167 replies to this topic

[TREY]

Skyliner, on May 4 2009, 12:47 PM, said:

I've been thinking for years that this old house on Reedy View Drive would make an excellent bed & breakfast, or possibly even an intimate dinner theatre on the river.  Can you imagine offering guests that incredible downtown location in a charming old home?

The old house was the office for the Swamp Fox Railroad for many years, than it was converted to a home (it would make a good  B&B).The engine house was located were the Camperdown condo building was supposed to go.

[Skyliner]

TREY, on May 4 2009, 08:20 PM, said:

The old house was the office for the Swamp Fox Railroad for many years, than it was converted to a home (it would make a good  B&B).The engine house was located were the Camperdown condo building was supposed to go.

Do you mean the "Swamp Rabbit" railroad?  I didn't know the Upstate had a connection to Francis Marion's nickname.

[TREY]

Skyliner, on May 4 2009, 11:52 PM, said:

Do you mean the "Swamp Rabbit" railroad?  I didn't know the Upstate had a connection to Francis Marion's nickname.

Yes-my bad:

[gsupstate]

With this building being a work of art, sure would be nice if they had a scaled model of the building this weekend at Artisphere, to get the general public excited.

[swu_BA_student]

The new issue of the Grnvl Journal says this was a "leaked" document. Was this the first place it came out? I kind of have to believe this was more market study then security breach.

[Skyliner]

gsupstate, on May 8 2009, 09:02 AM, said:

With this building being a work of art, sure would be nice if they had a scaled model of the building this weekend at Artisphere, to get the general public excited.

A most excellent idea!  The "unveiling" of the masterpiece in model form during the premiere Art festival in the region.  The ties are so right, being an iconic work of art and a visitors center for the region.  The question is, if this was not intended to be released but was already planned, why delay the public announcement?

[citylife]

It looks like the building this development is to go on has been purchased by Greenville CVB and vacated by the previous tenants which means the project is moving forward.

[Greenville]

citylife, on May 12 2009, 05:39 PM, said:

It looks like the building this development is to go on has been purchased by Greenville CVB and vacated by the previous tenants which means the project is moving forward.

This is big news.  It seems that this project is legit, and not just a pie-in-the-sky plan that people aren't serious about.  I look forward to seeing this progress!

[Skyliner]

John Boyanoski says in this week's TBA column that an official announcement is expected within the next few weeks.

[pompusmaximus]

Maybe I'm not aware of all the details, but why is everybody so excited over this thing? To me, it just looks like a bunch of cubes that will probably look like crap in the next 20 years. I'm not against iconic buildings, but this just isn't that amazing to me. At 6 to 7 stories as some had speculated, I figure it would be kind of an eyesore more than anything else. Perhaps I should withhold my judgement until after more detailed renderings appear.

[GvilleSC]

pompusmaximus, on May 16 2009, 10:57 AM, said:

Maybe I'm not aware of all the details, but why is everybody so excited over this thing? To me, it just looks like a bunch of cubes that will probably look like crap in the next 20 years. I'm not against iconic buildings, but this just isn't that amazing to me. At 6 to 7 stories as some had speculated, I figure it would be kind of an eyesore more than anything else. Perhaps I should withhold my judgement until after more detailed renderings appear.

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm excited about this building for many reasons. First of all, it's unlike anything you'll find in Greenville, much less the entire state of South Carolina. For that matter, you'll probably have trouble seeing a similar building in much of the Southeast. From that viewpoint, it has the opportunity to make the 'wow factor' upon visitors, as well as informing them that they are in the right place. After all, it's going to be a visitor center. It needs to be identifiable, easily describable, and functional. I think this design can offer all of those things. Functionally, it seems that this design will be engaging. Lastly, it embodies the progressive attitude of the Leaders in the City (whether they're at the Chamber or City Hall).

Of course, the rendering that we have seen thus far is merely conceptual. A lot of things will have to be resolved. I look forward to seeing more detailed renderings and plans, but I think most of us agree that it is headed in the right direction.  

[Sonrise]

pompusmaximus, on May 16 2009, 09:57 AM, said:

Maybe I'm not aware of all the details, but why is everybody so excited over this thing? To me, it just looks like a bunch of cubes that will probably look like crap in the next 20 years. I'm not against iconic buildings, but this just isn't that amazing to me. At 6 to 7 stories as some had speculated, I figure it would be kind of an eyesore more than anything else. Perhaps I should withhold my judgement until after more detailed renderings appear.

I'm inclined to agree with you.  It appears that many are excited, simply for excitement's sake. To be honest, I don't even know what the exact intent and purpose is of these giant cubicles.  I am open to having my mind changed, as I love "out of the box" thinking, but orderly, if that makes sense.

[Skyliner]

FYI, many people criticized the Liberty Bridge prior to its construction and there are a few who still do not understand why it is so special today.  To have a roughly five or six story unique work of art as your regional visitor center is a gift that happens only once in a lifetime here in Greenville.  Its unconventional design is at least partially to blame for its unusual appeal.  The most amazing discovery yet will be understanding how it will function as both a prized masterpiece (aesthetically speaking) and a highly productive regional visitors museum.

[Greenville]

Based on what we know, this visitor center will blow away just about every visitor center in the Southeast and probably be on a level playing field with any in America.  For comparison's sake, does anyone have photos of the visitor centers in Charleston, Columbia, Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh, Birmingham, Richmond, Jacksonville, etc.?  My guess is that they pale in comparison to this one.

[GvilleSC]

Greenville, you have a great point! Here's what I found with a quick google search:

Charleston:


Miami Beach:


Gaston County:



Ha, it's more difficult than I thought to find such images. However, from these few examples, I think we can agree that the design of this is not a minor detail. It's great that Greenville is trying to grow the area's tourism. The built environment is just as important as the natural, and leaving an impression on people to come back and spread positive words about our city/region is key in growing this industry.

Greenville has the Wow factor currently, but it's not going to be enough to sustain the region's future and diversifying the economy. A part of the Wow is not just for leisure visitors, but also for corporate leaders. They need to have an impression of Greenville when they leave. Being plain and ordinary is not going to make Greenville stand out. Showing progressive policies, architecture, initiative and confidence will go a long way. I think that's what all of this really boils down to...

[krazeeboi]

Well a lot of cities really don\\\'t have visitors centers geared towards the general public. Many are really CVB offices geared towards event planners and groups/organizations that may want to bring a meeting to that city. But I was intrigued, so I decided to look some up that seem to be geared towards the general public and here\\\'s what I found.

Chattanooga (adjacent to the TN Aquarium):


http://www.flickr.co...onn/2844626572/

Savannah:



Charleston (I remember this well because me and my siblings got stuck here waiting out a rainstorm while walking around downtown, LOL):





Columbia (located on 2nd floor of convention center):



Baltimore (not Southeastern, but I like it):



Wilmington (old county courthouse):



Memphis:


http://www.flickr.co...@N00/3213689105

Augusta (inside the Augusta Museum of History):



Asheville (housed inside the chamber of commerce building):



Macon:

http://photos.metroj...443_oeiaC-M.jpg (just posted the link due to copyright)

Louisville:


http://www.flickr.co...ado/2253888107/

Nashville (connected to the Gaylord Entertainment Center):


http://www.flickr.co...kem/2818554075/


http://www.flickr.co...N00/2322954658/

Dallas (housed in old courthouse):



Houston (located on the first floor, old city hall):



Austin:


http://www.flickr.co...57607980282079/

Charlotte:




http://www.flickr.co...ang/3289285550/


http://www.flickr.co...57614001228234/

[Greenville]

Thanks for finding and posting those great images, GvilleSC and krazeeboi.

I agree that many visitors centers do not seem to be geared toward the public, other than racks of brochures and maybe one or two employees who can answer questions.  I have been to Baltimore's along the Inner Harbor, and although it is mostly just brochures I really like the architecture.  Charleston's is not nearly all that is pictured.  In fact, half of that is the "bus shed," which consists of an open area where gatherings and events are sometimes held.  Most of what Charleston has is a gift shop and visitor information in the form of brochures.

I like Nashville's.  The architecture is really neat, and I remember from going there a few years ago that it is a good visitors center.  Memphis's is horribly bland and dated looking.

I think we really have a chance to be innovative here, both in regard to architecture as well as scope.  We obviously need good brochures, but having interesting displays and exhibits might go a long way too.  This is our chance to change our "small town with big city amenities" talk to "big city with small town charm" rhetoric.  We need to move away from "Greenville is a city of 56,000 people halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte, not far from Asheville, and only a few hours from the beach" toward "Greenville is a growing, progressive Southern city nestled at the foothills of the mountains, the largest county in SC, a thriving automotive hub, the most international business investment per capita in the US, etc."

[krazeeboi]

Greenville, on May 17 2009, 09:18 PM, said:

Memphis's is horribly bland and dated looking.

Yeah, but it seems to have some pretty cool exhibits on the inside:







I also think some other cities may have visitors centers, but they may call them something else (like the concept for Greenville's), which is why I couldn't find anything for them.

As I stated, the architecture does appear to be innovative, but I can't really grasp the function and integrative nature of the building with the rendering that was given. I hope more detailed sketches are made available soon.

[westendlvn]

I don't think that could be the same building.  The outside pic has a single pitch shed roof, while the interior pics have a complicated hip-type ceiling and what appears to be an Elvis turret.

But honestly, how often do VCs get used anyway.  I've never set foot in one before - I guess I've never wanted to look like a tourist, I don't know.

[GvilleSC]

westendlvn, on May 18 2009, 11:30 AM, said:

I don't think that could be the same building.  The outside pic has a single pitch shed roof, while the interior pics have a complicated hip-type ceiling and what appears to be an Elvis turret.

But honestly, how often do VCs get used anyway.  I've never set foot in one before - I guess I've never wanted to look like a tourist, I don't know.

I think that's a part of the reason that the design of the building needs to create interest and encourage people to interact with the building, and not be a background building.