South Ridge (Church St. and University Ridge)

[gman430]

Possibly a new bank from what I hear.

[vicupstate]

Possibly a new bank from what I hear.

Well that is a good location for one. When you say 'new' do you mean a new 'branch' or a bank that is new to this market ? BTW, the KFC parcel has the same owner as two adjoining parcels in the Church-Tindal-Augusta triangular block. That leaves only one other parcel in that block. Do you know if all three parcels were for sale or just the KFC one? Edited January 4, 2012 by vicupstate

[gman430]

Certus Bank is who I am hearing bought the old KFC. Sorry for the late response.

[vicupstate]

Thanks ! That is good to hear. Being new. I hope they create a high standard here in there HQ city. I hope they have a good design with nice landscaping, that will help set a standard for the new appearance of the street.

[vicupstate]

Certus Bank bought all THREE parcels. should be a big change in appearance.

[GvilleSC]

Certus Bank bought all THREE parcels. should be a big change in appearance.

The pressure is on them to make a statement on that corner as it now becomes the gateway to the new Church Street and really, downtown/West End.

[vicupstate]

From the Alta Vista meeting tonight, the new design for the Walmart is in Bentonville pending approves. It should be though that process approximately in April.

[gs3]

Unless the design changes perform a miracle and change a Walmart into a Target, then, doesn't really matter. Low end retail for city center. Yea!!!!!!

[GvilleSC]

Unless the design changes perform a miracle and change a Walmart into a Target, then, doesn't really matter. Low end retail for city center. Yea!!!!!!

Despite the tenant, the physical design does matter.

[gs3]

Despite the tenant, the physical design does matter.

Not IMO. The fact the city let Walmart in.......grow some Greenville. If it is 130,000 square feet with acres of parking, or half that size with a parking deck.....doesn't matter.......past it here. It is WALMART. I expected better from Greenville.

[vicupstate]

Not IMO. The fact the city let Walmart in.......grow some Greenville. If it is 130,000 square feet with acres of parking, or half that size with a parking deck.....doesn't matter.......past it here. It is WALMART. I expected better from Greenville.

Greenville hasn't approved ANYTHING at this location YET, and may very well not do so.

It is a free country, neither Walmart nor Dollar General nor fill-in-the-blank can be banned out of existence simply because of snobbery.

I would prefer Target myself, but not if they wanted the same design Walmart started with.

To say design doesn't matter undermines your own argument against it.

[gs3]

Greenville hasn't approved ANYTHING at this location YET, and may very well not do so.

It is a free country, neither Walmart nor Dollar General nor fill-in-the-blank can be banned out of existence simply because of snobbery.

I would prefer Target myself, but not if they wanted the same design Walmart started with.

To say design doesn't matter undermines your own argument against it.

Not really.

Concern about the design of a Walmart is like putting lipstick on a pig.

If Greenville is going to muck up downtown retail with a Walmart, then go whole hog.....muck it up in a grand way......stop being concerned about the design and bring on the payday loan stores, Sally beauty, and Family Dollar to complete the development.

[scgubers]

Not really.

Concern about the design of a Walmart is like putting lipstick on a pig.

If Greenville is going to muck up downtown retail with a Walmart, then go whole hog.....muck it up in a grand way......stop being concerned about the design and bring on the payday loan stores, Sally beauty, and Family Dollar to complete the development.

Greenville has not approved anything. It is far from certain. So stop getting so worked up. I know for a fact that David Sudduth does not want this to be built. When Walmart first announced their plans he was extremely upset, and made sure there initial design would not get through. He holds an incredible amount of sway and power within the city, so if he doesn't want it, it probably will not happen. Calm down.

[Gville2012]

From the Alta Vista meeting tonight, the new design for the Walmart is in Bentonville pending approves. It should be though that process approximately in April.

I missed the meeting. Was there discussion behind the progress of the Church St. road work? I heard city officials were going to be there to discuss.

[vicupstate]

I missed the meeting. Was there discussion behind the progress of the Church St. road work? I heard city officials were going to be there to discuss.

There was some discussion mainly around speed limits and such. Work should be finished by July.

[gman430]

The first decorative streetlight was being installed today at the intersection of University Ridge and Church Street. I figured they were going to look like the streetlights in ICAR or next to TD Bank. I was way wrong though. These look MUCH better than those. Gorgeous black ones. Kind of reminds me of the ones along Main Street in the West End.

[Gville2012]

CIP for fiscal years 2013-2017: http://issuu.com/cit...Color=%23007b57

Page 9 talks the Cancer Survivors Park and the addition of access from Church St. being in the budget (which I think may have been mentioned earlier from a news article). Both also noted as a finish date of June 2014... seems far off.

[Gville2012]

The first decorative streetlight was being installed today at the intersection of University Ridge and Church Street. I figured they were going to look like the streetlights in ICAR or next to TD Bank. I was way wrong though. These look MUCH better than those. Gorgeous black ones. Kind of reminds me of the ones along Main Street in the West End.

I would say they had in 15 or so when I drove home last night. Some of them actually have two lights, one on the street side and one on the sidewalk side. Once they remove the old stop light wires and the old street lights from the telephone poles and all the lighting looks consistent I think they will show even better.

I am still not sure how the bike lane is going to fit in. With the median being the size it is and the two lanes on each side, there does not seem like there is much, if any, room.

[GvilleSC]

I am still not sure how the bike lane is going to fit in. With the median being the size it is and the two lanes on each side, there does not seem like there is much, if any, room.

Last time I went down Church Street, the two travel lanes were pushed to the outside curb and there was about 3 or 4 feet of excess space around the medians (where work was being done). My understanding is that these lanes will shift back toward the center, and this excess space will be freed up and striped on the outside edge as a bike lane. Not sure what it looks like now, but several weeks ago there seemed to be enough space.

[Gville2012]

Last time I went down Church Street, the two travel lanes were pushed to the outside curb and there was about 3 or 4 feet of excess space around the medians (where work was being done). My understanding is that these lanes will shift back toward the center, and this excess space will be freed up and striped on the outside edge as a bike lane. Not sure what it looks like now, but several weeks ago there seemed to be enough space.

Hmm... you may be correct. The lanes are pushed towards the outer curb, but I dont remember seeing the excess space around the center median. Probably just missed it. Will look tonight.. thanks.

[GvilleSC]

Hmm... you may be correct. The lanes are pushed towards the outer curb, but I dont remember seeing the excess space around the center median. Probably just missed it. Will look tonight.. thanks.

I need to ride down the corridor myself. I rarely have a need to use Church Street, so I don't find myself on that road very often.

Fairforest Way is looking good, too. They're finally starting some of the work between Ridge and Laurens Roads.

[vicupstate]

According to the Journal, demolition for the new Certus Bank branch will start in a couple of weeks with construction starting in April or May. All three buildings will come down. I wish the brick house could be moved. It seems to be in great shape and there is plenty of vacant land within a stone's throw.

I hope the branch will look attractive. It will be between 3,500 and 4,200 Sf.

[GvilleSC]

Seems like a lot of land. I hope it will be sitting up on Church Street. Something akin to how Greenville First sits on Augusta Street would be appropriate.

[GvilleSC]

I rode down Church Street today. They far exceeded what I was expecting! VERY well done! The outbound side's lighting looks to be more or less done. I can only imagine what it will be like when both sides are complete, the road is repaved, and the plantings are in place. It's hard to imagine development NOT following this kind of first-class investment.

[gs3]

I rode down Church Street today. They far exceeded what I was expecting! VERY well done! The outbound side's lighting looks to be more or less done. I can only imagine what it will be like when both sides are complete, the road is repaved, and the plantings are in place. It's hard to imagine development NOT following this kind of first-class investment.

Not seeing the "very well done" part of this project. While it is an improvement, with sidewalks simply poured around wooden power poles and no buried power lines, this project could have been done far better. Investment following in the form of Walmart isn't exactly what I had hoped for.