Bassmaster Classic was moved to November in Junction City, Kan. BASS decided to align its youth initiatives with its grassroots organization, the Federation Nation.

apaladin

February 16th, 2008, 04:55 AM

It is still amazing to me that the dreaded DPC has so much power. Where did these people come from? Who gave them this power? Who are they? They now have nixed the new signage for the Bi-Lo Center or I should say "changed" the look. I really liked the red letters but they didn't so now they will be some dull color. Has anything ever been proposed to this group that they didn't turn down or change before approving. I'm beginning to really dislike this "committee". Don't know if this is true but I have heard the makeup of this group is made up of people who for the most part don't live in Greenville but the suburbs, Greer, TR, Simpsonville etc. Would such a group have Greenville's best interest in mind?

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 05:00 AM

^^I have to disagree. The red color changing to silver or bronze sounds nice to me. I agree with the DPC that the red seemed glary and tacky. The city gave them the power. They are business owners and residents who live in the city.

apaladin

February 16th, 2008, 05:52 AM

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 06:04 AM

^^Maybe if there's an opening. :dunno: :D

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 06:08 AM

Here you go apaladin: http://www.greatergreenville.com/development/zoning/preservation_design_primer.asp

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 08:35 AM

Governor slams Bass Pro-type deals

<---------------:D You will :bow: to my fish.

By Tim Smith
CAPITAL BUREAU
tcsmith@greenvillenews.com

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Mark Sanford asked lawmakers to repeal special legislation for Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, arguing that the tax breaks to lure the chains to the state are unfair to other businesses.

"I am a hunter and would love for them to expand in our state," he told a joint assembly of lawmakers. "I just do not believe we should pay each of them $9 million to do so -- and in that process wipe out smaller businesses that have been in the neighborhood for years."

The request to repeal the incentives was among a bevy of proposals -- some repeated from last year -- that Sanford said were needed to bring change to the state's government, including curtailed spending, more school choice, reformed DUI laws, passage of the Senate's immigration bill and agency restructuring.

The governor has been open about his opposition to the tax breaks and vetoed the legislation containing the Bass Pro Shops incentives last year. Legislators overrode his vetoes. The bill that offers Bass Pro Shops incentives, designed to recruit the store to a site in the Greer area, is among several pieces of legislation at the heart of a lawsuit before the state Supreme Court alleging legislators improperly tacked together unrelated bills.

House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee Chairman Harry Cato of Travelers Rest said he would oppose any repeal of the incentives, which he said require the businesses to invest a lot before anything is granted.

Using charts, slideshows and videos, Sanford lectured, pleaded and begged for lawmakers to consider some of his proposals before adjourning in June.

He also used some racist quotes of "Pitchfork" Ben Tillman to argue for restructuring and make the point that a plantation model of thinking has for years held state government back.

"With the 1895 Constitution, Ben Tillman was very frank in his intentions," Sanford said, "'We of the South,' he (Tillman) said on the floor of the U.S. Senate, "have never recognized the right of the negro to govern white men and never will.'"

Rep. Fletcher Smith, a black Greenville Democrat, questioned the use of Tillman in the speech. "I think some people might be offended by him using that symbolism as a way of trying to gain more power for the governor's office," he said.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the governor wasn't using the quote to offend anyone and wasn't implying that those who weren't in favor of restructuring were racists.

On the subject of restructuring, Sanford said he wanted to end the State Budget and Control Board, a longtime goal of his administration. The powerful five-member board, which he chairs, handles executive functions that in every other state fall under the governor, he said.

Greenville

February 16th, 2008, 08:54 AM

Our government is definitely unprogressive in some ways. The thing is, do those views represent the opinions of a majority of South Carolinians or not?

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 09:01 AM

^^We're wasting this much on Iraq: http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home What's several million for Bass Pro Shops going to hurt? :D Speaking of BPS, does anybody know when information regarding Dillard Creek Commons Power Center/Creekside Village Lifestyle Center will come out? :dunno:

Greenville

February 16th, 2008, 09:05 AM

^^We're wasting this much on Iraq: http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home What's several million for Bass Pro Shops going to hurt? :D

I was referring to state government (which would give the incentives for Bass Pro Shops), not the federal government. The war in Iraq is another issue entirely. :nuts:

g-man430

February 16th, 2008, 09:09 AM

^^Well, I still want my BPS. I don't care if the state pays for it entirely. :righton:

Greenville

February 16th, 2008, 10:05 AM

^^Well, I still want my BPS. I don't care if the state pays for it entirely. :righton:

I think you'll get it. Sanford will continue to plead his case, but everyone else in state government seems okay with the incentives.

erm1981

February 16th, 2008, 10:58 PM

I would like to see it also but without the incentives which I know will never happen probably. Isnt REI still comming to magnolia park?

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 12:02 AM

^^This damn country is in debt so far up its ass, it doesn't matter if they use incentives or not. Yes, they are still putting REI at MPTC. It's the two-story 30,000 square foot building listed on the site plan. :)

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 01:47 AM

:llama: WE WANT HOCKEY BACK, WE WANT HOCKEY BACK, WE WANT HOCKEY BACK, WE WANT HOCKEY BACK!!!! :llama: http://www.grrrowl.com/

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 04:36 AM

Looks like that thing going in front of Doc Chey's will be a restaurant and only that by the layout of the exterior of the building. Brick is starting to go up on it, so they're making progress.

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 06:53 AM

:D :nocrook: Tux Outdoor World Coming Soon, but for now you'll have to deal with:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/071.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/072.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/080.jpg

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http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/084.jpg

Raleigh-NC

February 17th, 2008, 07:13 AM

^^
Hey, fish, you are right at home, aren't you? :lol:

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 07:30 AM

^^:hug: :) :yes:

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 08:56 AM

edit: double post

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 09:00 AM

:llama: :llama: http://www.independentmail.com/specials/2008/bassmasters/ :llama: :llama:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/Classic_07_logo_370_ESPNO.jpg

EVENT INFORMATION:
2008 Bassmaster Classic
Tournament fishery: Lake Hartwell
Host city: Greenville, S.C.
Dates: February 22-24, 2008

TV SCHEDULE: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tv/news/story?page=g_tv_desc_bass_reairs

LAUNCH INFORMATION:
Portman Marina
1629 Marina Rd.
Anderson, SC
864-287-3211 Boats Launch
7:15 a.m. EST daily

LIVE BROADCAST:
ESPN's Mike & Mike in the Morning Show at the launch - Friday, 6-10 a.m.

WEIGH-IN INFORMATION:
BI-LO Center
650 N. Academy St.
Greenville, SC
864-241-3800 Doors open
3:30 p.m. EST daily
NOTE: Free shuttle service will be running from the Expo at Carolina First to the weigh-in at the BI-LO Center Fri., Feb. 22 through Sun., Feb 24, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

BASSMASTER CLASSIC OUTDOORS EXPO:
Carolina First Center
(formerly the Palmetto Center)
1 Exposition Ave.
Greenville, SC
864-233-2562 Expo hours
Friday, 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Head over to the BASS Booth and get tips from Pro Anglers, learn about all the Benefits of BASS Membership, get up to the minute Coverage from Lake Hartwell and witness the Past, Present and Future of BASS!
Floor layout: http://assets.espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/pdf/b_Classic08_floorplan_v19.pdf
Exhibitor list: http://assets.espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/pdf/b_Classic08_ExhibitorList_v19.pdf

BASS MEMBERS:
First 100 EXPO attendees each day receive a free gift
BASS Federation Nation & Life Members: Click here for special benefits
BASS Members receive a 5% discount on all merchandise including Classic items at www.BASSstuff.com. (Phone 877-BASS-USA for promo code.)

BASSMASTER CASTING KIDS:
-Preliminary National Finals/Awards
Location: Carolina First Center
Sat., Feb. 23, 2008, 11:00 a.m.
-Final Castoff Competition
Location: Bi-Lo Center
Sat., Feb. 23, 2008, 2:15 p.m.

LOCAL EVENT SPONSORS:
Greenville, S.C. and the Upstate region
Time Warner Cable & Charter Communications
The State of South Carolina
City of Greenville
Greenville County

HOST ORGANIZATIONS:
Greenville CVB (GCVB)
Southern Hospitality Group Event Management (SHGEM)
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE: Activities & times are subject to change

erm1981

February 17th, 2008, 06:38 PM

I went down west georgia road the other day and they have already started building something very long and large where the georgia commons location is. Looks like some kind of retail. Also the CVS on the other side of 385 looks to be coming a long well. Saturday there were lots of concrete trucks coming in and out of the site that is beside Livnsidout wellness center. I think this might be some more townhomes. Simpsonville/Mauldin are on fire.

g-man430

February 17th, 2008, 09:22 PM

I'm going to email every single Greenville County Council member and give them a piece of my mind: http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS01/802170332

g-man430

February 18th, 2008, 02:39 AM

:banana: This is on the front page of espn.com right now: http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=3244659

Skyliner

February 18th, 2008, 02:46 AM

ESPN is stupid. Don't they realize that because Greenville doesn't have an IMAX, it pretty much sucks? :jk:

g-man430

February 18th, 2008, 03:03 AM

^^:rofl:

g-man430

February 18th, 2008, 03:39 AM

Adidas deal to leave huge footprint on Spartanburg County

By Trevor Anderson-Spartanburg Herald Journal

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2008

Project Sub rosa was the code name Spartanburg County Council gave its lucrative deal with Adidas AG last March. It was a deal loaded with tax breaks and other incentives meant to induce the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based sports apparel giant to build its largest distribution facility in the world in Spartanburg.

While "sub rosa" is an ancient Latin term for confidentiality, David Cordeau, president and CEO of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, said it's no secret the project, which includes 1,200 new jobs and a $150 million 1.9 million-square-foot complex, will have an immense impact on economic development in the Spartanburg area.

"Anytime someone is adding that amount of jobs and investing those dollars, it's going to have a nice ripple effect on the economy," Cordeau said. "What is more compelling in the long run, however, is the international recognition of the Adidas brand - it makes a powerful statement and helps us take our economic development efforts to a whole new level."

Adidas spokesman Bob Henriques said the project was "exciting" for Spartanburg and the company was "looking forward to being members of this community for years to come."

And this isn't the first time Adidas has sought greener pastures in the county.

In 1988, Adidas located 300 jobs and the bulk of its U.S. operations in Spartanburg County, closing down 19 of its warehouses across the country and consolidating them in a 540,000-square-foot distribution center onNorth Blackstock Road.

At the time, Adidas American subsidiary Adidas USA Inc. was only a toddler (having only been founded in 1985) and its business was burgeoning as the Adidas brand was gaining exposure and sales momentum in the American market.

In 1991, the Spartanburg center gained 120 more jobs from its Warren, N.J., computer office, which let to the addition of a 17,000-square-foot expansion to the facility.

Four years later, the company built a freestanding outlet store facing I-26 near the former Outlet Park-Shoppes at Waccamaw.

But as Nike began to increase its market share in the late 1990s, Adidas again began to expand its operations into other parts of the U.S., relegating the older Spartanburg distribution center to a smaller role and an eventual work force of only 34 employees.

But Adidas' resurgence in the market following its $3.8 billion purchase of Reebok in 2006 has brought its relationship with Spartanburg full circle.

"We're very fortunate (Adidas) already had ties to Spartanburg," said Spartanburg County Council Chairman Jeff Horton. "They could've ended up anywhere. I think it's an indicator that the county's business climate is improving."

Carter Smith, executive director of the Spartanburg Chamber's Economic Futures Group, said the project was one of Spartanburg's all-time top 10 investments and the single largest in terms of square footage since 2000.

That would make it larger than Colorado-based EchoStar Communication Corp.'s 300,000 square-foot Spartanburg Service Center, which opened last February, bringing 1,500 new jobs to the area.

Ben Davis, area director of the Spartanburg Workforce Center, said the 1,200 jobs Adidas plans to add would move Spartanburg's unemployment rate down 0.9 percent if everything else in the local economy remains static.

"What makes it so important though is that it comes at a time when we're losing manufacturing jobs," Davis said.

"The skill sets for distribution work and manufacturing are similar. We're very excited and feel Spartanburg is well-positioned to get more distribution jobs."

Adidas said in March it would cut about 375 jobs at four distribution centers in Massachusetts, Tennessee and Kentucky.

A total of 230 jobs in Massachusetts and another 140 jobs in Tennessee will be cut. Only five jobs are expected to be lost in Kentucky.

The 34 employees at the facility on North Blackstock Road will move into the expanded center.

At full capacity, the new three-building Spartanburg center will house distribution operations for both Adidas and Reebok U.S. brands.

Construction on the distribution complex began in June on a 251-acre patch of land in the southwest quadrant of Falling Creek and Cedar Crest roads off I-85 near exit 68.

A customer service center and the smaller of two 45-foot tall distribution warehouses are almost complete, with construction on the larger 800,000-square-foot warehouse scheduled to begin soon.

The customer service center will be operational in June and the smaller warehouse should open in December.

Liam Devoy, head of global warehousing for Adidas Group, said construction of the state-of-the-art facilities is on schedule.

"The entire facility is scheduled to be fully operational by December 2009," Devoy said.

Jeff Raltz, senior project manager for Adidas, said the new center would accommodate 1,550 workers at "peak" capacity, but the final number of employees depends on how well integration goes.

Greenville

February 18th, 2008, 04:10 AM

ESPN is stupid. Don't they realize that because Greenville doesn't have an IMAX, it pretty much sucks? :jk:

Hilarious response, Skyliner! :lol:

g-man430

February 18th, 2008, 08:25 PM

:D In for three: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8669577&type=product&id=1197073928544

erm1981

February 19th, 2008, 12:00 AM

70 inch TV is huge G-man. 46-52 inches is more in my frame.

g-man430

February 19th, 2008, 12:16 AM

^^:lol:

In other news, Project Skyline if officially dead according to Butch Kirven with Greenville County Council. :banana: :lol:

Greenville

February 19th, 2008, 03:35 AM

^^:lol:

In other news, Project Skyline if officially dead according to Butch Kirven with Greenville County Council. :banana: :lol:

That sucks. Hopefully someday we will learn what the project included, and why it never materialized.

To make up for the loss, county council should use some of the incentive money initially meant for Project Skyline toward funding a great public transit system in Greenville. ;)

g-man430

February 19th, 2008, 08:56 PM

That sucks. Hopefully someday we will learn what the project included, and why it never materialized.

To make up for the loss, county council should use some of the incentive money initially meant for Project Skyline toward funding a great public transit system in Greenville. ;)

The project involved putting county offices in a new 13-story building on or next to Cobb Tire and turning county square into a mixed-use development. Why giving incentive money for Project Skyline to mass transit wouldn't work:

GTA is an independent entity. The GTA Board has 7 members: 2 appointed by the city, 2 appointed by the county, and 3 appointed by the legislative delegation. Naturally, the board appointed doesn’t get along very well and there is nothing to compel unity among GTA, the city and the county. That is what we have been trying to achieve only to be thwarted time and again by petty politics. At GTA’s request, the city has agreed to provide certain functions for GTA through an operating agreement. Those functions are currently being provided by a private company, McDonald Transportation, Inc., for a profit and much redundancy. This agreement will save a lot of money that GTA can put into better service instead of overhead. The incentives for Skyline and RR would have come from the new revenue that would have been generated by those developments. Since they did not happen, there is no new money.

H. G. (Butch) Kirven, Jr. BG ARNG (Ret)

Chairman

Greenville County Council

District 27

:banana:

g-man430

February 19th, 2008, 09:04 PM

Jacob;
Let me assure you I am not of the same mindset as Joe Dill and Willis Meadows. Those are the only two council members quoted in the article that don't understand why such a BRT system would be beneficial to all people, not just those less fortunate members of the community. I have been working with the people from Verdae and ICAR to try to see how this link to downtown could work. It is unfortunate that the Greenville News chose to write an article that makes someone believe that because two members of a 12 member board want to stop something using class warfare that we all want to do the same. There are a few of us who get it - work with us.

Jim Burns
Greenville County Council
District 21

:banana: :banana:

g-man430

February 19th, 2008, 09:05 PM

Jacob - thank you for your email. I am keeping an open mind about this issue and support it. I am not on the Intergovernmental Committee nor the "railroad board" so I have been out of the loop on the discussions in those committee meetings. It is critical that we work toward better solutions to our traffic "mess". I think a lot of the concerns of Council members have to do with funding.

Thank you for your interest.
Judy Gilstrap-Greenville County Council

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Raleigh-NC

February 19th, 2008, 09:18 PM

Jacob,

I read your email carefully and nearly committed suicide. You must be a very depressed person. Hell, you depressed me, too. Enough to quit my position in the county council, quit my job, sell my wife, kids & assets, and decide to become a hermit. There may be hope somewhere in Tibet for me (please don't move there).

Anonymous member - Greenville County Council

*********

You forgot to post the above reply, g-man. Shame on you :lol:

g-man430

February 19th, 2008, 09:20 PM

^^Sounds like Bob Ellis. :lol: The POM has started though. :banana:

erm1981

February 19th, 2008, 11:52 PM

No it hasn't

g-man430

February 19th, 2008, 11:54 PM

^^Obviously. :ohno:

Appstate97

February 20th, 2008, 02:25 AM

Didn't someone post a few weeks ago that the crews working at the POM site were doing the moving of electrical wires for the construction of POM?

g-man430

February 20th, 2008, 04:53 AM

^^That was me who said that. :drool: :D Throw some D's on that bitch:

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/001-2.jpg

g-man430

February 20th, 2008, 05:30 AM

GE's work force to hit all-time high this year with 3,200

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 7:42 pm

By Rudolph Bell
STAFF WRITER
dmbell@greenvillenews.com

General Electric Co.’s Greenville work force is expected to hit an all-time high of about 3,200 this year as the company responds to strong global demand for its energy products and services and continues hiring engineers.

GE executives said today they plan to add at least 200 engineers in Greenville this year on top of more than 300 they added last year. That would push GE’s total employment in Greenville slightly above the all-time peak so far of 3,150, set seven years ago during a boom in the gas turbine business.

In the past, GE has created some of the Upstate’s best-paying assembly-line jobs, but now all of its local hiring is for engineering positions paying between $55,000 a year to more than $100,000.

Rick Stanley, vice president in charge of engineering for GE Energy, said the company is boosting engineering as orders grow for a range of energy-related products and services, including the heavy-duty gas turbines and wind turbines the company designs and makes in Greenville.

"It’s the whole gamut, and it’s worldwide," Stanley said Tuesday just before delivering the opening remarks at an engineering awards ceremony at the Peace Center. "The demand for energy is just higher than we thought it was going to be. I think it’s higher than anybody thought it was going to be. So we’re trying to stay in front of it -- new programs, new products, new technologies."

GE ran out of office space at its Garlington Road campus last year and since October has leased nearly 100,000 square feet of space at three suburban office parks.

"The campus just isn’t big enough anymore," Stanley said. "It’s the same problem around the world. We’re expanding a lot of our campuses around the world for the same reasons. We’re adding more engineers than we anticipated just 12 months ago."

The global organization Stanley runs from Greenville employs about 7,200 engineers, but that figure is expected to grow to 8,400 by the end of the year.

Stanley said most of the new business is coming from overseas, "and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down for the moment."

He said GE might add more than 200 engineers in Greenville this year if it chooses to accelerate some programs. The company would like to do that, he said, "if we can get the talent that we’re looking for, and the right mix of talent."

GE manufactured heavy-duty gas turbines locally for more than three decades before making Greenville the engineering headquarters for its 36,000-employee Energy unit in 2005. In recent years, GE has also brought manufacturing of wind turbine machine heads and jet engine parts to its Garlington Road complex.

Currently, the company employs about 3,000 locally, about half in engineering, half in manufacturing.

Spokesman Mark Reilly said GE hasn’t decided where to house the additional engineers it plans to hire in Greenville.

This fall, the company stationed about 140 engineers at the Park East office park along Interstate 385 and put another 50 people, mostly contract employees working in logistics, at the Independence Corporate Park at the intersection of I-385 and Interstate 85, Reilly said.

In addition, GE recently leased about 40,000 square feet of office space at the Brookfield Corporate Center along I-385 in Mauldin. The company plans to put up to 200 engineers at that location when renovation work is complete in May, Reilly said.

Before the fall, the last time GE occupied office space in Greenville outside of its own campus was at the height of the gas turbine boom seven or eight years ago. Then, it housed about 150 employees at the Fluor Corp. campus, but that arrangement ended in 2001, Reilly said.

These days, Fluor has its own space crunch and has had to house engineers off campus at the Patewood Plaza office park along I-385.

Together, GE and Fluor have absorbed more than 300,000 square feet of previously vacant office space over the past two years, said Steve Smith, a vice president at Grubb & Ellis/The Furman Co., a local real estate brokerage.

More than 40 engineers, some based outside of Greenville, were honored during the GE awards ceremony at the Peace Center Tuesday. The ceremony was broadcast to 26 sites across the United States and Canada.

Lots of interesting links with article: http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/NEWS01/80219049/1004/NEWS01

Council committee takes step toward helping GTA
County panel pledges to maintain current funding, support city plan

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 5:20 pm

By Ben Szobody
STAFF WRITER
bszobody@greenvillenews.com

A County Council committee that has debated Greenville County’s role in public transit for months took an incremental step toward more active support tonight, pledging to maintain current funding, provide cost-saving services and support the city’s operations plan.

Councilman Willis Meadows outlined the resolution’s wording, saying it’s important to show that the county is committed to immediate bus improvements that will help the neediest citizens as well as long-term expansion.

Meadows has been critical of some aspects of the city’s plan to run Greenville Transit Authority buses come April, and he expressed reservations over a more detailed "tri-party agreement" that would have spelled out the county’s expanded role.

The Intergovernmental Relations Committee voted 3-0 in approval of the resolution but held the tri-party agreement for more work.

Councilwoman Lottie Gibson initially objected, saying it’s not enough to proclaim support through a resolution but that the county needs to "be at the table" where transit decisions will be made.

"When we take ourselves away from the table, we have no voice," she said.

Committee Chairman Fred Payne agreed the resolution is "not as strong a commitment," but that it’s a step in the right direction.

GTA board Chairman Matt Carter told the committee the county would have its say in the bus system regardless, because it still seats two members of the GTA board, which will remain independent of city operations.

Carter said county officials could even earmark its $288,000 in annual transit funding for specific purposes.

Meadows told Gibson, "We have more leverage with our money than we’d have sitting at the table."

The debate meandered into the difference between providing transit planning services "at cost" or through grants. Carter assured committee members that the city couldn’t cut routes on its own, and said he still preferred a stronger county commitment that would make transit a clear priority and set up a platform for future action.

He also praised Meadows’ resolution as touching the important transit issues.

Committee members said they intend to further amend the tri-party document and turn it into a county ordinance, which would require three readings before passage.

Clemson expert shows County Council bleak growth pictures

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 7:13 pm

By Ben Szobody
STAFF WRITER
bszobody@greenvillenews.com

A Clemson University expert told County Council tonight that its current growth policies need to be "rethought" because they accommodate a sprawling development pace that could create gridlock by 2030.

Potentially feeding the future problem is a 25- to 30-year wave of baby boomers just now beginning to retire and who are increasingly flocking to South Carolina, said Jeff Allen, director of Clemson's South Carolina Water Resources Center at the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

"If some constraints aren’t put on growth, it’s going to end up looking a lot like Atlanta," Allen said.

Council Chairman Butch Kirven said Greenville likely couldn’t afford to build massive highways even if it wanted that kind of sprawl, and Allen said the side effects would include a higher cost of living, rising taxes to pay for far-flung services and community segregation.

Allen made his remarks during a presentation of a new Clemson study that shows land development outpacing population growth by a ratio of 5-to-1, which he said some academics consider an unsustainable pace.

The projections some at a crucial time when council members and county planners are revisiting a countywide development plan that Allen said is probably "too loose" because it would allow the development wave to blanket about two-thirds of Greenville County from State 11 in the north to Fork Shoals in the south by 2030.

"Right now, Greenville County is planning for that kind of 5-to-1 growth," Allen said.

He told council members, many of whom are skeptical of increased regulation, that there’s no need to close the door on population growth or the business that comes with it, but that incentives can attract more compact expansion, creating more density in urban areas and allowing less in outlying regions.

Councilman Cort Flint said it’s "obvious" how much pressure such a growth rate would put on Interstate 85, and Councilman Fred Payne called on innovative ways to adapt, much like the industrial revolution eliminated the need for horses.

Allen suggested limiting county services such as fire, sewer and paving to urban areas or creating a voluntary system where developers could buy development rights from rural landowners, unlocking the right to build more dense projects in cities.

Regardless of the approach, Allen said census figures projected a county population 522,000 by 2030, or 1.5 million in an eight-county Upstate region.

g-man430

February 20th, 2008, 05:46 AM

Ok Distortedlogic. You can post now. ;)

distortedlogic1

February 20th, 2008, 05:49 AM

Interesting articles. I still think the pop estimates for 2030 are waaay too low (522k county, 1.5mm region). The county estimate from July 06, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, was 417k. We are probably between 430 and 435k today. It will grow by waaay more than 90k over the next 22 years. I would think we could easily be nearing 600k by 2030, and perhaps more. And the regional pop is already between 1.2 and 1.3MM. This estimate si low also, IMO.

g-man430

February 20th, 2008, 05:50 AM

^^Told you so. :D At the current growth rate, we're going to be at least the size of Charlotte by 2030. I think GE and Fluor should get together and build a highrise downtown. :lol:

g-man430

February 20th, 2008, 06:08 AM

I don't think this has been posted yet: http://www.greatergreenville.com/development/forms/FinalDraftPlan.pdf

apaladin

February 25th, 2008, 04:20 AM

I don't think this has been posted yet: http://www.greatergreenville.com/development/forms/FinalDraftPlan.pdf

OK G-Man, Enough is enough. We miss you. Please come back.

apaladin

February 25th, 2008, 04:20 AM

I don't think this has been posted yet: http://www.greatergreenville.com/development/forms/FinalDraftPlan.pdf

OK G-Man, Enough is enough. We miss you. Please come back.

RestedTraveler

February 25th, 2008, 03:45 PM

OK G-Man, Enough is enough. We miss you. Please come back.

Dude's been too busy chasing anglers around during the Bassmaster Classic to care about urban/suburban development news over the past few days. He'll be back.

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 12:07 AM

I am the man in black
I'm back breakin' the back of the random attacker
Black suit, the black shades, the black shoes
Black tie with the black attitude
New style, black Raybans, I'm stunnin', man
New hotness, pitch black, 600, man
Don't you understand, what you thought I wouldn't come again
Leave you hangin' without bringin' you the fun again
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls
The man in black is back to protect the world again

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/gman.jpg

Magnolia Park Town Center phase I:
Office-375,000 square feet
Retail-615,000 square feet
Hotel-200,000 square feet
Residential-180,000 square feet
Existing theater-87,200 square feet

Total square feet=1,457,200 State's largest retail complex when complete. Haywood Mall is currently the state's largest at 1,250,000 square feet.

Parking facilities, parking garages and underground parking facilities.
Description-Construction of parking facilities and parking garages containing approximately 1,000 parking spaces.
Estimated costs-$24,000,000
Estimated timeline-12 to 14 months

Relocation, construction, widening and paving of sidewalks, streets, roads and bridges, including the demolition of them
Description-Construction of sidewalks and streets within the project site
Estimated costs-$3,000,000
Estimated timeline-12 to 14 months

Underground stormwater, sewer and water utilities
Description-Construction and installation of underground stormwater, sewer, and water utilities
Estimated costs-$1,950,000
Estimated timeline-12 to 14 months

Public improvements located outside the boundaries of the project site which confer a benefit on property located within the project site, limited to sidewalks, streets, roads, bridges, streetscapes, landscaping, street lights, traffic signals, grading and paving for streets, roads, bridges, sidewalks, crosswalks, curb-cuts and ramps
Description-Construction of new intersection, traffic signals, de-acceleration lanes and curb cuts
Estimated costs-$750,000
Estimated timeline-12 to 14 months

Stationary Art for public display
Description-Acquisition of various pieces of stationary art for display throughout the project site
Estimated costs-$1,000,000
Estimated timeline-NA

All things incidental to the aforementioned public improvement projects including, but not limited to planning, engineering, administration, managing, promotion, marketing and acquisition of necessary easements and land
Description-Planning, designing and engineering of parking facilities, streets and sidewalks, underground stormwater, sewer and water projects, and intersections and curb-cuts. Acquistion of land below parking facilities, streets and sidwalks, and easements for underground stormwater, sewer and water projects
Estimated costs-$5,675,000
Estimated timeline-12 to 14 months

Easley mayor says state of city is good

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 7:18 pm

By Julie Howle
STAFF WRITER
jhowle@greenvillenews.com

A groundbreaking ceremony for a development on the former Saco Lowell site is expected next month, Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell told a crowd gathered Thursday for his first State of the City address.

"City Council is 100 percent behind this project," Bagwell said to more than 115 people. "It's going to be an economic blast for this area."

He said the project would have about an $82 million investment in the building and would incorporate infrastructure work with new roads, sewer and water.

"I don't think the City of Easley has ever experienced something like this as far as economic development is concerned, not since I've been on City Council," Bagwell said.

Wal-Mart is one store planned for the Saco Lowell project, he said.

The State of the City address was part of the Third Thursday Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at Outback Steakhouse, according to Kent Dykes, Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce president.

He said Outback Steakhouse donated the food and the space so ticket sales could benefit the chamber.

City Administrator Fox Simons said Saco Lowell will create 900 new jobs paying $10 to $12 an hour and will be more than 700,000 square feet of new retail and commercial development.

He said taxes wouldn't go up and the city is going to create a tax increment-financing district and issue two bonds for the project.

"The businesses that locate out there will pay the same amount of taxes, the same amount of fees as everybody else in the City of Easley," Simons said.

Bagwell said other business development in the community has included the Copper River Grill, Golden Corral, Toyota of Easley expansion and Walgreens.

There were 150 new home permits and 11 new commercial permits in the city last year for a total of $27 million, he said.

"The City of Easley is a very, very strong community," Bagwell said.

Looking forward, he said there has also been an application to change Woodside Mill so that it can possibly house condominiums and commercial development and said the Bagwell gymnasium is going to be home to an upcoming volleyball tournament that could bring in more than 400 teams.

"Recreation has been a tremendous part of our economic development," Bagwell said. "We are going to have the Big League World Series again, and it will be on ESPN again this year."

Easley Town Center
Stage: Negotiating

Summary
DataFax Ref:SC0800053629

Class
Shopping Center or Retail

Type
New

Estimated Value
Unlisted

Key Dates
Next Review-02/27/2008
Last Review-02/20/2008

General Project Information
Project DescriptionSite Preparation, Earthwork, Utility Services, Concrete Forms & Accessories, Concrete Reinforcement, Fire & Smoke Protection, Entrances & Storefronts, Tilt-Up Precast Concrete, Structural Steel, Steel Joists, Building Insulation, Paving Specialties or Pavement Markings, Curbs & Gutters, Masonry Anchorage & Reinforcement, Masonry Accessories, Stone Assemblies, Metal Materials, Metal Fastenings, Joint Sealants.

Owner Note
Construction Manager seeking Subcontracting pricing.
Contact Shannon Roberts with CM-at-Risk, sroberts@centexconstruction.com. Prequalification form must be obtained from CM-at-Risk.

Prequalification Deadline
Friday, December 7, 2007.

Estimated Start Date
March 2008.

Additional Information
Buildings include at least one unit having 500,000 SF. Project site includes 125 acres.

Project Location
183 Rolling Hills Cir
Easley, SC (Pickens)

Key Contacts
Devlpr-Cedarwood Development Corp
1765 Merriman Road, Akron, OH 44313 Ph: (330) 836-9971 Fx: (330) 864-8094 www.cedarwooddevelopment.com info@cedarwooddevelopment.com

General-Tri C Construction Company Inc (plans/bids)
1765 Merriman Road, Akron, OH 44300 Ph: (330) 836-2700 Fx: (330) 869-6896 www.tricc.com abozic@tricc.com

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 01:12 AM

The investment group owning the plant site wants $40 million from McChesney Investment Advisors to purchase it. As of today, the Point project is on hold mostly due to the economy.

Greenville

February 27th, 2008, 01:34 AM

The investment group owning the plant site wants $40 million from McChesney Investment Advisors to purchase it. As of today, the Point project is on hold mostly due to the economy.

John Boyanoski basically said that the McChesney project at The Point is dead. It will be interesting to see what happens. If that is true, I hope that McChesney is looking at other sites in the area for their development. As mentioned before, I would like to see them consider the following:

Pleasantburg Drive adjacent to Carolina First Center
Laurens Road area near Verdae
County Square
Pelham Road area near I-85

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 01:36 AM

I find this article interesting regarding the Saco Lowell site (Easley Town Center development)-

Smith tackles Saco Lowell
Infrastructure funding key to Easley Town Center's future

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:25 PM CST

By Ginny Johnson-Easley Progress

EASLEY - Pickens County Council favors growth, favors business, but doesn't favor corporate welfare, said Chairman G. Neil Smith in an exclusive interview with The Easley Progress and The Pickens Sentinel.

Whether the county would support creating a special tax district to help spur infrastructure improvements surrounding the center relied heavily on the answer to one big question:

"'Is it going to be a Wal-Mart?'" Smith said.

"And if it's going to be a Wal-Mart, then I don't think our council wants to be on the record as giving incentives to one of the major corporate giants in this country."

Pickens County's position is that big box retailers and many others want to locate where the most people are.

"If Wal-Mart wants to come there, we're not against them. We're just saying we don't want to give them any extra incentives, because they don't need them," Smith said.

And the same goes for Target.

"I would love it to be a Target because that's an add-on. That's breaking that 'We've got to go to Greenville or Anderson.'" Smith said. "We would finally get something.

"But the same issue applies to Target that applies to Wal-Mart: You don't need to be giving incentives to retailers," Smith said.

The following is excerpts from the interview:

Q- How serious is council about securing funds for infrastructure improvements surrounding the Saco Lowell area?

"The county met and talked about coming up with an overall plan. We basically stated that we thought that the (U.S.) 123 corridor was our No. 1 project. And at that time, we basically stated that we felt like we needed to work on that 123, 153, Prince Perry area.

"We emphasized our position to GPATS - that is the Greenville Pickens Area Transportation Study - and then the newest plan, the next cycle that starts this year, that extension of 153 was put in there. We had not gotten any money previously from them, other than some miscellaneous grant money. But it was like a $12-13 million approval for 153 to be extended over the rail road track and then to connect to Prince Perry Road ... it could go all the way up to Saluda Dam ... the curl-around the Saco Lowell project and so forth - that got approved ... in December.

"I think it's supposed to start in ... 2011. But now, that's the problem with most of these fundings. What you're deciding today is three years down the road. You can't move it up. I tell people all the time, 'Don't get frustrated on that because if you continue to argue all you've done is put another year down.'

"That's why you've got to have that long-term vision. That was the county's push and (we) got that through GPATS. Prince Perry bridge is a project that qualifies under the C-fund. And at the time, we asked that that money be paid for by C-funds and even recommended that we would give the money up front to be paid back by C-fund in order to get it done earlier.

"To my knowledge, C-fund has not committed more than - it was not enough to do the project. But yet they're still splitting the money up among the cities. Whether the C-fund committee is treating that as being something that the City of Easley is going to have to do, I don't know because the city of Easley is getting an allocation.

Q- Have the county and Easley discussed pooling the separate allocations to apply them jointly to the Prince Perry bridge project?

"The cities are somewhat aggravated with the county because, I always hear, 'They're messing with our money.'

"I'm just saying in this situation, if Prince Perry bridge is that important to Easley, they should be taking their money and putting it there. I don't support splitting the money up, because that's like having three kids and asking them to make good business decisions.

"The question is, 'Do I really view them sometimes as kids? Yes. Because what you'll find is they don't spend the money for what they say is their top project, but then come back and say, 'This is what we wanted to do.' That was basically what was occurring with wanting us to say, 'Let's take the county and school tax to pay for Prince Perry bridge' and also raising 123 and putting in the railroad crossing.'

"Personally, I think Prince Perry bridge could be fixed with available funds, 153 could be fixed in three years and that addresses, in my mind, that makes that property a substantial piece of property.

"The one issue that has not been addressed is 'Does the county support raising 123 (by) 7 or 8 feet in order to make the bridge compliant with the developer's needs?' and 'Do we support raising the 123 to put a railroad grade crossing at the center of that property?'

"The answer is 'no.' We do not support having a grade crossing right in the center of the property for our people to drive across to go to a Wal-Mart.

"It's scary. First of all, we don't need the railroad crossing if you've got 153 curling across and Prince Perry. The other thing is, that's the main artery for our people to come into the county. And to put a red light and turn lanes for a railroad crossing that we'd be funneling our people across - it's scary enough to watch our people drive across the traffic to go to Wal-Mart now, much less cross a railroad track. "

Q- Haven't the developer and Easley leaders said that the railroad is requiring U.S. 123 be raised?

"The answer is 'yes' and 'no.'

"In order to get the bridge put in, they have to have a certain height and that is correct. So to replace that bridge you do have to raise that. But you don't have to push the bridge to the highway side.

"You can push more of the raising of the road to the other side which is what the developer doesn't want because that takes off a corner of that property being a top prospect. So if I'm choosing between raising 123 (by) 7 feet or raising Prince Perry Road 7 feet, there's no question that we ought to raise Prince Perry Road. And then the other thing, there's nothing that says we can't redesign that interchange.

"Of course the other thing, the railroad is also saying they needed the space for three tracks: one for their expansion and one for high-speed rail ... We don't have a problem going the other way, but this requirement (is) a bargaining chip they're throwing out there. There's one track there, they're basically saying they want a track on out side, the south side which is the road side, and one on the north side.

"And I've sat there saying 'Excuse me, you're saying you would build a line on that side?' Because if you go on down the road and think about what they've got to build up, it's not a reasonable request. But that fits in with where our county engineer said we wouldn't have to raise it 7 feet, we could get by with 3 feet.

"The thing is, we're opposed to the (at-grade) railroad crossing. And we've been told that any movement or closing of a railroad crossing has to get county approval. So that's going to be one of the other issues: 'Are they planning to close the other one and move it up?' Because it is my understanding that the railroad has to get our approval to do that.

"If that means moving it up to the center of that property to have an at-grade crossing for a major shopping center, our position has been 'no.' That was a big stumbling block the whole time. You don't need it. You come across the railroad and you've got access on both ends. You've got it from Saco Lowell Road ... you've got it from Prince Perry - like what do you need. You don't need that railroad crossing.

"That's what I keep saying. We've got to talk about the issues versus 'Is the county in favor of the project or not?' and when you look at it, it's not a bad request. If I personally voted, I'd build that bridge. But I would build it to the standards that are best for the transportation system, not the best for that developer's requirement on that corner lot.

"I don't think that's so negative to that developer because all of the sudden, that piece of property is going to be a much more valuable piece of property because you're surrounded with major roads."

Q- What sentiment is there among council members about the proposed Easley Town Center shopping development?

"It's my understanding that the council, they are pro-growth. They are wanting business and they want to promote it and they want to promote that site - council as a whole. But they don't want to be perceived as giving corporate welfare to businesses that would be there anyway.

"When I say that, the majority of the people that talk to me on the street are wanting to have a very nice development. Something comparable to a Haywood Mall or something that would be similar to a Cherrydale; something along those lines. I think we are fine with that. And I think that's where the criticism that we got was people (perceived) that we were slowing that down.

"But we really weren't because a top-notch developer that was putting in some project like that would love to get 153 and Prince Perry bridge fixed.

"The real issue comes down to, 'Is it going to be a Wal-Mart?' And if it's going to be a Wal-Mart, then I don't think our council wants to be on the record as giving incentives to one of the major corporate giants in this country. Their whole strategy is to locate their stores close to the people and we (already) have one.

"So, if we're moving that one from one site to another site, we don't see that as a gain. Especially after all the money that's been spent on the other one. Taxpayers' dollars. But if Wal-Mart wants to come there, we're not against them. We're just saying we don't want to give them any extra incentives, because they don't need them.

Q- What if Target were going in that location or nearby?

"I would love it to be a Target because that's an add-on. That's breaking that 'We've got to go to Greenville or Anderson.' We would finally get something.

"But the same issue applies to Target that applies to Wal-Mart: You don't need to be giving incentives to retailers. And then where do you draw the line?

"It's easy to talk about incentives when it comes to an industrial park and that type of thing. But you really start struggling when you start getting into the retail and things like that ..."

Here are some pics I took of the 2008 Bassmaster Classic:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/006-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/011-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/010-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/009-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/013-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/015-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/016-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/014-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/019-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/021-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/023-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/026-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/025-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/024-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/028.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/029.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/031.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/035.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/038.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/047.jpg

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 01:38 AM

John Boyanoski basically said that the McChesney project at The Point is dead. It will be interesting to see what happens. If that is true, I hope that McChesney is looking at other sites in the area for their development. As mentioned before, I would like to see them consider the following:

Pleasantburg Drive adjacent to Carolina First Center
Laurens Road area near Verdae
County Square
Pelham Road area near I-85

No, JB said city officials believe it's dead. He also said the project is still technically on the table. I can tell you with 100% certainty the Point is only on hold and not dead. I should know seeing how I received an email earlier today from Scott who works for McChesney Investment Advisors.

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 02:21 AM

I sincerely appreciate your interest in Verdae. As you may know, the planning of our project has been underway for some time with the objective of creating a diverse and high quality, mixed use community. We have worked diligently to attract the best partners to assist us in the launch of our first phases of development. I am pleased to report that the initial single family residential neighborhood in Hollingsworth Park, our Legacy Park, the Cascades senior living community and our first major office facility are all coming to fruition. In addition, the major improvements to the infrastructure that will support each of these endeavors are in their final stages of completion. To keep the community informed about our progress I am pleased to introduce the Verdae News. We will email this newsletter quarterly to report on our progress, tell you about upcoming events and introduce you to the latest opportunities in the community. I encourage you to share this with friends or coworkers who may be interested in staying informed about the progress of our "City Within a City".

Sincerely,
Rick Sumerel, EVP
Verdae Development, Inc.

In This Issue-
Verdae: The First to Wire Residents for the Future
Hollingsworth Park: Recreating the Traditional Walking Neighborhood
Progress Forges Ahead at The Cascades at Verdae

Verdae: The First to Wire Residents for the Future

In the world of telecommunications, the currency is bandwidth and Verdae residents will have virtually an unlimited supply.

Verdae has entered into partnership with Connexion Technologies to be the first Upsate residential community with Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) technology. Residents will enjoy unlimited bandwidth that will accommodate all their current and future technology needs. "National studies have shown that having this FTTH technology increases home values by $5,000 to $10,000. "As part of our contract with Connexion our residents will enjoy 10% off the going market rate on there telephone, television, Internet and security services as well." said Cynthia Yeager, Director of Sales and Marketing for Verdae Development.

To learn more about the benefits of Fiber-To-The-Home technology visit www.cnxntech.com.

Hollingsworth Park: Recreating the Traditional Walking Neighborhood in Greenville

Richard Parvey, founder of The Parvey Companies and the co-developer of Hollingsworth Park, is passionate about the values reflected in the design of historic districts found across America. "Town planners of the past purposely designed the Public Realm, our streets, parks and town centers, to be aesthetically pleasing and within walking distance of residents. Those design elements created the foundation for a rich and dynamic community to grow." said Parvey. That is the inspiration for Hollingsworth Park, a traditional walking neighborhood located on the newly re-designed, Rocky Slope Road. At the heart of the neighborhood is twenty acres or rolling greens known as Hollingsworth Legacy Park. This central park will connect several pocket parks, walking trails and water features designed to encourage outdoor living throughout the 300 acre community. The first homes, scheduled to break ground by the end of February, will feature authentic architectural styles found in historic districts across the Southeast. Homes may be reserved now. For more information about becoming a resident of Hollingworth Park call 864-329-8383 or visit our sales office in suite 502 of the Verdae building located at 124 Verdae Boulevard in Greenville, South Carolina.

Progress Forges Ahead at The Cascades at Verdae

Recently named the "Best Proposed Active/Adult Community" by the National Active Retirement Association, The Cascades at Verdae is already demonstrating its strength as a premier community for seniors age 62 and above.

With initial occupancy scheduled for fall 2008, sales and construction activity of the continuing care retirement community are progressing at a rapid pace. Of the 43 cottage homes that will be available, only 10 remain. J. Austin, project manager for the community, said, "Response to the option for personalizing living spaces has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm."

A central feature of the community will be a 52,000 square foot clubhouse that will house dining, entertainment, business and social activities. Construction of the clubhouse, cottages, apartments and healthcare center are all underway. Progress can be viewed first hand from a viewing platform constructed at the entrance of Old Sulphur Springs Road or live via a web cam on the website.

For more information about The Cascades at Verdae visit www.thecascadesverdae.com.

Greenville

February 27th, 2008, 02:25 AM

No, JB said city officials believe it's dead. He also said the project is still technically on the table. I can tell you with 100% certainty the Point is only on hold and not dead. I should know seeing how I received an email earlier today from Scott who works for McChesney Investment Advisors.

Thanks.

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 03:21 AM

John Boyanoski basically said that the McChesney project at The Point is dead. It will be interesting to see what happens. If that is true, I hope that McChesney is looking at other sites in the area for their development. As mentioned before, I would like to see them consider the following:

Pleasantburg Drive adjacent to Carolina First Center
Laurens Road area near Verdae
County Square
Pelham Road area near I-85

Good list man. :) I sent McChesney an email with those listed along with a few others I thought of. The good thing about the ones you listed is 3 out of 4 of them are along are less than 2 miles from the proposed bus rapid transit line.

distortedlogic1

February 27th, 2008, 03:41 AM

Thnks for teh updates! Man, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for McChesney! Gman, is there an exact start date for MPTC?

Also, heard anything recently about the Millstone development? This one seems to have fallen off the radar.

distortedlogic1

February 27th, 2008, 03:43 AM

Dude's been too busy chasing anglers around during the Bassmaster Classic to care about urban/suburban development news over the past few days. He'll be back.

He was in it! Didn't you see his commercials...

" If you want to know where he gets his haircut, log on to gman-garage.com."

:lol:

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 03:47 AM

^^Riverwest at Millstone is expanding. Look here at the first one listed: http://www.greenvilleplanning.com/land_Development/current_rezoning_cases/infromation.html I'm guessing MPTC will start sometime in April, but am not sure of that. Still not sure what this is: http://www.bidclerk.com/project.662728.html The map on bidclerk is wrong. It could be Crescent Place. Not sure. :dunno:

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 03:49 AM

He was in it! Didn't you see his commercials...

" If you want to know where he gets his haircut, log on to gman-garage.com."

:lol:

Why of course. You didn't think g-man could do this tournament without a commercial did you? :D

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 04:03 AM

Greenville

February 27th, 2008, 04:20 AM

We all remember how O'Charley's was originally going to put a new restaurant at the Point right? Well, they just recently closed their restaurant along Haywood Road along with Cheeseburger in Paradise. Fazoli's recently closed all of their restaurants in Anderson and Greenville Counties. Pinky's didn't even last two months on Woodruff Road. This begs the question. Is Greenville getting over-saturated with restaurants? Are there too many? With all of the new ones coming downtown and other places, do you think the area could support all of them or will some fail like what is happening now? I find it also unfortunate Hooters is about ready to move from Laurens Road to Woodruff Road while Longhorn Steakhouse along Haywood Road already has. Four restaurants gone along Haywood Road in less than 6 months. All big chains. This begs yet another question. Is Haywood Road going downhill? If it is, do you think it could rebound from it even with Crescent Place and Haywood Mall.

Haywood isn't going anywhere. It has a lot going for it. It has the state's largest mall, and given the mall's good management (Simon) it will continue to improve and increase its stature. The Crescent Place development will help the area a lot too. Although it has gotten more retail competition from other areas of town lately (especially Woodruff Road), it has held its own. Just because Woodruff is hot doesn't mean that Haywood is struggling. It just means that Greenville is growing and developing multiple retail destinations.

Don't forget about the Patewood medical area in that same midtown vicinity. Both Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center as well as St. Francis are really expanding in the area. There are other nice medical practices in the area. You don't see that kind of investment in declining areas.

Haywood could, however, use an infusion of some new big boxes. Some of the strip centers there look old, so they are ripe for redevelopment. I would also like to see the power lines buried to make for a more pleasant drive. Improving Laurens Road (or at least the intersection at Haywood Road and Laurens Road) would go a long way toward helping Haywood too.

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 04:41 AM

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 04:52 AM

Check out these photos from ESPN especially the sixth one: http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/photogallery?id=3262597&photo=6

Credit to restedtraveler for these two photos from the Bassmaster Classic weigh-in at the "Bi-Lo needs a major renovation Center":

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2293408300_18f782e7cc_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/2292616117_f5571c2aba_b.jpg

distortedlogic1

February 27th, 2008, 05:18 AM

WHNS just reported that the bassmaster calssic brought in 70,000 visitors and over 43 million$ !

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 05:20 AM

^^WOW. That's a lot. :eek: :okay:

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Mixed Use Development
The Village at Jennings Station

Stage
Design

Summary
DataFax Ref: SC0700060119

Class
Offices, Shopping Center or Retail

Type
New

Estimated Value
Unlisted

Key Dates
Start Date 06/01/2008
Next Review 03/16/2008
Last Review 12/18/2007

General Project Information
Project Description Bases, Ballasts, Pavements & Appurtenances, Site Improvements & Amenities, Planting, Cast-In-Place Concrete, Masonry Units, Glazing, Flooring, Building Insulation, Steel Doors & Frames, Wood Doors, Metal-Framed Storefronts, Gypsum Board, Hangers & Supports, Interior Luminaires, Exterior Luminaires, Water Distribution, Hardware, Air Distribution, Grading, HVAC, Paints, Masonry Anchorage & Reinforcement, Masonry Accessories, Stone Assemblies, Joint Sealants, Mechanical Sound, Vibration & Seismic Control, Mechanical Identification, Mechanical Insulation, Pipes & Tubes, Valves, Piping Specialties, Pumps, Domestic Water Piping, Sanitary Waste & Vent Piping, Swimming Pool & Fountain Piping, Heating & Cooling Piping, Grounding & Bonding, Hangers & Supports, Electrical Identification, Conductors & Cables, Raceway & Boxes, Wiring Devices.

Owner Note
Owner to Negotiate with General Contractor. Contact Bo Garland with architect.

Estimated Start Date
June 2008.

Architect Note
Design development design stage. Project On Hold Pending Owner Review.

Project Location
Simpsonville, SC

Key Contacts
Arch The Ellis Group Architecture
220 North Main Street # 325, Greenville, SC 29601 Ph: (864) 235-7464

Fx: (864) 235-7561
www.ellisgrouparchitecture.com info@ellisgrouparchitecture.com
Other ...All Contact to the Architect

Greenville

February 27th, 2008, 07:48 AM

^^Bob Ellis' firm is the architect. :lol:

Skyliner

February 27th, 2008, 08:07 AM

^^True. I g-man430 will boycott any restaurant that moves from Haywood or Laurens Road to Woodruff Road. This includes Longhorn Steakhouse, Hooter's and anything else that decides to take the stupid plunge. :bash: Are these restaurants stupid or something? Don't they know we don't need anymore traffic on Woodruff Road. Why Hoooters why? Now we have to deal with the motorcyles. Yippee. :gaah:Retailers and restaurants typically must follow the traffic in order to survive these days. It shouldn't be a bit surprising. Don't worry though, because once Verdae is more developed many will return to Laurens Road. The Haywood area is likely to remain a strong retail/restaurant cluster with so many residents and businesses in the vicinity, plus the obvious fact that it is very centrally located along a major interstate in the city.

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 06:49 PM

^^Bob Ellis' firm is the architect. :lol:

Unfortunately. Not suprising this project is on hold with the way his POM project is going. In other news, I find this story interesting seeing how they are on a hiring spree right now here: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-02-27-bmw_N.htm I hope it doesn't come to bite us in the butt later on.

g-man430

February 27th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Apple will be coming to Charleston first. The store is now under construction on King Street and they are hiring for the store on Apple's website. Maybe Greenville (forum member) can take some pics of it. I don't really care that they're getting it before we do seeing how I like Charleston. They get the state's first Apple, while we get the state's first PF Changs and Cheesecake Factory. It's a win-win in my book unless you include Saks Fifth Avenue. :) I've always wondered how Charleston was able to get these high-end retailers downtown while Greenville can't. Anybody know? They both seem to have the same amount of foot traffic. Is it the tourist part of it that makes it like that?

Skyliner

February 27th, 2008, 08:48 PM

Duh. :lol:

How often do you see yourself purchasing clothing from Saks? So if Greenville gets a Saks and an IMAX, it'll be a real city? No thank you. I'm pretty proud of this city the way it is and the way it is growing. Give it time. We don't need to see those kind of places come only to close in a few years, and they have never been necessary in bringing the city to where it is so far.

RestedTraveler

February 27th, 2008, 09:55 PM

...I've always wondered how Charleston was able to get these high-end retailers downtown while Greenville can't. Anybody know? They both seem to have the same amount of foot traffic. Is it the tourist part of it that makes it like that?

It is the toursim traffic exactly...not only tourists, but very affluent tourists that don't mind dropping some change while in Charleston. Heck, some people take trips to Charleston to shop (period). I guess King Street is the closest thing SC has to Palm Beach's Worth Avenue. Even though Greenville is becoming a tourist draw...it's still not on par with Charleston in that area.

erm1981

February 27th, 2008, 11:33 PM

Do you really think Greenville will ever be as much of a tourist draw than Charleston or Myrtle Beach. I think Asheville has more tourist than us.

Skyliner

February 28th, 2008, 12:11 AM

Greenville is by far the largest business center among those cities, which is a major reason why we have so many visitors in town everyday. While tourism is separate from corporate travel, Greenville has a very strong balance of both, where the other cities are heavily reliant on their tourist industry above everything else. You have to consider the fact that each of these cities has a major tourist attraction that has set them apart from business-oriented cities like Greenville. Myrtle Beach has the ocean and the beach, Charleston has the ocean, the beach, and the history, and Asheville has the mountains. Greenville has a very nice waterfall and park downtown, but that alone is not large enough to attract the numbers of annual visitors these other cities see. Considering this fact, Greenville does very well in attracting a large number of annual tourists to compliment the solid business base. Downtown is a thriving place because of the vision to maximize its potential. :okay:

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 12:15 AM

No to Erm1981. Not in my lifetime at least. I think Columbia gets more tourists than we do. Even Augusta thanks to the Masters.

Mayor Bagwell delivers state of city address

By Jason Evans-The Easley Progress

Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:08 PM CST

EASLEY - The city of Easley is in "the best financial shape ... we've been in, in some time," said Mayor Larry Bagwell.

Bagwell gave his inaugural "State of the City" address Thursday hosted by the Greater Easley Chamber of commerce at Outback Steakhouse.

He touched on public safety, planning and growth.

"The city of Easley is a very, very strong community," Bagwell said.

Last year, the city granted 150 new home permits and 11 commercial permits, representing an investment in Easley of "a total of $27 million," Bagwell said.

New businesses to the city include Copper River Grille, Dunkin Donuts and Walgreen's.

Bagwell reserved the majority of his comments for Saco Lowell, addressing recent comments concerning the project made by County Councilman G. Neil Smith as published in The Easley Progress last week.

"We feel like that some of the things ... need to be explained ... some of the advantages, not only to the city, but to the entire county," Bagwell said.

Bagwell and City Administrator Fox Simons were quick to dispel claims that the project represents corporate welfare.

"That's simply not true," Simons said. "Businesses that locate to Saco Lowell will pay the same taxes and fees as other businesses."

Two bonds will be issued to fund the project, he said.

"(Saco Lowell) will not cost the city one extra penny," Simons said. "Taxes will not go up."

The project will feature over 700,000 square feet of new retail development, he said.

"It's more than just one store going," Simons said. "(It's) 900 new jobs for our community, paying $10-12 an hour."

The project will bring roads and new sewers to the area, Bagwell said.

"I don't think the city of Easley has ever experienced anything like this in terms of economic development," Bagwell said.

The infrastructure work done around the project will benefit the city, Simons said.

"Once that's done, that area is just going to boom (with) further commercial development," he said.

The project will benefit the entire county, not only with new jobs but through the local option sales tax which functions to lower homeowners property taxes, Simons said.

"The more retail that's out there, the more people buy, the lower your taxes are going to be," he said.

Many people have asked if the city needs such a project, Bagwell said.

"Yes, we need it," he said. "Sure, we want industry. We would love to have some manufacturing. But if you look at the trends and see where we are, we don't think it's going to happen yet where we are."

Saco Lowell represents the city "looking to the future," Bagwell said.

Bagwell said the city hopes to hold an official ground breaking ceremony on the Saco Lowell site sometime in March.

"It's going to be a big event," he said.

Disagreements between Easley officials and County Councilmembers will work themselves out, Bagwell said.

"We're going to work with them. We're going to work with the school board," he said. "We need them and they need us."

The mayor's future plans include hiring an economic and marketing advisor and beautifying the intersection near Wal-Mart and the post office.

The new location of Easley High School will spur growth on that end of town, Bagwell said.

"When they move a high school, people follow it, buildings follow it," Bagwell said.

Easley's City Council is a good mix, Bagwell said.

"We all have one thing in common," he said. "That's to make Easley a better place to live."

Bagwell said Easley will have open government.

"I like to hear what people have to say about our community," he said. "Most of the time if we hear something, it's something bad. Anytime you're by City Hall, drop by and see us."

Greenville

February 28th, 2008, 12:21 AM

It is the toursim traffic exactly...not only tourists, but very affluent tourists that don't mind dropping some change while in Charleston. Heck, some people take trips to Charleston to shop (period). I guess King Street is the closest thing SC has to Palm Beach's Worth Avenue. Even though Greenville is becoming a tourist draw...it's still not on par with Charleston in that area.

This is exactly right. Charleston is all about tourism, g-man. That is Charleston's bread and butter. Their downtown has several things going for it:

1. History (Charleston is old as dirt, so most of the downtown buildings, houses, etc. have been here for a LONG time). Remember, Charleston was once a more populated city than New York!
2. Tourism (mostly related to #1, plus the fact that Charleston is viewed as a classy, Old South city).
3. Educational institutions located downtown play a big role in the nightlife options here. College of Charleston has an enrollment of over 11,000 and is located in the heart of downtown. MUSC is also downtown within a mile of the historic district, and enrolls several thousand students in all health professions (medicine, dentistry, nursing, physician assistant, speech pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy). The Citadel is only a few miles away from downtown and provides thousands more students. These students, plus tourism, keeps Charleston's downtown busy.
4. The beach is nearby. Many people move here because they like the beach. That goes for retirees as well as young people who want to live here for a few years before getting serious about their careers.

Contrast this with Greenville, a fairly "young" city in terms of importance and prosperity. Rather than being built on history, Greenville was built (and continues to be built) on big business. That is why almost everyone knows about Charleston, but people in our very own state don't know much about Greenville except that it is near the mountains. Greenville is really making a name for itself, and is attracting a different type of person than Charleston is. Greenville is in a great position moving forward! :)

Skyliner

February 28th, 2008, 12:23 AM

Skyliner

February 28th, 2008, 12:23 AM

...

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 12:26 AM

G-man, just so you know, I never read these articles posted. They are too long and detract from any real discussion taking place at the time. You ought to consider posting them in a special thread for articles, for anyone who wants to read them. At the very least, you should post a link to the source, or perhaps consider following the guidelines set forth regarding article posting on this forum (which you have already seen).

I won't make a new thread, but I will from now on post a link instead of copying and pasting the whole article. Does that sound better? :)

Skyliner

February 28th, 2008, 12:27 AM

:wink2:

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 12:28 AM

This is exactly right. Charleston is all about tourism, g-man. That is Charleston's bread and butter. Look at the airport travel, and most of Charleston's is due to tourism and leisure travel while most of Greenville's is due to business travel. Two very different cities which have been built on different foundations. Greenville is in a great position moving forward! :)

True. I don't think Charleston is going to be getting as many tourists as they once were though unless they come from overseas. Shouldn't take a genius to figure out why. Just drive by a gas station for your answer.

apaladin

February 28th, 2008, 01:06 AM

G-Man, I was surprised that O'Charley's closed. I just ate lunch there last Wednesday. I should have known something was up. My picture was actually on the wall there(team) and when I went in it was gone, but all the other pics were still up so I didn't think that much about it. O'Charley's has been there a LONG time. Did the Cheeseburger in Paradise chain go under? I know the one in Asheville closed also. I loved Longhorn on Haywood and ate there often. I have not been to the Woodruff Rd/ location. Again I'm surprised at the O'Charley's closing as they seem to always have a good crowd.
BTW does anyone know what the building i front of Whole Foods is going to be?

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 05:09 AM

Charleston, SC Apple Store: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/photos/charleston_0226.jpg

RestedTraveler

February 28th, 2008, 08:17 AM

G-man, just so you know, I never read these articles posted. They are too long and detract from any real discussion taking place at the time. You ought to consider posting them in a special thread for articles, for anyone who wants to read them. At the very least, you should post a link to the source, or perhaps consider following the guidelines set forth regarding article posting on this forum (which you have already seen).

Amen. Thank you, Skyliner. I usually just scroll past those as well. If it's something interesting or if I see a link to an article posted with a question or comment that is interesting, I'll follow the link and go read it. It's best just to post a link and spark some discussion with a question/comment, IMHO.

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 08:26 AM

^^Sounds like urbanplanet. Yuck. :puke:

Greenville

February 28th, 2008, 09:35 AM

It's easy to be unenthusiastic about Greenville...if you've ever been there, then you know what I mean. Columbia is better. Charleston is the best.

Seriously dude, are you trying to be funny? Have you spent any extensive periods of time in Columbia or Charleston?!?

Skyliner

February 28th, 2008, 11:31 AM

More than half of everything he says ends up being (or at the very least appearing to be) lies. If the guy actually meant that ridiculous comment, he would have stopped posting 50 times per day in the Greenville threads a long while back. He desparately needs to grow up and begin making mature sense or he'll permanently damage whatever is left of his reputation in this city. Regarding this latest quote, where was the evidence he felt that way a few days ago? How about a month ago? A year ago? Two??? I don't consider lies to be jokes.:ohno:

RestedTraveler

February 28th, 2008, 03:49 PM

Seriously dude, are you trying to be funny? Have you spent any extensive periods of time in Columbia or Charleston?!?

He's just mad at me because of the photo thread and throwing off on my signature...that's all. He'll get over it sooner rather than later.

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 06:42 PM

Nope, we're not heading for a recession Bush we're already in it: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-02-28-bush_N.htm :ohno: Could we seriously have a more stupid person in office?

Where should I start? Maybe this: http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/2008-02-28-dollar-thurs_N.htm No wait, this is better: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2008-02-27-retail-strategy-slowdown_N.htm This one is the best though: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-02-28-gdp_N.htm

Yep we're screwed. Stocks drop: http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/28/markets/markets_morning/index.htm?postversion=2008022810 Price of a barrel of oil just went up again: http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/28/markets/oil_prices.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008022810

Greenville

February 28th, 2008, 08:17 PM

Raleigh-NC

February 28th, 2008, 08:33 PM

Could we seriously have a more stupid person in office?
Yes, the one you will vote for ;)

Greenville

February 28th, 2008, 08:48 PM

Yes, the one you will vote for ;)

:lol:

Beware

February 28th, 2008, 09:18 PM

VOTE or else.....

http://www.puromycin.co.uk/gallery/animals/SquirrelGun.jpg

Raleigh-NC

February 28th, 2008, 09:37 PM

O.k., you convinced me... I vote for more high-rises in Greenville :lol:

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 10:23 PM

^^ Wow, that's five off-topic links in one post. Are you going for a record?

Nope. Just hoping you guys will quit talking about me. That's all. I tried to come back here and be mature about it but all you guys do is say:

-hey g-man post the links instead of the whole article
-hey g-man those photos are copyright and you can't post them even though you gave credit to the person who took them
-hey g-man your fish is going to get it
-hey g-man just make sure you and Bob don't move here
-hey g-man when is this project going to start

I'll post the whole damn article if I want to. I'll post pics with credit if I want to. I don't have a fish Raleigh-NC. I changed my avatar hoping you would quit talking about it but I guess that didn't work. I'll move where I want when I want. Bob and me aren't the reasons projects aren't getting built here. How am I supposed to know when a certain project is supposed to start? Contact the developer and find out for yourself. It's my life not yours. Quit telling me how to run it. Jeez.

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 10:44 PM

The Cherrydale Area Plan is now out: http://www.greenvilleplanning.com/land_development/Cherrydale_projects_files/Final%20Draft.pdf Some great ideas for that area around and along Poinsett Highway. :okay:

Site of soon to become Easley Town Center:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/021-4.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/019-3.jpg

Plaza on Pelham & Walmart:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/011-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/013-3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/012-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/016-3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/015-3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/014-3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/010-2.jpg

Village at Pelham:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/007-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/008-1.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/009-2.jpg

Carolina First headquarters:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/006-3.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/005-2.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/004-1.jpg

Raleigh-NC

February 28th, 2008, 11:23 PM

Just hoping you guys will quit talking about me.
I am not sure this is possible... Not if you talk bullshit politics in a thread that has nothing to do with it. Deep inside you know that we love you and could not bear the thought of you not posting here :cheers:

With that having been said, thanks for your update photos. Your work is much appreciated. I know from experience how hard it is to keep up, or in my case failing to keep up, with the latest, let alone post photos.

g-man430

February 28th, 2008, 11:44 PM

I am not sure this is possible... Not if you talk bullshit politics in a thread that has nothing to do with it. Deep inside you know that we love you and could not bear the thought of you not posting here :cheers:

With that having been said, thanks for your update photos. Your work is much appreciated. I know from experience how hard it is to keep up, or in my case failing to keep up, with the latest, let alone post photos.

I'll stop going off-topic if you guys quit making fun of me. Don't worry. I'm not going to quit posting here. You know I can't resist that. :)

Raleigh-NC

February 29th, 2008, 12:04 AM

Good... to all the parts of your reply :okay: By the way, the "rotten fish" I was talking about had nothing to do with your avatar... It goes back to early 1992, and it involved slapping others with a "fresh fish" :)

Skyliner

February 29th, 2008, 12:09 AM

Nope. Just hoping you guys will quit talking about me. That's all. I tried to come back here and be mature about it but all you guys do is say:

-hey g-man post the links instead of the whole article
-hey g-man those photos are copyright and you can't post them even though you gave credit to the person who took them
-hey g-man your fish is going to get it
-hey g-man just make sure you and Bob don't move here
-hey g-man when is this project going to start

I'll post the whole damn article if I want to. I'll post pics with credit if I want to. I don't have a fish Raleigh-NC. I changed my avatar hoping you would quit talking about it but I guess that didn't work. I'll move where I want when I want. Bob and me aren't the reasons projects aren't getting built here. How am I supposed to know when a certain project is supposed to start? Contact the developer and find out for yourself. It's my life not yours. Quit telling me how to run it. Jeez.You are such a lier! Don't you get it? WE DON'T READ THE ARTICLES!!! I've been kind and haven't taken this complaint to the administration yet, but if you continue to act this way, you will leave me no other choice.

Those copyright photos are NOT available for copying and posting even if you give credit to the original artist. You CANNOT legally copy them and post them without permission of the artist. That is what you have done by posting them in this forum, and you never provided a link to the source. I want to contact a few of the artists directly but have no way of knowing where to find them thanks to your lack of respect. Why do you think it is okay to post everyone else's artwork? It does not make you a better person, so you may want to reconsider that strategy before something serious happens (i.e. someone sues you or takes you to court). A link is just as effective and is in accordance with U.S. copyright laws - unless the artist has restricted direct linking, which some have.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 12:45 AM

^^Kind? You've never been nice to me. Everybody else post the whole article. No reason I can't. I won't post other people's pics though anymore.

Sales and Construction of The Cascades at Verdae Continuing Care Retirement Community Progress at Steady Pace Despite National Real Estate Downturn

GREENVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sales and construction of Banyan Senior Living’s flagship continuing care retirement community, The Cascades at Verdae continue to progress at a steady pace despite a national real estate slump. More than 75 percent of the cottages are already sold.

“We are pleased with the progress of construction and the overwhelmingly positive response to the community,” said Ken Bolt, president and CEO, Banyan Senior Living.

Bolt attributes the success to factors including the relative stability of the Greenville market, the growing popularity of retirement communities in the Southeast and consumer demand.

Sales in the South Carolina have remained steady despite the recent real estate slump. The South Carolina Association of Realtors recorded a 55 percent increase in sales and a 33 percent increase in the median price since 2000.

“As the tenth-fastest growing state in the country, South Carolina continues to be a draw for homebuyers, and the quality of life is a testament to the market’s enduring strength and attractiveness,” said Nick Kremydas, South Carolina Association of Realtors CEO.

Bolt adds, “We’re fortunate that we’re in a market that has weathered the real estate slump well. Combine that with the quality lifestyle we’re creating at The Cascades, and we’re able to present prospective buyers with quite an attractive retirement investment.”

Construction of The Cascades continues to keep pace with demand. Construction of the community’s 52,000-square-foot clubhouse, cottage and apartment homes and on-site health care center are all under way with initial occupancy of the cottages and apartments expected by late fall of 2008. Currently the exterior masonry walls and structural steel of the clubhouse are nearing completion. Framing and installation of roof trusses is under way on apartment buildings. Grading and utility installation continues on the North side of the property including the area where the health services center will be located.

Construction progress of The Cascades can be viewed first hand from a viewing platform recently constructed at the community’s entrance on Old Sulphur Springs Road. The Cascades has also positioned a Web cam on the property that provides updated images on the community’s Web site, www.thecascadesverdae.com. An animated virtual tour is also available on the Web site.

About Banyan Senior Living

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Banyan Senior Living is a leading developer and manager of CCRCs in the Southeast. Banyan has provided services for more than 1,800 independent living units, 750 assisted living units, and 175 special care units in communities in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Virginia. For more information on Banyan Senior Living, please visit www.banyanseniorliving.com.

About Verdae

Throughout his lifetime, John D. Hollingsworth invested in real estate because of his love for the land and belief in its enduring value. When his legacy was entrusted to the Board of Hollingsworth Fund, Inc., they carefully considered how best to utilize a key piece of property in the heart of Greenville and created Verdae Development, Inc. to realize the vision.

The result is Verdae, a 1,100-acre property located near the intersection of I-85 and I-385 in Greenville, S.C. As the subsidiary of Hollingsworth Funds, the not-for-profit organization established by the textile magnate, Verdae Development, Inc. will arrange for the development of this property.

The master-planned development will encompass a mix of different uses and residential neighborhoods. Upon completion, Verdae will include single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, apartments and The Cascades. The commercial component of the development will feature hotels, retail and a variety of office and professional spaces. For a comprehensive history and master plan information, please see www.verdaedevelopment.com.

Skyliner

February 29th, 2008, 12:54 AM

I won't make a new thread, but I will from now on post a link instead of copying and pasting the whole article. Does that sound better? :)
...I'll post the whole damn article if I want to...Another lie from the king of lies in Greenville.:ohno:

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 12:58 AM

^^I changed my mind. Why should I listen to you? It's my life, not yours. Would you just leave me alone please. Is that too much to ask? Can we please get back to what this thread is supposed to be about. That's all I ask.

Skyliner

February 29th, 2008, 01:08 AM

^^I changed my mind...We know. The problem is that you change your mind everyday, which destroys your credibility. This thread is not about g-man430 and what g-man430 wants, it is about the City of Greenville and all of the members who want to discuss what is happening here. You obviously don't care about what everyone else thinks, but you should at least show some respect for them and stop posting random nonsensical information.:ohno: Oh, one other thing... PLEASE STOP LYING! Thank you!

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 01:11 AM

^^You know what? You're right. :) It's about developments and issues going on in the area and what people think of them. Everybody has a right to their opinions and nobody's should be counted out including mine.

Koerber coming to Laurens
German company planning to hire at least 75 people for new Laurens County plant

Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 2:00 am

By Rudolph Bell
BUSINESS WRITER
dmbell@greenvillenews.com

A German metalworking company will employ at least 75 people -- and possibly more -- at a new plant in Laurens County.

The factory -- the first U.S. beachhead for Berlin-based Koerber GmbH -- is taking shape in a 50,000-square-foot building in the Hunter Industrial Park.

Martin Niggemeier, managing director of the company's new U.S. unit, Koerber LLC, said the plant will employ at least 75 people over the next five years and maybe more, depending on the outcome of negotiations with customers.

He said Koerber would spend at least $5 million on the new plant, which will make aluminum and brass components for use in car engines, home appliances, tools and computers.

Koerber launched the plant at the insistence of European customers that wanted its metalworking technology available to their operations in the United States, Niggemeier said. One customer is the German-owned Continental AG diesel fuel-injector plant in Columbia, he said.

"We are a Tier 2 supplier and therefore a supplier to the European-based Tier One suppliers here in the Southeast United States," Niggemeier said. He said the BMW auto assembly plant in Greer is not a customer.

Niggemeier said Koerber looked at 23 possible sites in five different states before choosing Laurens County, in part because of the cooperation of the county's economic development department and the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Marvin Moss, executive director of the Laurens County Development Corp., the county's economic development arm, said he expects Koerber to spend another $5 million expanding the plant sometime over the next five years. The county has given the company tax breaks based on that scenario, Moss said.

Moss said the German investment would help replace about 1,000 jobs lost with the closing of the Timken Co. plant in Clinton last year.

The building Koerber is occupying was developed by the Gilbert Group of Greenwood, a private developer, and the Laurens Commission of Public Works, Moss said. It was sold to the company late last year.

Among the jobs Koerber needs to fill at the new plant are positions in CNC machining, quality control, logistics and personnel, Niggemeier said. He said the pay rate depends on the job and the employee's skills.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 01:39 AM

Easley mill could become mixed-use development

By Amy Clarke
STAFF WRITER
arclarke@greenvillenews.com

A shuttered mill in Easley might be headed for a new life with developers looking to convert the building to homes and retail shops.

The Easley Planning Commission approved a rezoning request that would pave the way for an extensive renovation at Woodside Mill.

The proposal includes 128 lofts on upper levels with small businesses located on the ground floor, officials said.

"It's going to be quite a boost if this happens," said Mayor Larry Bagwell. "I think it's going to open up another economic side of the city."

"We do historic preservation and community redevelopment," he said. "We think reuse is better than new construction."

The Easley area is a prime spot for this type of redevelopment, said Jim Sari, CEO for the developer, N.C.-based The Landmark Group.

"I actually tuned into that mill several years ago," said Sari, a Clemson University alumnus. "We think it's a good area, and the numbers work."

Tommy Holcombe, the city's building official, said the rezoning to general commercial would permit a multi-use facility to be created at the site on South Fifth Street, just down from West End Hall.

The rezoning request will go before Easley City Council in March for official approval.

If approved, Sari said construction would begin by the start of 2009 with the building ready for its first residents during the first quarter of 2010.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 01:46 AM

Seriously dude, are you trying to be funny? Have you spent any extensive periods of time in Columbia or Charleston?!?

No, not really, but both cities have a lot going for it. :) Columbia is ok and Greenville is nice, but Charleston is the best IMHO. Not sure why you don't like it. I have a good time everytime I go there. It has lots of diversity and culture that you can't find as much of here. :) It also has the aquarium, national retailers downtown, IMAX until it closed unfortunately, etc. You can't find those in Greenville or Columbia.

Greenville

February 29th, 2008, 02:37 AM

No, not really, but both cities have a lot going for it. :) Columbia is ok and Greenville is nice, but Charleston is the best IMHO. Not sure why you don't like it. I have a good time everytime I go there. It has lots of diversity and culture that you can't find as much of here. :) It also has the aquarium, national retailers downtown, IMAX until it closed unfortunately, etc. You can't find those in Greenville or Columbia.

I don't dislike Charleston, but at the same time I do not see the hype. I have never said that Charleston is a bad place to visit for a weekend, but living here is an entirely different matter.

Greenville has more diversity than Charleston. I don't hear foreign languages being spoken downtown here like I do in downtown Greenville. Charleston does not have nearly the international investment that Greenville does. Not even close.

The history here is interesting. Tourism has contributed to the downtown area being a shopping and dining destination. You're right, you don't have that in Greenville or Columbia - yet.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 02:44 AM

Greenville

February 29th, 2008, 02:52 AM

^^What makes Charleston not that great when living there for several years compared to Columbia and Greenville? I've heard the same thing you've said regarding Charleston from several people I know that live there. They liked it when they first got there but not so much anymore.

I was never that impressed with it. Growing up, I always heard people rave about how wonderful Charleston is. After visiting a few times, I never saw what they were talking about. After living here for a few years, I still don't.

Perhaps I have been spoiled because I have had an opportunity to live in some really cool cities. I guess it's all relative. I know plenty of people who really like it here. To each his own.

apaladin

February 29th, 2008, 03:05 AM

I was never that impressed with it. Growing up, I always heard people rave about how wonderful Charleston is. After visiting a few times, I never saw what they were talking about. After living here for a few years, I still don't.

Perhaps I have been spoiled because I have had an opportunity to live in some really cool cities. I guess it's all relative. I know plenty of people who really like it here. To each his own.

FWIW, I've never gotten the Charleston thing either. One thing Greenville or Columbia certainly doesn't stink like Charleston.:lol:

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 03:14 AM

^^I think a lot of it has to do with the historic value of the city. ;)

Greenville

February 29th, 2008, 04:10 AM

^^I think a lot of it has to do with the historic value of the city. ;)

You should visit Boston if you haven't already. Now there's a city with some history! :)

erm1981

February 29th, 2008, 04:12 AM

I went deep sea fishing there this past summer and the humidity there is terrible plus there is this salty feel to the air during the hot summer which makes you feel sticker than even living in Greenville. Plus it did stink a lot. Smelled like stagnated sea water the whole time we were there.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 04:17 AM

My mom was born and raised in Boston Greenville. :) Charleston isn't that bad Erm1981. Ok, maybe it is. :lol: In other news, Crescent Place construction has been moved from Spring 2008 to Fall 2008 according to bidclerk.com. Not a bad thing really especially with the way the economy is going right now. Oh yeah. One other thing. ;) Are you ready:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/25.jpg

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 04:49 AM

Designers envision a vibrant Town Center filled with restaurants, a grocery
store, bank, drug store, coffee shop, bookstore, boutiques, offices, live-work
condos, and potentially a hotel. Reminiscent of an old-fashioned downtown,
this marketplace features an open-air green with a pavilion for concerts, art
shows, plays, holiday celebrations, and farmers markets.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/26.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/27.jpg

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 05:12 AM

The Community Center is set deep in the southern section of the property, near the wetlands and lake. Designed for residents’ formal and
informal socializing, the 4,000-square-foot center will have a formal entry garden, areas for entertaining large groups, an exercise room, a large swimming pool and a separate pool and playground for small children. It will be just a short walk across a future pedestrian bridge to Nettle’s Park, Clemson’s recreational complex of baseball and soccer fields and tennis courts. The Community Center will be built along with 65 homes in Phase I, which is set to break ground in March 2008. Construction on the Town Center will begin next year.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/29.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/28.jpg

distortedlogic1

February 29th, 2008, 05:14 AM

^^Is this the place that will go behind the mall?

distortedlogic1

February 29th, 2008, 05:16 AM

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 05:17 AM

^^Is this the place that will go behind the mall?

Not even close. That's Crescent Place which is this: http://www.choldings.com/Marketing%20Packages/Crescent%20Place.pdf

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 05:18 AM

Take a look at slide# 13 everyone. So much for focused growth around an urban core! :dunno: :ohno:

That's Greenville County for you. :lol:

distortedlogic1

February 29th, 2008, 05:30 AM

Not even close. That's Crescent Place which is this: http://www.choldings.com/Marketing%20Packages/Crescent%20Place.pdf

Your first post said "crescent place" moves construction from spring to fall. :dunno:

distortedlogic1

February 29th, 2008, 05:34 AM

Not even close. That's Crescent Place which is this: http://www.choldings.com/Marketing%20Packages/Crescent%20Place.pdf

Cool. Starting date?

Look at slides 21 and 22. :lol:

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 05:34 AM

^^The project I posted images of above is not Crescent Place and starts construction in March. Crescent Place starts construction in the fall. It was originally supposed to start in the spring.

Greenville

February 29th, 2008, 05:47 AM

My computer doesn't like the Cherrydale master plan file. Each time I try to open it, my browser freezes and I have to Ctrl-Alt-Del and start over. :(

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 05:51 AM

^^The odd thing is the same is happening here. :( It opens about half of it then a message comes up saying Adobe has encountered a problem and must close. :dunno: Guess nobody cares about that mixed-use project. Oh well.

Skyliner

February 29th, 2008, 05:59 AM

I have the entire document. It is huge, so some computers will have trouble downloading it.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 06:01 AM

distortedlogic1

February 29th, 2008, 06:02 AM

the slide I am refferring to shows a graphic about county pop growth since 2000. Almost the entire city center is shown to have lost population. The only places where above average growth (whatever that means) has ocurred is within the greer, mauldin, and simpsonville areas. This seems to be the opposite of what planners were trying to accomplish. :ohno:

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 06:04 AM

^^The reason you see that is because the city center is already developed and a lot of homes are being torn down for commercial developments. Hopefully that will change though soon.

distortedlogic1

February 29th, 2008, 06:19 AM

Still not a good sign considering planners started trying to reverse this more than 10 years ago, and considering the dozens of residential infill projects that have been happening. This data shows the trend is not reversing, and the masses continue to move to the burbs.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 06:21 AM

I should be able to attend this seeing how I don't have school next Friday and this site is less than 3 miles from where I live. Easley Town Center is scheduled to include a movie theater, hotel, Walmart SuperCenter, Kohl's, Ross, Office Depot, and other restaurants/retailers not yet announced. The pic of the sign posted below is wrong. It is not going to be 450,000 square feet but rather over 700,000 square feet in size when complete. It will create 900 jobs in all.

http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/NEWS01/80228039/1004/NEWS01

Groundbreaking planned for project at Saco Lowell site

Published: Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 3:38 pm

By Julie Howle
STAFF WRITER
jhowle@greenvillenews.com

A groundbreaking for a development on the old Saco Lowell site in Easley is planned for March 7, according to a statement from Brett Communications, a group working with Cedarwood Development on the project.

Officials with Cedarwood Development have said they want to create a shopping center called Easley Town Center on the property.

Plans, which include a Wal-Mart, call for an investment of about $82 million in the building, according to Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell, and would incorporate infrastructure work with new roads, sewer and water.

"It's going to be an economic blast for this area," Bagwell has said about the project that has been almost three years in the making.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 7 on site, according to the statement, and construction is expected to start soon.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/021-4.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/019-3.jpg

Greenville

February 29th, 2008, 07:57 AM

^^But i'm on a new Sony Vaio laptop with a cable modem and Windows Vista. :nuts: :dunno: This is the mixed-use development: http://www.patricksquare.com/ and http://www.tomwinkopp.com/developments.php?details=38

This is a nice project for Clemson. I like that it states the proximity to Greenville, rather than just Charlotte and Atlanta. We're moving up in the world. :)

I am shocked to see that Tom Winkopp is the developer. :lol:

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 08:08 AM

^^That's not the developer. ;) JMC Communities is. Good... to all the parts of your reply :okay: By the way, the "rotten fish" I was talking about had nothing to do with your avatar... It goes back to early 1992, and it involved slapping others with a "fresh fish" :)

Are you the cave man from the Geico commercial? :eek2: :lol:

Raleigh-NC

February 29th, 2008, 05:35 PM

^^
Huh!!! Nope.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 08:55 PM

^^Poo. :( I thought you were the cave man seeing how they like fish.

g-man430

February 29th, 2008, 09:36 PM

:okay: Check out these aerials of areas in and around Anderson: http://independentmail.com/photos/galleries/2008/feb/19/community-profile-2008-aerials/

distortedlogic1

March 1st, 2008, 05:52 AM

Can someone post TBAs from this week, I was not able to get ahold of a copy.

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 06:12 AM

Global economy creates jobs here
Overseas sales driving growth for Fluor, GE

Published: Friday, February 29, 2008 - 2:00 am

By Rudolph Bell
BUSINESS WRITER
dmbell@greenvillenews.com

On the same day the U.S. Commerce Department reported the gross domestic product grew a scant 0.6 percent between October and December, Fluor Corp. celebrated record fourth-quarter earnings and its best year ever during 2007.

Fluor and another multinational corporation with a big local presence, General Electric Co., are continuing to add high-paying engineering jobs in Greenville even as the U.S. economy falters.

A big reason is that a lot of their business is coming from overseas.

Fluor spokesman Keith Stephens said more than half of his company's current workload is outside of the United States.

Among the big contracts that the Irving, Texas-based engineering and construction company landed during 2007 are billion-dollar jobs to design and build plants in China and Saudi Arabia and a $900 million job to design and build a mine in western Australia.

The record financial performance Fluor reported Thursday means the company stays on track to add 200 to 400 white-collar employees this year to its current Greenville work force of about 2,800, said Scott Ruby, general manager of its local operations.

General Electric Co., meanwhile, has said it plans to add at least 200 engineers in Greenville this year in response to strong demand for energy-related products and services, including gas and wind turbines it designs and makes locally.

Rick Stanley, vice president in charge of engineering for GE Energy, has said most of the new business is coming from overseas. Another 200 engineers would bring GE's local work force to an all-time high of about 3,200.

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 06:52 AM

Skyliner wins. He was right this whole time. Sorry guys. I can't do it anymore. New site plan for The Avenue at Easton Marketplace: http://theshoppingcentergroup.com/DSN/wwwtheshoppingcentergroupcom/Commerce/ProductImages/pf001462.pdf

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 07:36 AM

Does anybody think Simon would ever build a mixed-use development on that Haywood Mall overflow lot? Would love to see something similiar to Crescent Place go there. :) Expect a tower crane to go up on the Courtyard by Marriott site soon and a developer is said to buying big chunks of land in the Greenline-Spartanburg neighborhood. There's two TBA's for you distortedlogic. ;)

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 07:50 AM

320 East Main in Spartanburg update photos:
http://www.triangleconstruction.com/pages/320e_main_feb08.html

Cascades at Verdae update photos:
http://www.triangleconstruction.com/pages/cascades_feb08.html

Greenville Technical College Northwest Campus update photos:
http://www.triangleconstruction.com/pages/gtnw.html

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 09:28 AM

VOTE or else.....

http://www.puromycin.co.uk/gallery/animals/SquirrelGun.jpg

So that's what happened to my squirrel. :lol:

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 09:53 AM

And to think they didn't even mention Easley Town Center, Dillard Creek/Creekside Village, Easton Marketplace, Rosewood Mall, Kohl's development in Anderson, Battery Park Towne Center, etc. :nuts: Build, build, build. I thought they said the economy was bad. How many shopping centers will start construction this year? I lost count.

Market Overview-
The retail market in Greenville, South Carolina, has remained strong over the past several years, with occupancy rate ranging from 92.00% to 93.00% year after year. In 2007, the market posted a year-end occupancy rate of 92.26%. Although this is a slight decrease from the 92.89% occupancy rate posted at year-end 2006, market growth over this twelve-month period was substantiated by 396,350 square feet of new space and 327,113 square feet of absorption.

The large majority of growth that occurred in the Greenville retail market can be attributed to the development of grocery-anchored shopping centers. The Delhaize Group opened six grocery-anchored centers in the area, including five Bloom-anchored locations, as well as the first Food Lion-anchored center in Greenville. Publix opened in August 2007 at McBee station, joining Staples as an anchor in this downtown mixed-use project. In June 2007, Bi-Lo unveiled two new Super Bi-Lo models. Bi-Lo markets this concept as offering a greater selection of grocery items, more natural and organic foods, a greater wine selection, and a cozier atmosphere than their previous stores.

Retail Markets-

Woodruff Road:
McChesney Investment Advisors failed to close on the purchase of 75 acres for a mixed-use development at Woodruff Road and I-85. The initial site plan included 500,000 square feet of retail space. McChesney’s desire was to have the development resemble Greenville’s downtown area, without the large office towers. As of year-end 2007, no retailers have been announced as being committed to the project. In March 2007, Menin Development Companies Inc. out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida purchased the former 66-acre Greenville Mall site from Canyon Gulfside Development for $52 million. Menin sold part of the property for a 150,000 square foot Costco, which opened in August 2007. The remaining property is slated to become a high-end mixed-use center. As of year-end 2007, Rooms To Go was the only tenant that had committed to this new development.

Laurens Road/Pleasantburg Drive:
Construction has started on a Fresh Market-anchored center that will include an additional 30,000 square feet of retail space. The new center is scheduled to open in June 2008. The project has been a “shot-in-the-arm” for the once-prominent Pleasantburg Drive and Laurens Road corridors. Situated between the 1,200 acre master-planned Verdae Development, the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), and Greenville’s dynamic downtown, this is fast-becoming the Mid-Town destination predicted as many as ten years ago. Walgreen’s purchased a site at the intersection of Parkins Mill Road and Laurens Road, and is expected to open a new store in the latter part of 2008. Demand for retail space in this corridor is expected to grow significantly as new residential developments come online. In July 2007, the city approved re-zoning of 26 acres near the I-385 and Haywood Road interchange which will allow for a mixed-use development known as Crescent Place., which is planned as over 200,000 square feet of retail space. Construction is also expected to begin on the 1,200-acre Verdae Development in 2008.

East Side:
Construction has begun on the new Wal-Mart, which will be located near the Pelham Road and I-85 interchange. The 135,000 square foot center is at least 40,000 square foot smaller than any of their current stores in the area. This new development is expected to be much more attractive than the traditional Wal-Mart, with plans for brick construction and extensive landscaping. Walgreens, CVS, Starbucks, and FedEx/Kinko’s have already opened stores in the immediate vicinity of the upcoming Wal-Mart.

The North Hampton Market has continued to be the center of growth along the Wade Hampton corridor, with Discount Tire, Bank of Travelers Rest, and CVS under construction at year-end 2007. Additional retail development has been proposed across from this site at Town Center Drive, as well as at Suber Road, but no anchor tenants have been announced for either project. Over the next 12 to 18 months, retail growth in Greer is expected to continue. This area has been recognized as the fastest-growing municipality in the state.

North Greenville:
New stores continued to open in the Cherrydale area, including Olive Garden, Petco, Staples, KFC, Starbucks, and FedEx/Kinko’s. Failed rezoning efforts stalled additional development in the area, but growth is expected to resume in 2008. In February 2007, Centennial American Properties closed on a 60-acre site on Poinsett Hwy. A power center is planned for the site, with Super Target being the most-likely anchor. Additional developments expected over 2008 include a Walgreens in Travelers Rest and the relocation of Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet from Cherrydale to Travelers Rest.

Forecast-
Greenville will continue to benefit from its close proximity to Atlanta and Charlotte. As these cities continue to grow and more attention is drawn to the Southeast, Greenville will continue to grow as a valid competitor for new business and industry. The impact of Clemson University’s ICAR campus is certain to attract more automotive industry to the area, and give Greenville the opportunity to become an innovation-centric environment.

The demand for retail will inevitably increase, as more residents flock to the area. A good local economy, job availability, affordable housing, and a temperate climate are bringing many residents in from the northeastern United States and Florida. In 2008, we expect to see Greenville continue the steady pattern of growth that it has traditionally experienced. The “credit crunch” that has impacted some regions of the U.S. will have very minimal impact on the Greenville area, as our market displays good fundamentals and untapped potential.

www.collierskeenan.com
Colliers keenan 1
Q4 I 2007
Year-End Retail Market

g-man430

March 1st, 2008, 10:41 AM

This is interesting: http://www.greenvillecounty.org/County_Council/_Agenda/PSPD/CZ-2008-7.pdf Should the county approve it seeing how it's next to commercial development already and will help Poinsett Highway between Cherrydale Point and downtown or should they deny it and hope for a mixed-use development in the future by the same development company or a different one?

Lake Conestee revitalization: http://www.greenvillecounty.org/County_Council/_Agenda/PSPD/CZ-2008-15.pdf
• Tract A (3 acres): New Construction: 96 Multifamily housing units
• Tract M (2.15 acres): Existing Mill: 96 Multifamily housing units
• Tract B (1.43 acres): New Construction: 12,000 sq. ft. commercial/Open air
amphitheatre or 10 townhomes/Open air amphitheatre
• Tract C (.28 acres): Existing Company Store: 15,286 sq. ft.
office/commercial/multifamily
• Tract D (2.51 acres): New Construction: Up to 22,000 sq. ft. of commercial and
approximately 70 residential units or 90 residential units

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 12:04 AM

The Greenville Drive have done it now. Not only are they adding more food/drink items to their menus they're going to have more entertainment, give aways, dugout cameras, etc.

New food/drink items for 2008:

Calzone-Cheese
Calzone-Pepperoni
Salad
Yogurt
Fruit
Vitamin Water
Dunkin' Donuts Coffee
Burger
Veggie Burger
Grilled Dogs
Grilled Chicken
Macaroni and Cheese

**NOTE: Pizza will now only be served at the Spendid Splinter stand in the ballpark.

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 12:50 AM

Good story about the growth here and what other cities are doing to combat sprawl and create urbanity instead: http://gsabusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=54

Story on Easley Town Center and other developments/revitalizations/events in Easley: http://gsabusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&item=33&Itemid=54

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 04:56 AM

Ignore post. Sorry.

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 05:54 AM

What bad economy? Except for the Point and Rosewood Mall everything else is moving forward. :cheers: :drunk: The list below includes only some of the things proposed for the area. It doesn't include the town centers for Patrick Square, Ottaray, River West, Griffin Park, O'Neal Village, and Acadia along with McBee Station, Courtyard by Marriott downtown, Clemson Town Center, Kohl's development in Anderson, Walmart development on Pelham Road, etc.

Shopping Center/mixed-use developments construction schedule-

Project: The Point
Size: 4,500,000 sf
Type: Mixed-use
Start: Unknown-on hold due to economy
Completion: Unknown-on hold due to economy
Site plan: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r263/peacockdude/Picture069-2.jpg

Project: Magnolia Park Town Center
Size: 1,457,200 sf
Type: Mixed-use
Start: Spring/summer 2008
Completion: Fall 2009
Site plan: http://www.menindevelopment.com/magnolia2.html

Project: Easley Town Center
Size: 700,000+ sf
Type: Retail, movie theater, and hotel
Start: March 7, 2008
Completion: Summer 2009 for phase I & 2010-2011 for phase II/III
Site plan: http://www.cedarwooddevelopment.com/projects.aspx?id=easley

Project: Dillard Creek Commons/Creekside Village
Size: 1,320,000 sf
Type: Mixed-use
Start: Late 2008/early 2009
Completion: Late 2010
Site plan: Still in design phase

Project: Crescent Place
Size: 150,000 sf
Type: Mixed-use
Start: Fall 2008
Completion: Summer 2010
Site plan: http://www.choldings.com/Marketing%20Packages/Crescent%20Place.pdf

Project: The Avenue at Easton Marketplace
Size: 500,000 sf
Type: Mixed-use
Start: March/April 2008
Completion: Summer 2009
Site plan: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/UPspartan/Spartanburg/suburban/spartanburgeastonmarketplacewhole.jpg & http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r263/peacockdude/eastonmkt_siteplan.jpg

Project: Poinsett Center
Size: Unknown
Type: Retail
Start: Late 2008
Completion: 2010
Site plan: http://www.capllc.com/images/properties/poinsett_gville/Poinsett%20Package.pdf

Project: Battery Park Towne Center
Size: Unknown
Type: Mixed-use
Start: Summer/fall 2008
Completion: 2010
Site plan: http://listing.loopnet.com/15276467

Project: The Cliffs Village at Mountain Park
Size: 250,000 sf
Type: Mixed-use
Start: 2007-Under construction
Completion: 2009
Site plan: http://www.cliffscommunities.com/real-estate/cliffs/page/1233/section/107

Project: Rosewood Mall
Size: 500,000 sf
Type: Retail
Start: Unknown-On hold or dead
Completion: Unknown-On hold or dead
Site plan: Still in design phase

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 07:37 AM

:okay: The last 10 pics on here taken by linkerjpatrick from urbanplanet on March 1 shows the construction progress of the Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linkerjpatrick/sets/72157602307968197/ Wondering what this is exactly? Take a look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmga/2233905759/sizes/l/in/set-72157602053131020/

Skyliner

March 2nd, 2008, 08:41 AM

The Point is not on hold due to the economy, according to the reports we've read. It was a disagreement between the current land owners and McChesney over the purchase price, right?

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 08:42 AM

^^Yes, that is indeed correct Skyliner. I should of been more clear. It's on hold because of that and the economy according to Scott Drake in an email I received from him this past week:

Jacob….thanks as always for your e-mails. It's a $40 million land purchase and an estimated $600 - $700 million + build out. With that being said I’m sure people are knocking down the walls to do such a large project in an economy that is seeing hard times for developments regardless of size and location.

I would think you would know the complexity of such a large deal with multiple land owners and investments groups needed to move forward. If it can be done it will be…only time will tell if our idea…and we think it was a strong one….will be successful on that site…..but economics will determine that…wanting to do it and being able to get the economics to work are two different things.

Scott S. Drake
Director of Communications
McChesney Investment Advisors, LLC
400 Colony Square, Suite 1550
1201 Peachtree St., NE
Atlanta, GA 30361
www.mcchesneyinvestmentadvisors.com

g-man430

March 2nd, 2008, 09:00 AM

This is sort of off-topic and sort of isn't. I hope our Anthropologie if we're getting one like gsupstate says we are at Magnolia Park has grass like this: http://flickr.com/photos/ralphandjenny/2251900157/in/set-72157603878469777/ They don't call it Greenville for nothing. :D

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 03:44 AM

I agree with what RestedTraveler said about the Bi-LOW Center. I went there during the Bassmaster Classic for the first time since the Grrrowl left and it does look different. Not in a good way either. Rust on the signs, lights out inside and outside the arena, bumper stickers on the light poles outside, paint peeling off on the floors/walls, numbers coming off seats, letters coming off stairs, trash/gum next to and on the seats, fan wear booths curtained up, etc. I for one will not be going back to this arena until management is changed for the better. It's nothing but sad and disgusting. I should of taken pics to show proof. The Greenville Drive knows how to run a place. The Bi-Lo Center does not. This is one of the reasons I didn't go work for the Bi-Lo Center at the end of the Drive season last year.

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 04:48 AM

This is just the beginning:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/100.jpg

Carolina First headquarters to the southeast, Hubbell Lighting headquarters to the southwest, Cascades at Verdae to the north, and Verdae town center to the northwest:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/101.jpg

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 05:00 AM

The Vision for Millennium Campus began with the late John D. Hollingsworth, South Carolina’s largest private landowner and one of the state’s most generous but less publicized benefactors. Hollingsworth was an innovator in the textiles industry and believed adamantly in the importance of research. He also understood the incredible value of undeveloped urban land with interstate frontage. Early on, he envisioned the creation of a technology park that would brand Greenville, South Carolina as a premiere research location in the world.

Laurens East:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/102.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/103.jpg

apaladin

March 3rd, 2008, 05:34 AM

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 05:38 AM

Parcel A. Lot 6 & 6A:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/104.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/105.jpg

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 05:39 AM

I went there 2eeks ago for a concert and didn't notice any of the things mentioned but I am sure they were there. I do agree some management change might be in order. The Bi-Lo Center needs more major concerts for sure.

And to think you didn't even mention the site plans posted above. :ohno:

GvilleSC

March 3rd, 2008, 05:54 AM

I don't really like what I see honestly. Sure, all of those buildings would mean jobs and exposure along the boom belt, but there's no mixed-use aspect that I see. These people needs places to walk to for lunch. Massive parking lots separate most buildings, even if they did have some sort of restaurant and retail space on the ground floor. I really want Millennium campus to be a little more sustainable than what I can gather form the site plans posted above...

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 05:57 AM

^^Ok? Ever heard of Verdae, Magnolia Park Town Center, Shops at Greenridge, The Point, etc.? Most of the lots are garages too.

Parcel A. Lot No. 8:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/107.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/108.jpg

Future St. Francis Hospital:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/109.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/110.jpg

Masterplan:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/111.jpg

CORPORATE COMMUNITY INDEX

Parcel A-
Parcel A is located off Old Sulphur Springs and has frontage on Interstate 85 and Millennium Boulevard. It is
one of the main entrances into the campus and totals 75 acres. Eight buildings are projected for this corporate
community and a combination of structured and surface parking is planned. Hubbell Lighting purchased a 19-
acre tract for the construction of their corporate headquarters facility. The projected build-out for Parcel A is
1,080,000 square feet. Parcel A contains the former home of John D. Hollingsworth, a trailer overlooking the
pond adjacent to Hollingsworth circle, the Millennium Boulevard roundabout named by the city of Greenville
in honor of Hollingsworth. Parcel A will contain one of the three signature entrance features for the campus.

Parcel C-
Parcel C is a 54-acre corporate community with frontage on Laurens Road and Innovation Drive. Eight
buildings are projected, with a total square footage of 75,0000 and a combination of structured and surfaced
parking. Parcel C is adjacent to the proposed light rail commuter system that will connect Traveler’s Rest with
Fountain Inn. Parcel C is also the location of one of the three signature entrance features for the campus.

Green 100-
Green 100 is the 72-acre corporate community located on Old Sulphur Springs Road/Salters Road with one mile
of frontage along I-85. Ten buildings that will occupy a total of 1,547,600 square feet are projected. A
combination of structured and surface parking is planned. The Green 100 community is directly adjacent to the
Verdae Development and overlooks Verdae Greens. The property will be developed as a joint venture with
Hollingsworth Funds, Inc.

Laurens East-
Laurens East is located directly across the street from Parcel C and the Hollingsworth facility, with frontage on
Laurens Road. It is a 35-acre corporate community with 13 projected buildings and a total of 230,000 square
feet. A combination of structured and surface parking is planned.

Laurens West-
Laurens West fronts Laurens Road and is across from Hollingsworth facility. It is an 11-acre tract with 116,000
total square feet projected and a total of 4 buildings planned. Laurens West will feature surface parking only.

Laurens Fairforest-
Laurens Fairforest is located at the intersection of Laurens Road and Millennium Boulevard/Fairforest Road. It
is a 1-acre tract with one 16,000 square foot building planned. Laurens Fairforest is the location of the former
Gore’s Corvette World.

Skyliner

March 3rd, 2008, 07:18 AM

Very impressive plans! I am glad to see that most of the buildings include a parking garage and generally make good use of the property. Of course, it isn't as well planned as The Point's complete street layout, but I like the scope of the vision. :okay:

I noticed the 20-story 400,000 square foot building. That could be a monster high-rise in Greenville, if the footprint is not too large. Either way, the number of large-scale buildings planned will completely change Greenville's image along I-85. No more "small town" impressions out there. ;)

distortedlogic1

March 3rd, 2008, 07:31 AM

So i am confused, are all these for Verdae? Are they just renderings of what could be,or for what is actually planned? Is this waht is expected over the 20 year build out, or are there specific dates in mind?

Skyliner

March 3rd, 2008, 07:43 AM

These are part of the master plan, including Millennium Campus and Verdae - you can also see I-CAR, The Point, and the Global Trade Park on the drawings. They are not "set in stone" plans with any actual building designs or dates finished, but they are tentatively planned as the developers market the properties to potential occupants. Without some kind of projection in place, it would be hard to convince any major corporations that the developments are legitimate. :)

Skyliner

March 3rd, 2008, 08:35 AM

By the way, you can find this information on the Millennium Campus website (http://www.millenniumcampus.com/), which has finally been updated after a long time "under construction." Check out the interactive 3-D concept drawings as well. :)

One thing I found interesting is the discrepancy regarding size of conceptual buildings in a couple of the communities. The individual printable documents for each community differ slightly from the information in the full booklet, it seems.

I like this portion on the front page:
The Master Plan reflects a strategically planned, pedestrian-friendly campus that encompasses seven corporate communities. Rosen Associates has targeted a mix of life science, biomedical, pharmaceutical, financial, automotive and aerospace related private businesses and industry to compose these tracts. Campus residents will be challenged to create unique facilities, promote technology, and celebrate the environment.

Campus architecture will reflect smooth surfaces, flat roofs, glass and metal paneling, with lighting as a key component of design. Outdoor meeting and recreation areas, meditation gardens, public art plazas, as well as walking and bike paths will support the community atmosphere.

GvilleSC

March 3rd, 2008, 04:31 PM

^^Ok? Ever heard of Verdae, Magnolia Park Town Center, Shops at Greenridge, The Point, etc.? Most of the lots are garages too.

:bash: And while parking garages are great to reduce surface parking, how are they going to make this development even somewhat sustainable? Sure, these plans are just visionary, but it bothers me that a developer would try and sell this plan to potential clients. If the developer/land owner has a lack of vision for a piece of land, then how can we really expect the people who come in to have much of a vision?

Raleigh-NC

March 3rd, 2008, 04:58 PM

g-man, you have done a lot of typing these days!!! Aren't you tired? :lol: Thanks for the hard work, though.

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 06:12 PM

:bash: And while parking garages are great to reduce surface parking, how are they going to make this development even somewhat sustainable? Sure, these plans are just visionary, but it bothers me that a developer would try and sell this plan to potential clients. If the developer/land owner has a lack of vision for a piece of land, then how can we really expect the people who come in to have much of a vision?

Fourth paragraph down has the answer as to why they didn't put commercial or residential into this project: http://www.millenniumcampus.com/pdfs/20050902MCMasterplanFINAL.pdf :yes:

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 06:13 PM

g-man, you have done a lot of typing these days!!! Aren't you tired? :lol: Thanks for the hard work, though.

What's tired? :dunno: I take pics during the day and post at night. When do I sleep? :goodnight :lol:

Greenville

March 3rd, 2008, 06:25 PM

This is just the beginning:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh303/g-man435/100.jpg

Whoa, did I read that correctly about Carolina First's corporate campus? Highrises of 20, 18, and 15 stories? Plus a 10-story building and a bunch of 8 story buildings? Wow, I never expected that much height from their campus. Any idea what their construction timeline looks like? I would like to know when to expect the taller ones. :)

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 06:30 PM

Greenville

March 3rd, 2008, 06:38 PM

^^Greenville, you are so wrong I don't even know how to respond. :lol: Carolina First buildings are 5 stories tall man. This is one of the neighborhoods that makes up Millennium Campus across I-85 from Hubbell Lighting and Carolina First headquarters next to Verdae. :)

:lol:

It is funny how confused I am! I am glad to know that those buildings are part of Millennium Campus. I assume that they are ideals and not set in stone at this point, right? What is the timetable for the Millennium Campus development?

For what it's worth, I didn't even know Millennium Campus extended across I-85. I had thought it was just the portion next to CU-ICAR! :)

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 06:42 PM

^^Correct. Not set in stone yet but the developers want to build it as shown. Timetable for completion on Millennium Campus is 2025 I believe, while Verdae is 2027. I know that seems like a long time but it's really not when you look at how large these projects are. :) If it does all get built including the Point, driving down I-85 will be like driving down Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai although the highrises would be a bit shorter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Zayed_Road :D

g-man430

March 3rd, 2008, 07:25 PM

Save 'Greenlink' for future discussion

Recent reports to the contrary, GTA and "Greenlink" are separate issues. GTA's mission is to provide essential, efficient and cost-effective bus service to neighborhoods that most need it without continually bleeding red ink. That can be done only when the county, the city of Greenville, and GTA develop some form of unity of effort. Ratification of the proposed tri-party agreement would signal such unity while keeping in mind that the agreement does not bind the parties to any future transit expansion plans.

Let me clarify the status of the county's "abandoned" rail line mentioned in a recent article about the Greenlink idea. First, that rail line is not abandoned. All rail lines are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Surface Transportation Board (STB). STB controls the service status of rail lines. The official status of that rail line is "discontinued," meaning that the owner, GCEDC, a nonprofit public corporation set up by Greenville County, is not obligated to provide rail service.

The line does remain active, however, which allows GCEDC some use -- contracting for the storing of empty rail cars, for example. If GCEDC allowed SCDOT to replace the Woodruff Road trestle without railroad tracks to accommodate buses, GCEDC's right-of-way would be jeopardized. By maintaining, "discontinued rail status," GCEDC is preserving the possibility of future commuter rail or regional passenger rail service.

The situation with the Swamp Rabbit Tram/Trail, also owned by GCEDC, is similar except the tracks and trestles there were very dilapidated. STB allowed that line to go into "abandoned" (service) status under the federal "Rails to Trails" program, which also leaves intact the right to revert to rail service at any time in the future when the situation may favor mass transit along that line. Meanwhile, the public benefits from the trail use. In both instances, the "discontinued" line to the south and the "abandoned" line to the north, vital transportation corridors are being preserved for public use just as Greenville County intended when it purchased them several years ago.

It is too bad that the exciting concept of "Greenlink" should encroach on the immediate problem of bus service. The bus problem is easily solvable right now. Greenlink is a future possibility.

Butch Kirven
Simpsonville
The writer is chairman of the Greenville County Council.