Piazza Bergamo: Makeover

By Cindy Landrum  

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010 12:42 p.m. (0)

Development of the former Woolworth site could start early next year and a makeover of Piazza Bergamo designed to make that section of Main Street a vibrant part of Greenville’s downtown could include more space, a lawn or vertical plantings and a focal point such as a water feature or sculpture.

Urban designers from Denver-based Civitas told business owners and downtown residents who attended a public meeting Monday the piazza renovation should be inspired by public squares in Greenville’s Italian sister city, Greenville’s textile roots and geographical characteristics and the yet unannounced private Woolworth development.

Developers hope to begin construction on the Woolworth project by spring 2011 and have construction of its first phase completed by July 2012, said Michael Kerski, city economic development manager.

Potential tenants have signed letters of intent but no contracts have been finalized, Kerski said.

Developers hope to announce details of the project by the end of the year, he said.

The city has budgeted $4 million for public improvements of Piazza Bergamo and part of Richardson, Laurens and Coffee streets, Kerski said.

“We have known for years the piazza hasn’t really worked,” said Mary Douglas Hirsch, the city’s downtown development manager.

The city has tried to redesign the piazza before, the last time four years ago. Those efforts were hampered because, until recently, the vast majority of the Woolworth block had not been in the hands of a single owner, she said.

Mark Johnson, founder of Civitas, said the firm wanted to get public input before beginning to draw up plans.

He said designers would like to open up the piazza more in the front and back to improve the flow of pedestrian traffic in that area of Main Street. A redesign of the intersection of Main and Coffee streets could make it “less of a street and more of a pedestrian space,” he said.

But, he said, there are no plans to close Coffee Street to vehicular traffic.

“There aren’t many streets closed to traffic which have been successful,” he said. “There are probably only four or five which have remained commercially viable without traffic.”

Johnson said possibilities for the space included vertical plantings of vines, light displays, water features, projection screens, a type of enclosing canopy, shops and cafe seating around the piazza’s edges, amphitheater-like grassy areas,

Anthony Conway, who lives across the street from the piazza, said he’s encouraged by what he has heard.

“But we’ve been here before,” he said. “Our main concern is that the project reflects the wishes of the public. In previous meetings, we have spoken overwhelmingly for green space.”

While those attending the meeting seemed to support a piazza makeover, some are concerned about the impact on nearby businesses during construction.

Scott Stephens, owner of Camille’s, a deli in the Bank of America building, said his business dropped about 30 percent.

“I think the piazza will be absolutely beautiful if I can survive long enough to enjoy it,” he said. “I think it will be a great addition to the city but, boy, I don’t know how we’re going to make it.”

City officials said there will be other opportunities for public input before new plans for Piazza Bergamo would go before the design review board later this year.