Bull Street Common

[Spartan]

Here are a couple recent additions to downtown Greenville. They show the effectiveness of good design even though they are above ground. I'll have to get pics of a couple others with nice architectural design.

Photos taken by RestedTraveler

I think an SC parking garges thread is in order.

[krazeeboi]

Do that, because I have a pic or two of a downtown parking garage in Rock Hill that's undergoing exterior renovations. It looks great now.

[BryCola]

There's an article in Businessweek online today that talks about the Bull Street type of developement..."cities within cities". It's kind of interesting, so thought I'd pass it along.

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/conte...d=aol_townships

[krazeeboi]

Good point. Columbia seems to be infatuated with brick (and red or dark red brick in particular), so why not build something to compliment that.

I'd say that the Vista has an infatuation with brick, but I don't think it's that evident beyond there. I guess its because many of the existing historical buildings that were renovated were built of brick. But I don't want to see EVERYTHING downtown with a brick facade. I mean, I know it's classic, but come on.

[Mr.Marc]

But I don't want to see EVERYTHING downtown with a brick facade. I mean, I know it's classic, but come on.

I agree

[krazeeboi]

There's an article in Businessweek online today that talks about the Bull Street type of developement..."cities within cities". It's kind of interesting, so thought I'd pass it along.

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/conte...d=aol_townships

Good article, but I think it failed to mention some key criticisms/disadvantages to many new urbanist developments, such as racial/economic homogeneity. There's also an editorial in today's edition of The State that speaks of how the Bull Street project could potentially affect the neighboring Celia Saxon homes project in terms of rising property values.

[waccamatt]

It's a double edged sword, isn't it? For those that buy homes in the project, rapid appreciation without a limit on taxes will force them to possibly move because they can't afford the taxes. On the other hand, they would make a tidy profit on the home. Unfortunately, these are some of the problems with a capitalist free market economy. I'm afraid I don't have an answer just yet.

[Spartan]

But ultimately this is the life of a city. If you do nothing then the area will go to crap and be nothing but a wasteland, like the Vista used to be.

[krazeeboi]

It takes effort both ways--to make sure neighborhoods don't go to hell, and to also strike a balance with affordability and economic diversity.

[krazeeboi]

Speaking of the Celia Saxon development, I rode through today and took a few pics. The progress has been quite impressive, I must say:

Charles R. Drew Wellness Center:

[The_sandlapper]

It's amazing what that area looks like now. Complete 180 from the days of when I grew up. I still have mixed feelings about it though just washing away one problem and leaving it in another part of town without actually fixing the problem, but that's another thread entirely.

[Spartan]

I like how they make you drive to the fitness center.

[krazeeboi]

LOL, it certainly is within walking distance of the residents of Saxon though.

[SpartanTS]

LOL, it certainly is within walking distance of the residents of Saxon though.

I'm not a big fan of the Saxon Project. It's only a matter of time before it turns into what it once was 7 years ago. A crime invested, urban disaster.

If they do with Saxon what they did with Jaggers on Barmhamville Road, then they'll have a success story on their hands.

[krazeeboi]

What happened with Jaggers?

[sonofaque86]

Yeah, those homes are going to go down hill in a couple of years again im sure

[CorgiMatt]

Yeah, those homes are going to go down hill in a couple of years again im sure

Some of them are home ownership homes and the rest are under the Columbia Housing Authority. CHA has an excellent track record of keeping its properties up. Thus the demolition of the outdated ones the new ones replaced. Trouble makers and property damagers (other than ordinary wear and tear) don't last long in CHA housing.

[krazeeboi]

It's now up to the state Supreme Court to decide who should receive the proceeds from the sale of the Bull Street campus. I don't know why it isn't obvious that they should naturally go to the state Dept. of Mental Health, but here's an editorial that gives some good reasons why.

[waccamatt]

I don't care for McMaster, but he is correct in this instance. It probably doesn't hurt that his brother works for SCDMH, though.

[GMoxley]

I don't care for McMaster, but he is correct in this instance. It probably doesn't hurt that his brother works for SCDMH, though.

Care to explain why you don't care for McMaster?

[waccamatt]

Care to explain why you don't care for McMaster?

That's really not on-topic for this thread, but it has to do with his support of homphobic laws in SC, amongst other things.

[krazeeboi]

Good news about the hold-up regarding this project. Here's a snippet from The State that details the progress:

Just days after Ways and Means Chairman Dan Cooper introduced a bill to let the Department of Mental Health keep the money from the sale of the State Hospital, he offered a budget proviso that does the same thing. The House passed it on a voice vote, without debate. If the Senate goes along, this should end a potentially costly lawsuit and clear the way for the largest and most important new development in downtown Columbia in decades. It also brings our state a tiny step closer to meeting its obligation to care for those who are unable to care for themselves.

I'm glad the money is going where it is supposed to go, and that this project can finally proceed.

[emerging.me]

I don't know how long this has been online, but I haven't noticed before... The Bull Street neighborhood has a website. If you did not attend the meeting I would encourage you to read the full 12-page transcript of Duany's final presentation. My wife and I went and it such an awesome talk. It's a shame they don't have it on video.

Edited June 5, 2006 by emerging.me

[BrasilnSC]

I had not seen those plans yet, very exciting. I'm glad there will be a pond and greenway along the creek. Phase I needs to start right away.

[krazeeboi]

Cool, E.M. I agree BrasilnSC, construction couldn't start soon enough. I hope the state supreme court makes a decision soon as to who gets the proceeds from the sale of the land (and it should be SC Department of Mental Health, duh).