New Developments Are Bringing the New “Cool” to Greenville, SC

Greenville is a community on the grow.

By Kevin Litwin on September 21, 2021

A number of new developments – residential, commercial and office alike – are changing the face of neighborhoods and creating new gathering places across Greenville and the region.

And more projects are in the planning stages. Jackson Way is being envisioned as a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and entertainment district around Fluor Field at the West End.

Meanwhile, after delays in 2020 due to COVID-19, plans to redevelop County Square are again moving ahead. As envisioned, the 37-acre site will include residential retail and office towers valued at around $1 billion. The development, expected to take eight to 10 years to build out, will feature two central plazas, three dog parks and multiuse trail connectivity to better integrate the development with the surrounding areas and provide access for residents in nearby neighborhoods.

Another multiuse development project is Canvas Lofts, a four-story, brick-clad building with retail spaces on the ground floor along with 48 residential units on the three upper floors. Canvas Lofts is located on Buncombe Street opposite the Heritage Green arts and culture campus in the heart of downtown Greenville.

One of the commercial tenants at Canvas Lofts is The Cook’s Station, a unique business that offers a gourmet market, a kitchen/home décor shop, a café with a takeout menu, a wine bar, an appliance showroom with a consulting area and an education kitchen for classes. The business had been located in the West End District of Greenville for many years until its recent move to Canvas Lofts.

“We wanted to expand our business and needed much more parking for our customers, so when the opportunity came up to move into Canvas Lofts, we jumped at it,” says Kelly Colacioppo, owner of The Cook’s Station, along with her husband, John. “Now we’re a business in this energetic part of downtown Greenville, and we’ve become a destination for resident shoppers and out-of-towners looking for kitchen items and good food.”

Head Down to Camperdown

Another major development that has opened in Greenville is Camperdown, a mixed-use project at Main and Broad streets in downtown Greenville. Camperdown is highlighted by a 15-story building with 150,000 square feet of office space and 18 condominiums on the top six floors. There is also a three-level underground parking deck.

In addition, a number of other buildings are part of the overall Camperdown development, including a 217-unit apartment complex as well as Camperdown Plaza, which houses retail, restaurants and the 196-room AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville. One of the many tenant companies at Camperdown is commercial real estate services firm CBRE.

“When our company first heard about the Camperdown project, we knew it would be an attractive development in the most sought-after part of downtown Greenville,” says Steve Smith, CBRE managing director for South Carolina. “Today, you ride by the project at any time of day, and it’s lively with lots of people and activity. It’s an amazing place to be.”

Greenville Has Become Cool

Stacy Brandon, Upstate market president at Bank of America, agrees. The bank has moved its Greenville banking headquarters to Camperdown.

“Camperdown is adjacent to the Reedy River, Falls Park, Liberty Bridge, the Peace Center – right in the absolute middle of everything that is happening in Greenville,” Brandon says. “Having our team in the newest and most beautiful building in Greenville is exciting.”

Another new tenant is The Furman Co., which was established in 1888 by Alester Furman, one of the founding members of the Greenville Chamber, which was formed in 1889. The Furman Co. is a real estate firm that specializes in the recruitment and development of new businesses and industry to the Upstate region.

“Part of our company’s responsibilities is handling economic development for Greenville, so Camperdown is an incredible place to bring prospects who are thinking about locating in this city,” says Steve Navarro, president/CEO of The Furman Co. “And the prospect of working and living at such a place like Camperdown will hopefully get even more of our area college students to remain in Greenville after graduation. Greenville has become cool.”