Here’s a recap of the Nov. 4 meeting of Greenville’s Design Review Board Urban Panel:
Approved: Design specifics for Falls Walk townhomes
A long-awaited townhome development moved one step closer to going up in downtown Greenville’s West End, as the Design Review Board unanimously approved design specifics for the Falls Walk development.
The 12-unit townhome development proposed for 102 Oneal St. at the corner of Rhett Street, received its initial certificate of appropriateness at the Design Review Board in 2018.
At the most recent DRB Urban Panel meeting, developer Terry Birch presented a revised version of the designs, including the installation of vehicular grade pavers in lieu of concrete or asphalt paving and new window designs on the townhomes’ second-floor “Juliet-style” balconies.
Birch said the revisions of the windows were primarily related to safety concerns.
“One of the reasons I went this direction is because people didn’t want the doors to be completely open with kids being able to get to a railing,” Birch said. “The Juliet balconies we will install will still allow for the wind to open far enough to get good ventilation in.”
Approved: Storefront facade replacement on Main Street
The City of Greenville’s plans to replace a storefront to woo prospective tenants was unanimously approved by the Design Review Board.
“The city is always looking for ways to improve our downtown and we feel like the time is right to bring back the downtown facade program,” said Mary Douglas Hirsch, real estate development manager with the City of Greenville.
Speaking in conjunction with property owner NV, Hirsch said the property at 125 North Main would be the first of the city’s plans to improve specific facades downtown in order to garner interest from retail tenants, a program that was funded in the city’s 2021-2022 budget.
“This building has been vacant for years,” Hirsch said. “The city really wants to see it filled and we think that improving the facade in conjunction with the owner will attract great new retail.”
The city enlisted DP3 Architects to come up with initial concepts for the facade.
Noting that the building “stuck out like a store thumb,” the Design Review Board approved the initial designs, which include a new black cornice profile, new signage with large boxed letters lit internally, a new storefront, a fabric awning and new wood paneling painted a light green.
