A proposed development in West Greenville that has raised many concerns for people in that community will be moving forward.After intense discussion for more than 3 hours, Greenville City Council approved the woven project 4-3.The massive project will bring two mixed-used buildings to West Greenville but under certain conditions.Many people in the community for and against the project spoke tonight during public comment.What would have offered 252 apartment units will now be offering 214 units. But at City Council's second and final vote, councilmembers decided unanimously to send the project back to Planning Commission so the developer could make changes and address community concerns. ITS NOT RIGHT. GREENVILLE Another new development is planned for the rapidly growing West End in downtown Greenville. However, even with that reduction, people would need to make close to $50,000 to afford these apartments. Which the opponents see as more time to shut it down. chughes@postandcourier.com, By Nathaniel Cary Xanthene Norris, the district representative on County Council,also submitted a statementurging councilmembers to vote "no" on the project. A rezoning request for a mixed-use development in west Greenville received final approval Tuesday night from the Greenville County Council. 4 Baths 3,768 Sq. While the neighborhood has new vibrancy, it's also been rapidly gentrifying, leaving longtime locals suddenly burdened with higher cost of living, she said. It's not right. WAS 44 OF THESE. They have not consulted on what the neighbors need versus what the businesses need said Shucker. The plan is intended to add dense development in order to facilitate sustainable growth and add housing supply, bolstering affordability, while cutting down vehicle traffic by centralizing the location of jobs, businesses and homes. Finally, proportionality will be required among the units and affordable housing units. Those qualifications are yet to be determined. AND FINALLY, PROPORTIONALITY WILL BE REQUIRED AMONG THE UNITS. They have been living here for a lot of years," resident Bennie Lee Roe said. White households earn nearly three times more than a Black household, "so if there's any kind of competition for rental properties, there's just no way that Black households can compete," said Ken Kolb, a sociology professor at Furman University who studies racial inequality and housing trends. Published: Nov. 17, 2022 at 7:39 PM PST. It takes some extra effort, especially at the beginning of a project, but that's time well spent and typically . CARLOS: FOLLOWING MONDAYS VOTE, REVISIONS TO THE PLAN WILL NEED TO BE MADE LIKE LOSING THE 5TH FLOOR, ADDING MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS, AND CHANGING ITS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS. While the number of units may change based on feedback, the plan is for 248. TONIGHT, SEVERAL AMENDMENTS WERE PASSED BEFORE THE PROJECT REACHED A FINAL VOTE. Greenville News. GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - It was a packed house Monday night for Greenville City Council, almost standing room only. Nick Myers and Brian Schick presented the updated plans to the board and explained how the new plans addressed councils comments and concerns. Read morePrisma Health reorganizing cleaning staff under new company, impacting 689 workers, Leadership for the Greenville Drive baseball team actively protested bringing a minor league team to Spartanburg and fear the move will be bad for business. A proposed development in West Greenville that has raised many concerns for people in that community will be moving forward. This site is worthy of time, thought, community engagement, and investment to create spaces that honor history and look to a connected future.". The implications are troubling. Other untold stories await in this SC city. Communities being rebuilt so it already has happened but as we continue to go through what's happening let's just hope that Greenville work together, leave nobody behind and I think we'll be a great community," Robinson said.Following Monday's vote, revisions to the plan will need to be made like losing the fifth floor, adding more affordable units, and changing its architectural designs. CARLOS FLORA SET IN TONIGHTS GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. Pace Jewelers, his family business, has been located on Pendleton Street since 1948. The Village of West Greenville Micro Area Plan is an effort to unlock the areas potential as a node within the City of Greenville that is a welcoming, diverse, vibrant, artistic community. The 2020median income for white households in those areas was$73,529; for Black households, it was$23,083. It is designed to improve and maintain the character of the neighborhoods in the revitalization area that have declined over the years. In a rare move, a state-level representative got involved. ONE BEING PARKING BECAUSE WE LACK ALOT OF PARKING IN THIS AREA WHICH ALOT OF DIFFERENT INFLUXES OF WHAT BRING PEOPLE IN ALL DAY LONG WHETHER ITS LUNCH, SERVICES, ETC >> WHILE SOME RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE AREA, FEEL IT DOESNT FIT IN THE COMMUNITY. Many residents acknowledged a need for affordable housing and would like to see progress in the area, but some have expressed concerns that "Woven" is not the most effective way to address that and will further gentrification in the area. All Rights Reserved. But data shows Woven's affordable units don't meet the needs of people who need it most. The project will come before the council again on Sept. 12 for a second reading. Some councilmembers wanted to send the project back to the Planning Commission to make changes. Businesses in the Village have previously told us theyre desperate for the foot traffic this project might bring. By agent (9,475) By owner & other (659) Agent listed. Each unit will be 1,200 square. Three more mill houses on the property would be relocated elsewhere in the Brandon Mill community, said Ryan Johnston, an investor in the project. Five units of representative retail (more on that below). Others sought to pass the project conditionally. Recommendations for new wayfinding and gateway signage in the Village of West Greenville center around initiatives that could improve safety, walkability, accessibility and a sense of place. NIGEL: CARLOS FLORES IS LIVE IN WEST GREENVILLE. State Rep. Chandra Dillard, a former city councilmember,emailed councilmembers to say she had heard concerns about Woven and asked them toconsider the project carefully. Woodfield Development, a local development company thatbuilt the .408 Jackson and The Greene apartment complexes in the West End, wants the city of Greenville to annex and rezone 2.91 acres onPendleton, Traction, Smith and Saco streets for "Woven," a project that an investor has called the most "intentional" development that the city has ever seen. "Extremely annoyed at first mostly because it already hard to find parking down here and the buildings, that was just an atrocity of a picture. "They do need home ownership, but they also need houses that people rent to own," City Council member Lilian Brock Flemming, who represents the area in District 2, told the Greenville News. At a Greenville City Council meeting on Monday night, there were voices speaking in favor of and against a proposed development project. This plan is more than . Adding to the confusion, the city is in the midst of rewriting its development code, theseries of zoning laws that regulate matters like height, mass and land use. These will be turn-key and help to uplift these folks who might not be able to find affordable space elsewhere, Schick said. 0:04. Developers were supposed to bring project revisions back to council on Monday, but that didnt happen. Since 2010, there's been a steady rise of affluent white residents moving into West Greenvilleand a slow decline of Black residents. The main focus- a new mixed-use development in West. Forty-four of the 214 units have been already classified as affordable housing units. Winds light and variable.. For the last two decades, master plans and comprehensive plans that have honed in on the Village of West Greenville have unanimously called for the same thing: more housing density. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Communities being rebuilt so it already has happened but as we continue to go through what's happening let's just hope that Greenville work together, leave nobody behind and I think we'll be a great community," Robinson said. GREENVILLE After changes to the project's size, occupancy and design, the Woven development in West Greenville has cleared the city's planning commission and is going before City Council. 15 Most Popular Products Our Readers Loved From Prime Day and They're Still on Sale, The Best Amazon Prime Day Beauty Deals You Can *Still* Shop, Bissell's Little Green Machine Is Under $80 During Walmart+ Week. 98 Ventures Relocates to Village of West Greenville, South Carolina - Area Development Pennsylvania Minnesota Missouri Wisconsin Idaho Wyoming Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Arkansas Mississippi Georgia North Carolina South Carolina West Virginia New Mexico Oklahoma Business Globalization Corporate Exec Survey Results Ft. 682 Putnam Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917 West Greenville Home for Sale: A country setting minutes from shopping, restaurants, and highway access. Two apparel shops in downtown Greenville are closing their doors, one of which is hosting a goodbye sale. Despite the changes, some residents still raised concerns the project would not benefit area residents. The initial plan for Woven included two five-story buildings divided by Smith Street comprised of 254 apartments with a public pocket park in the rear. In 2010, Black residents in Southernside and West Greenville combined accounted for 79% of the population while white residents made up 19.4%, according to American Community Survey five-year estimates. They have been living here for a lot of years," resident Bennie Lee Roe said. Pace said he, his family and staff, "wholeheartedly approve of the Woven project and the continued vitality it will bring the communityas a whole.". "We're harping on this size thingbecause it seems like that's the only thing that anybody cares about, but it's another situation where a developer goes into a marginalized neighborhood so it can acquire property at a low price, andthen it builds something that is more expensive than any of the housing around it.". "I can't think of a better place in all of Greenville where you want to have a beachhead of affordable housing than right in the middle of one of the hottest real estate plays in all of Greenville which is the West Greenville business district," Mayor Knox White said. Even officials outside the city weighed in on the project. However, some residents and those who work in the area feel it doesnt fit in the community. When a commissioner asked Schick if the project's maximum height could be lowered from five stories, he said that height and density would be necessary to make the project financially viable, as well as to offer affordable units. Here's what to know about the project. In 2011, 84% of residents in West Greenville and the West End combined were Black, with only 1.4% of households in the area earning more than $100,000 per year, according to Census data. GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - In another tight vote and a meeting longer than 3 hours, Greenville City Council gave final approval on a controversial housing project for West Greenville. Sections of the development facing the nearby neighborhood were lowered to four stories, and Schick said the developers have purchased a parcel next to the planned site of a pocket park that will allow them to roughly quadruple the size of the greenspace and create additional buffer between the development and existing neighborhood. According to a recently published Furman University project, West Greenville, a historically Black community, has lost 36 percent of its Black residents and seen a 45 percent increase in White. "I really don't feel too good about it. But the project passedfirst vote at City Council Aug. 12,narrowly, with conditions following an involved discussion. It is expected to include a . Input your search keywords and press Enter. The project will come before the council again on Sept. 12 for a second reading. THIS IS AFTER REQUESTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. Residents have also opposed "Woven" due to its size. All rights reserved. These will be five commercial units lined up in a row, similar to the ArtWalk art studios along the Reedy River downtown. Box 2207 Greenville, SC 29602 Fax: 864-467-4510 Email: planning@greenvillesc.gov Written comments must be received by the Monday before the hearing in order to be given adequate time for consideration by the Commission before the hearing. This includes holding a community meeting to give input on the pocket park behind the complex. "Due to the project scale and timing of the application, it should be postponed by council in order for it to be evaluated against our pending Greenville Development Code," Dowe said in a text message. "Who wants to live beside a 70-foot building that boxes them in?" A second reading of the proposalis expected at City Council's meetingat 5:30 p.m. Oct. 10at City Hall. THE CITY, THE CITYS PLANNING COMMISSION, AND COUNCIL. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. It's uncommon, but it shouldn't be. In 2020, Black residents accounted for 38%whilewhite residents accounted for 53%. To achieve that goal, designers plan for playful pops of different colors greens and whites, beet reds and blues with brick that pays homage to Brandon Mill and a facade that juts out at unique intervals. For the first time since the U.S. Census Bureau started collecting neighborhood-level data more than 60 years ago, West Greenville is no longer a majority Black neighborhood, researchshows. Parish said the proposed subdivision would improve safety by providing a loop for buses, snowplows and emergency vehicles. Greenville Board of ZoningStorage facility fight triggers investigation and allegation of racism. "There is a long, systemic history of lack of access to mortgages and homeownership in the United States. The mill, which sits on 238 acres near West Blue Ridge Drive and Old Buncombe Road, was gutted by a massive fire in 2003. "I'm always concerned about gentrification. Retention (by current owners) and rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes. The trend of development after fire damage continues with Old Union Bleachery. The Department of Housing and Urban Development defines AMI as the midpoint of a specific areas income distribution, a number that's calculated on an annual basis. In West Greenville,a neighborhood where so many Black residents were raised, housing prices are rising to levels for which they can't compete. Sign up for our e-newsletters or subscribe to get our print publications. Some West Greenville residents oppose the controversial "Woven" project and would rather see the 3 acres used for green space and multifamily housing. Tuesday, several amendments were passed before the project reached a final vote. Some city council members had concerns over the size of the project and the fact it violates the GVL 2020 plan. seeking to annex and rezone 2.91 acres onPendleton, Traction, Smith and Saco streets, Development fight in West Greenville: Woven project spurs support and objections, Long-embattled Mosaic project heads back to Greenville City Council after facing obstacles, resoundingly recommended the project be denied, Storage facility fight triggers investigation and allegation of racism. "The cost of the property they bought is an issue with me. | Terms of Use 0:04. A portion of that commercial space would be available at half prevailing market rent and, in the earlier plan, 10 percent of the residential units would be affordable to people making 80 percent of the area median income, or about $47,000 a year for a single adult. SHAKIR ROBINSON IS THE DIRECTOR OF SELF EDUCATION EQUITY IN WEST GREENVILLE AND HAS NOTICED HOW THE AREA HAS CHANGED SINCE OPENING THEIR DOORS IN 2007. Finally, proportionality will be required among the units and affordable housing units.However, no matter what council could agree on, members stayed firm in their vote. Foreclosures. From the West Greenville Master Plan in 2002 all the way up to the Village of West Greenville Micro-Area Plan released in 2021, the need for more housing within Greenvilles sequestered arts and culture district has been evident, according to city leaders and urban planners. We Inform. West Greenville resident Anne King said she would like to see mixed-income, missing middle housing, a park and development that honors historic form in its architecture and structures. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. The Village of West Greenville Micro Area Plan is an effort to unlock the area's potential as a node within the City of Greenville that is a welcoming, diverse, vibrant, artistic community. According to the city, it was pulled at developers request to give them more time. The project will go before City Council on Jan. 9 for a vote. "Imagine a construction project that's actually enjoyable. +1.36% | Greenville Planning Commission approved the "Woven" project in West Greenville after a four-hour meeting Tuesday night, bringing the massive development one step closer to reality. Here's why that matters, Greenville City Council defied some residents' wishes about Unity Park tower, emails show, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, two mixed-use buildings with up to 254 multifamily residential units, a garage in the center of the development with 36 public parking spaces, up to 30,000 square feet of commercial space, and about 2,900 square feet for five special commercial spaces that areintendedto be leasedbelow market rateto provide affordable commercial opportunities for local entrepreneurs andartists. Here's why that matters, Related: Greenville City Council defied some residents' wishes about Unity Park tower, emails show. WHILE HE UNDERSTANDS CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, HE HOPES THE COMMUNITY CAN GROW WITH THE AREA AND NOT BE LEFT IN THE DUST. "Woodfield is very pleased to receive this 5-1 vote in favor at the Planning Commission," developer Brian Schick told The Greenville News. The project from Woodfield Development, which built The Greene in the West End and which is currently building 408 Jackson beside Fluor Field, aims to weave together the commercial corridor of Pendleton Street with Brandon Mill and the Brandon Community. They are families who need a home where children can run and play and generations can cohabitate together comfortably.". One being parking because we lack a lot of parking in this area which a lot of different influxes of what bring people in all day long whether it's lunch, services, etc," local business owner, John Redgrave.However, some residents and those who work in the area feel it doesnt fit in the community. Forty-four of the 214 units have been already classified as affordable housing units. So if there's any kind of competition over limited resources like housing, then the folks with less money always lose.". More than 250 apartment units could be coming to one upstate community.This is after Greenville city council passed the first reading of the proposed project earlier this week. In the face of that opposition, annexation and rezoning requests that would make way for the project have taken a winding path through the city approval process. 0. "It's a very sound concept with ample parking for the residents and businesses of Woven. There will also be a 7,500-square-foot plaza, which will be open to the public. I think whats important is, youre going to have redevelopment here, Wernick said, and in order for the business district to be vibrant and continue to create opportunities for participation, you need to have a critical mass of people at different income levels, both home ownership and rental.. This was after . Greenville, SC (29601) Today. "The larger lot should have multifamily buildings to address the 'missing middle.' However, even with that reduction, people would need to make close to $50,000 to afford these apartments.Shakir Robinson is the director of Self-Education Equity, an afterschool boxing gym, in West Greenville, and has noticed how the area has changed since they opened their doors in 2007.While he understands change is inevitable, he hopes the community can grow with the area and not be left in the dust. Formally occupied by Ralph Morgan, the former night supervisor of Brandon Mill, the house will be moved a few blocks down Smith Street to serve as a buffer between Woven and the adjacent homes. "We're in a food desert. Phase one includes residential, commercial and retail developments. These are meant to be typologies that help to promote the right kind of inclusive future growth of the Village, balancing its different needs, said Wernick & Co. document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "© " + html;