Have you noticed all the cranes towering over our downtown skyline? Last week, the Urban Land Institute + Seamon Whiteside hosted a guided virtual “Crane Watch” tour of Greenville’s changing skyline + 120 people signed up. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, we’ve got the highlights here, and you won’t even need to *crane* your neck to see these views.
Before we begin, a special shout out to Whit Dawson for capturing the awesome drone footage you’re about to see on the tour.
Federal Courthouse
○ Location: Carroll A. Campbell Federal Courthouse
○ Expected Completion Date: July 2021
○ Jump to 11:59 in the virtual tour for more details.
○ Shareworthy: This new federal courthouse will house seven courtrooms + nine judges’ chambers. The building has a reinforced concrete structural frame, as federal buildings are required to be blast resistant ever since the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. There are three travel paths in the building - one for the public, one for judges, and one for prisoners. The traditional millwork that is so prominent in courtrooms (think judge’s bench, desks, etc.) will be made of walnut + is coming all the way from Canada. All federal buildings also traditionally have an artwork component, so this building will feature a series of mosaics depicting the old mills from around our area.
○ Read more here.
Camperdown Development
○ Location: Camperdown Development
○ Expected Completion Date: October 2020
○ Jump to 16:45 in the virtual tour for more details.
○ Shareworthy: This project has “set the new scale” for future development in Greenville. There is a lot happening on this four acre property including a 600-space parking garage, 100,000 sq. ft. of retail + restaurant space, 196 hotel rooms, and much more. There will be a new grand staircase (and elevator) that connects the development to a riverwalk you can take all the way into Falls Park. And, rumour has it, Camperdown is to be home to a new Jeni’s Ice Cream.
○ Read more here.
Grand Bohemian
○ Location: Grand Bohemian
○ Expected Completion Date: June 2021
○ Jump to 22:04 in the virtual tour for more details.
○ Shareworthy: Greenville’s very own Grand Bohemian Hotel will boast 187 guest rooms, a full spa, and a restaurant + bar that overlook Falls Park and the Reedy River. This has been a challenging site for crews to develop as it is close to the river and has a steep grade. There has been a lot of excavation and even some rock blasting.
○ Read more here.
.408 Jackson
○ Location: .408 Jackson
○ Expected Completion Date: June 2022
○ Jump to 28:39 in the virtual tour for more details.
○ Shareworthy: This new apartment complex across from Fluor Field is planned to have 227 units, a “home plate” shaped swimming pool, and a 4,700 sq. ft. restaurant. The developers are relocating the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum + adding a 850 sq. ft. annex for staff offices, a gift shop, etc. There is also talk about turning Field Street – currently a two-way street – into a one-way street called Jackson Way that could be closed for events.
○ Read more here.
The McClaren
○ Location: The McClaren
○ Expected Completion Date: Late 2021
○ Jump to 37:49 in the virtual tour for more details.
○ Shareworthy: There were four or five parcels of land that were joined together to create space for this 11-story, 246 unit apartment complex with 15,000 sq. ft. of retail space. One of the tallest structures in the West End, the building facade will make use of terracotta tile product. Additionally, we shared with y’all a couple of weeks ago the history of the McClaren Medical Clinic that is being relocated for the build.
○ Read more here from GVLtoday.
Judson Mill
○ Location: Judson Mill
○ Expected Completion Date: Spring 2021
○ Jump to 41:23 in the virtual tour for more details.
○ Shareworthy: Triangle Construction Co. (which was formed in 1947 here in Greenville) is the lead on the project. Of the 18 or so mills that were here in Greenville historically, 13 are still standing. The Judson Mill, built in 1911, was, at one time, the largest mill in Greenville county before being eclipsed by Woodside Mill. The mill was named for Charles Judson, the second professor Furman University hired when the school moved from Winnsboro to Greenville.
○ Read more here from GVLtoday.
The tour also touched on several future projects including Unity Park, County Square, and Canvas. #DYK: During the era of segregation, there were two different parks that occupied the future home of Unity Park. Mayberry Park was for the black community + Meadowbrook was for the white community. The name Unity Park comes from the idea that this park is designed for everyone.
The Urban Land Institute + Seamon Whiteside are looking to expand these tours to Charleston + Columbia (and potentially other cities y’all might be interested in too), so let us know what you want to see more of from them.
