Main Street Rising

$100 million, two-tower complex planned

MAY 26, 2011 8:35 a.m. (0)

After years of starts, stops and stumbling blocks, the pieces needed to redevelop the old Woolworth’s site on Main and Washington streets finally started falling into place.

City officials had long identified the block as a key to developing downtown’s reputation as a shopping destination and as a vibrant business center.

“It was our last best chance for retail downtown,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White.  Continue reading...

 

The Washington Square Project

'Two years ago, (Greenville) asked me to make it happen.'

MAY 26, 2011 8:59 a.m. (0)

For three years, the city sought advice from developer Bob Hughes on ways to pull off a tough but critically important development at the site of the demolished Woolworth, a Main Street Greenville focal point rich in history.

Nothing had higher priority than to create a destination with retail, office and public space that would serve as a catalyst for a resurgent North Main from Piazza Bergamo to the Hyatt Hotel, itself undergoing improvements.

No envisioned project held more promise.  None posed more financial challenge.  Continue reading...

 

Local, for the long term

CertusBank continues its steady growth in the Upstate

JUNE 23, 2011 10:01 a.m. (0)

CertusBank has gone from acquisition of a failed bank in Easley to the nation’s largest black-controlled bank, but any distinction as a “minority” bank is dismissed by its principals. The preferable adjective is “community.”

Charles Williams, vice chairman, put it simply:  “We are a bank. We are involved in our communities.  Like everyone else, we happen to look the way we look.   We’ve all had stellar careers. We consider ourselves great bankers.  That’s how we view this.” Click here to read about the officers and directors of Blue Ridge and Certus.

With financial help from the FDIC, CertusBank on Jan. 21 took over CommunitySouth Bank and Trust in Easley, planting headquarters there until it can move to downtown Greenville as an anchor tenant in the first phase of a $100-million office and retail complex.  Continue reading...

 

Ruling expected soon on One development appeal

Results could come as early as Friday

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 11:47 a.m. (0)

A judge could rule as early as Friday on the appeal filed by the opponents of One, a $100 million downtown development city officials say will help revitalize North Main Street.

Downtown residents Heidi Aiken and Anthony Conway and commercial property owner Mary Dana Lowie filed in circuit court an appeal of the city’s Design Review Board’s decision to approve the project planned for Main and Washington streets.

In their appeal, they claimed the board should not have granted the project a certificate of appropriateness because it did not meet the city’s design guidelines for downtown projects and that the board member who cast the deciding vote should have recused himself because of a conflict of interest.  Continue reading...

 

One will move on

Opponents' appeal against Washington St. development is unsuccessful

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 11:46 a.m. (0)

A judge has upheld the city’s Design Review Board’s decision to approve plans for the $100 million downtown development One.

Downtown residents Heidi Aiken and Anthony Conway and commercial property owner Mary Dana Lowie appealed the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for the project, saying it did not meet the city’s design guidelines for downtown projects and that a board member who cast the deciding vote had a conflict of interest.  Continue reading...