City of Greenville Council update

City Council Approves Land Purchase for Proposed Falls Park Conference District

City Council approved four land purchase agreements totaling six acres along Falls Street for a proposed transformational, mixed-use development.

“It fits what downtown Greenville is all about, with the water and the trees, the park space,” Mayor Knox White said.

Council authorized City Manager Shannon Lavrin to enter agreements to purchase the property at a cost totaling $26 million. The project will include a hotel-led conference center, Class A office space, multi-family residential units, underground parking and expanded public space to open a new gateway to Falls Park.

Funding for this initiative will be drawn from a mix of sources that are required to be spent on tourism-related projects, including bonds against hospitality tax, state and local accommodations tax, parking revenues, and, if necessary, additional available cash on hand. There will not be a tax increase.

Council members offered their wholehearted support for the project, which aligns with the Council’s long-term economic development strategy.

Councilmember Dorothy Dowe framed the land purchase as the first of many steps to be taken. She applauded the potential for the project to reclaim parking lots and transform them into green space. “It aligns with the priorities we adopted,” she said.

Located in a central, walkable corridor, the project would activate underutilized downtown property. The development also will support local and small businesses and provide additional public space for residents by integrating seamlessly with Falls Park, Main Street and the Swamp Rabbit Trail.