Thanks, gsupstate. Sorry I didn't respond, I just saw this post now. The tours could be downloaded from a website directly to someone's iPod. The other way is to find launch points where people could rent the iPod tour with the tours pre-loaded in the iPods. Ideally this would happen from the local CVB, buy they've already said they don't have the funding for such a thing. So, my business partner in this venture is going to approach the downtown hotels to see if they would be willing to sponsor and to carry the iPods there for guests to rent them from. English is the first goal, but there would be an easy transition to Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, etc. once the tours scripts are set.

Wow, sweet aerial. Thanks for sharing That will be a great "before" shot someday.

I heard that it will have a large, well-known bookstore. As in, it will at least be well-known regionally, if not nationally. Keeping my fingers crossed for a multi-level store.

Is this across the street from the Handlebar?

I love both of your ideas. The IPOD intrigues me the most. Would these be pre-loaded? Could the city somehow get behind this effort and establish some sort of download station at each site? Could the city have download stations in all the coffee shops? There seems to be so many positive opportunities with your idea.

How about a game of "guess the intersection"?

Heard last night Loose Lucy's is moving to another spot on Main. Jogged by this morning early, and there are "Moving Sale" signs in their windows. So not leaving, but moving. Dunkin is taking their spot. Anyone know Loose Lucy's new spot?

I hope that doesn't mean Loose Lucy's is leaving.

By the way, the "Upstate Foodie Guide" insert in this week's Journal is top notch. It's very well done with good paper stock, excellent photos, and detailed write-ups of many of the area's best restaurants. That alone makes it worth getting a copy of this week's Journal.

Back in summer of 2006 when I was formulating my tour business, I met with Phil Hughes to learn more about Riverplace. At the start of our meeting, he showed me a few conceptual sketches from a meeting that he just got out of with a client and said that it was ideas for phase 3 with a client who might possibly build the tallest skyscraper in the city. He wouldn't say who it was, but I've always remembered that there was serious talk in his meeting about building Greenville's largest there in phase 3. I've been anxiously waiting to see if it comes through. Hopefully it will be Fluor and it will be large.

I heard that it will have a large, well-known bookstore. As in, it will at least be well-known regionally, if not nationally. Keeping my fingers crossed for a multi-level store.

TBA in this week's Journal said that we should hear something about this project within 30 days. I'm still waiting to hear about the Gateway Project, myself...is that 30 days up yet?

People who blame the homeless for keeping other people away from anywhere are just using the homeless as a scapegoat.

Anyone else thinking about phase three of RiverPlace?

With the addition of such a company, downtown would become a prime candidate for a new large-scale mixed-use/residential development as well. I could see RiverPlace expanding well beyond its current conceptual plans.

My dream for Main Street is that it become home to trendy, eclectic, gourmet restaurants--including ethnic and international cuisine. Not chains, not beer and wings, and not college or even family-oriented. Funky, artsy, bohemian . . these are some words that come to mind (and there are plenty of others that would flock to such in this "most liberal" city in the state). Downtown Greenville has tons of new exciting restaurants such as these (and we all know Charleston has had for years.) We can too, hopefully. It has to be something that the Vista and 5 Points don't offer --- sophistication. (I am stunned that there are NO Thai restaurants anywhere downtown, for instance.) Places like Hush, Rust, Goatfeathers, Bird on a Wire and the like are examples of what would be ideal on Main Street, IMO (with unique concepts of their own, of course). Locally-owned with delicious food and fabulous ambience. Martini and Cosmo bars . . tiki huts . . cigar or hookah lounges . . Cuban, Vietnamese, and churrascaria restaurants . . bring 'em on!

No. They needed more space to expand. They moved to West Washington across from St.Mary's. I give em an A Plus for bringing retail to the West Washington part of downtown.

Bumping this thread, because as of today, I'm hearing that something could start soon. Can anyone verify?

Homeless people, or anyone else for that matter, sitting on a bench minding their own business don't bother me. I'm talking about being harassed by intimidating characters while standing next to my car pumping gas in the middle of a work day at a gas station on Elmwood. I'm talking about seeing men living under bridges and overpasses just footsteps from co-eds' dorm room windows. I'm talking about the urine-soaked and slept-in shrubbery lining Finlay Park. I'm talking about the street hustlers accosting me when trying to enter the fantastic Richland County Library doors that we paid for but can't even use. Have you been around the city lately? These are just a few of the examples of scenes I've encountered, and I'm just one person. It is overwhelming and has GOT to be addressed and not just swept under the rug.

You are right, they are people, and they deserve their dignity. I couldn't agree more. Let's get serious about this, and not treat this casually as "they don't bother anyone, leave them alone". To leave them alone would be the ultimate indignity.

I haven't been visiting this board as much as in the past, but the recent posts concerning Main St have caught my attention. I think the biggest obstacle for Main St, right now, is the presence and proximity of the triving Vista. It is going to be very difficult for Main St to pick up the restaurants and bars that Vista consistently attracts because that's where everyone wants to locate. And it's a better set up (and cheaper) for that sort of thing. I would like to see Main St position itself as a complement to the Vista instead of trying to be a competitor of sorts. I'm not sure how this can be done, but I think "good" retail destinations may help as well as "unique" destinations in general. If Main St tries to compete head-to-head with the Vista, nothing is going to happen. But, if some quality destinations come, then slowly people and restaurants will follow. For what it's worth, it used to bother me that there wasn't much to do on Main St, especially since that's where all the tall buildings (you know, what's supposed to be city center) were. Over time, I've begun to appreciate the Vista and Five Points more and more. I think it's cool that so many city blocks are completely geared towards entertainment, and both are really thriving. Again, Main St has to be something different to succeed...and hopefully something great!

Homeless people are just people to me. I don't say anything to them, just like I don't say anything to anyone else unless I know them, or unless I need to ask them something or they ask me something. When there are popular night-time destinations on Main Street, the homeless will go somewhere else. The only time you see them sitting on benches in the Vista, for instance, is during off hours when there's not much going on there. Homeless people avoid crowds for the most part, and those who don't blend in when there is heavy foot traffic. People who blame the homeless for keeping other people away from anywhere are just using the homeless as a scapegoat. And I don't think a one-stop place would do anything but make the one-stop place the new "place to avoid" and talk down. Even people who live in an area that others already perceive as a place to avoid don't deserve to have yet another reason to avoid their neighborhood forced upon them. Housing First has started, and behind the scenes efforts are being made to expand it, and I think it is the most responsible way to address the homeless problem.

I disagree. Certainly the homeless are an issue, but EVERY city has to deal with homeless people. You should see the homeless people in Charlotte. They are present, but they are just part of the scene. I don't think that is possible for a city to avoid them. Main St Columbia doesn't suffer form a lack of activity because of them it suffers because of a lack of anything worth going to. I think that its going to take some key destination, perhaps associated with one of the hotels on main street that chooses to locate there because of the hotel.

I had them, but I think they've already been recycled, thanks to Mrs. RT (the Journal and the Dining out guide were pretty darned wet from last night's rain). Let's see if I can recall the TBAs - the only one that really sticks out to me is the Washington & Main development - we're supposed to hear something about it within 30 days. I can't seem to recall the rest.

^But would a monumental classical facade be in context with that part of downtown? I think something more industrial, yet grand, would work better. I think this project works more as a gateway to downtown in terms of presence and massing. In terms of architecture, it really needs to reflect its context, yet distinguish itself.

Anyone have the TBA's for this week? I missed my copy.

Bumping this thread, because as of today, I'm hearing that something could start soon. Can anyone verify?

TBA's from the May 2, 2008 Journal:

[list]
[*]Greenvuhl is ramping up efforts to recruit corporate offices into downtown. A proposal is floating around calling for someone whose sole responsibility is to get companies to locate downtown - or at least somewhere inside the city. Specifically, companies from over-grown and over-crowded Atlanta and Charlotte are being targeted.

So City Lights is going out of business? I have always thought that was a really cool place.

Ah, thanks!
That explains the activity / construction that has been going on inside.

That looks pretty awesome! And 428 S. Main is/was City Lights.

And I don't think a one-stop place would do anything but make the one-stop place the new "place to avoid" and talk down. Even people who live in an area that others already perceive as a place to avoid don't deserve to have yet another reason to avoid their neighborhood forced upon them.

Housing First has started, and behind the scenes efforts are being made to expand it, and I think it is the most responsible way to address the homeless problem.

How did Greenville and Anderson come out as far as building permits? I know its off topic but just wondering.

You have a point, but I think it should be noted that the homeless in uptown Charlotte aren't really part of the overall scene since they are mainly clustered on the north end of Tryon. That said, as of now, there isn't much in that general area that acts as a destination which helps to explain that. I suppose that's why the homeless in downtown Columbia tend to be scattered along the length of Main. But you've got to admit that the abundance of the homeless surely doesn't help the perception of Main. I think both problems, the homeless and the lack of destinations/anchors, need to be dealt with concurrently. They feed off each other.

I think they do some movies in Falls Park or something, or maybe on the Piazza Bergamo. I'm not sure... maybe someone from Gville can share. I'm glad that other people are excited about this too. Its little things like this that make me wish I were still in Spartanburg so that I could participate and boost the numbers

...If Fluor isn't a prime candidate to relocate to a downtown highrise, I don't know who is! ...

I know at one time, it was said that the best route may be to section off the campus into different parcels to be developed by different developers. I think that's a smart idea.

I disagree. Certainly the homeless are an issue, but EVERY city has to deal with homeless people. You should see the homeless people in Charlotte. They are present, but they are just part of the scene.

So when is the Tower going to break ground? And where are more renderings