There’s no doubt that Greenville is booming, and each new week brings the announcement of a new development. This week is no different, with a new 215-unit apartment complex planned on Greenville’s west side.
Situated at the corner of Westfield and Academy streets, the 7.31-acre property is tentatively called Greenville Lofts. The name may change, though, as they fine tune the plans for the project, said Mark Stuermann, vice president of development for Birmingham, Ala.-based Arlington Properties.
[View the architect’s renderings for Greenville Lofts.]
Even though the new Mayberry Park the city plans for Greenville’s west side has a ways to go in terms of funding, Arlington Properties is confident the new public park, along with established amenities such as the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail, the Kroc Center and the A.J. Whittenburg Elementary School, are all great for millennials and baby boomers who are looking to move downtown and want to rent instead of buy.
The company has spent the past two years working with the city to resolve flood plain and environmental concerns (there was a dry-cleaning business on the property at one point) and feel they are now ready to move forward. Plans were filed with the city’s Design Review Board this week and will be reviewed at the Dec. 4 meeting.
The four-story development will be a mixture of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Approximately 50 of those will have direct-entry garages. Shared amenities will include a workout facility, common area Wi-Fi with a cyber café, clubroom, billiard room, pet area, a swimming pool with a large deck and a bike barn with workshop space to store bikes and keep them in good repair.
“It’s been a little bit of luxury of having some space to work with,” said Stuermann. “Our vision for the property is to build on the success of nearby Kroc Center, the A.J. Whittenberg School and to harken back to the mills that are part of Greenville’s past with our architectural style.”
Stuermann said that the location really serves as a “gateway for the city,” especially for those coming in from Clemson, his alma mater. He said the greatest amenity for Greenville Lofts is Greenville itself, with Main Street a short walk away and direct access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
“This project will fit in well with expanding Greenville’s downtown and will help spur further development on the west side and near the new proposed park,” said Justin Hirsch, senior associate with CBRE, who is representing Arlington Properties in the land purchase.
When asked if he was concerned with the amount of other apartment developments announced recently, Stuermann said that his company has done its due diligence and are confident that the project is a “healthy one” and that the number of new job announcements vs. occupied units is “at an equilibrium but is not over the tipping point yet.” He also said that the location and amenities can out-compete most other recent community announcements.
Rental rates are expected to be from $950 for a 550-square-foot studio to $1,800 a month for a three-bedroom apartment. Apartments will feature the standard granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and higher-end finishes.
This will be Arlington Properties’ second project in Greenville, having just completed Tapestry at Hollingsworth Park at Verdae.
The company expects to break ground in the first or second quarter of 2015. Construction is expected to take 12-18 months.
