Construction has officially started on the first residential phase of On the Trail, a major mixed-use redevelopment of the former Union Bleachery mill site north of Greenville.
Miami-based 13th Floor Investments announced May 18 the groundbreaking of a 222-unit garden-style apartment community called Venture on the Trail. The multifamily residential project located at 301 Alston St. is expected to be completed in 2027.
David Resnick, chief investment officer of 13th Floor Investments, said Venture on the Trail marks the first step in bringing the former Union Bleachery mill site into active use for the community. The project received a $47 million construction loan from CIBC.
Venture on the Trail will feature a mix of studio to three-bedroom apartments ranging between 600 and 1,350 square feet. Residents will have access to various community amenities, including a clubhouse, resort-style pool, two pickleball courts, co-working spaces, a fitness center and a bike room.
“With direct access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and a strong amenity offering, the project brings hundreds of new residences to a location where demand for connected, lifestyle-driven housing continues to accelerate,” Resnick said.
On the Trail will be one of the largest redevelopment projects in Greenville County, transforming approximately 250 acres into a vibrant mixed-use community within the Sans Souci neighborhood. A mix of residential, commercial, retail and hospitality uses will be created on the site. The developers are currently planning future phases of the project.
The former Union Bleachery Mill, located at 3335 Old Buncombe Road, operated from 1902 until 2003. The property was designated as a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to the hazardous material contamination from the property’s previous textile mill operations. Extensive environmental remediation, entitlement work and site preparation have been completed on the property, with final cleanup efforts nearly finished.
Infrastructure improvements are also planned as part of On the Trail. The developers worked with Greenville County to secure a $20.3 million RAISE Grant to fund a proposed pedestrian bridge across Blue Ridge Drive (S.C. Highway 253), enhancing the connectivity between the project site and the surrounding community. The grant will also be used to create a new trail extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail through the Sans Souci neighborhood.
“In Greenville, the Swamp Rabbit Trail has become one of the city’s most defining lifestyle drivers, with residential demand increasingly oriented around proximity to the trail,” Resnick said. “Our property’s direct frontage along the trail offers a level of access and connectivity that is highly sought after, positioning Venture on the Trail as a compelling place to call home.”
