department of economic development
Commercial Corridors
Greenville, with its strong residential neighborhoods, supports a variety of local
and national businesses along key commercial corridors throughout the city. The
City is partnering with businesses and property owners in developing master plans
for many of the commercial corridors. The plans are market based, reflect the variety
and uniqueness of each area and are in various stages of implementation.
Augusta Road
Augusta Street, or Augusta Road as it is referred to locally, is located less than
a mile from Downtown Greenville. This unique shopping district is surrounded by
some of the area's most coveted neighborhoods. Augusta Road is home to a large variety
of high-end specialty shops, including fine clothing, boutiques, flower shops, antique
shops and home decorating centers. The district’s history and character have been
preserved and are evident through the presence of an old-fashioned hardware store,
a neighborhood soda shop and Greenville's first - and still very active - shopping
center.
The Augusta Road Business Association (ARBA) is a coalition of businesses established
to work together for the betterment of the Augusta Road corridor. ARBA members are
actively involved in local economic development efforts, and have partnered with
the City of Greenville to facilitate a long-term improvement plan for the corridor.
ARBA currently has over 70 members and holds monthly Board meetings. Membership
is open to any business having an interest in Augusta Road. Learn more about the
Augusta Road Business Association.
The City’s Facade Improvement Program, which offers grants for eligible exterior
building improvements, is also available to business owners and property owners
in the Augusta Road corridor. Please call (864) 467-4404 for more information.
Facade Improvement Program
Guidelines and Application
More Information on Augusta Road
Church
Street
Church Street provides a direct connection between Augusta Street and Downtown,
and allows for easy access to both I-85 and I-385. Implementation of the
Haynie-Sirrine Neighborhood Master Plan, completed in 2002, is currently
underway. The City is working with various agencies to provide quality housing opportunities
throughout the Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood. Plans have also been developed to reduce
Church Street to a four-lane, median-divided boulevard with street trees, bicycle
lanes and wider sidewalks. These improvements, scheduled to begin in the summer
of 2010, will make the corridor more pedestrian-friendly. The master plan also calls
for a new neighborhood center at the intersection of Church Street and Haynie Street
to create a vibrant 18-hour environment for living, working and shopping.
Haynie-Sirrine Neighborhood Master
Plan
Haywood Road
Haywood Road is one
of the City’s most vibrant commercial corridors and is composed of a mix of residential,
restaurants, retail, and office developments. Also known as “Uptown Greenville,”
the area is a regional shopping destination where you can find merchants of every
description, including nationally-known furniture, jewelry and home improvement
stores, as well as clothing outlets and a host of specialty retailers. Haywood Road
is also home to Haywood Mall, one of the Upstate’s largest regional malls, which
includes over 150 specialty shops, and five major department stores: Belk, Dillards,
Macy’s, JCPenny, and Sears. The area also has a variety of hotels, such as the Hilton,
Courtyard by Marriott, and Hyatt Place. Haywood Road is the leading retail sales
generator in the City of Greenville and ranks second only to Downtown in annual
restaurant sales. The City worked with planning consultants - Clark
Patterson Lee - to develop the Haywood Road Master Plan, which was completed in 2009.
More information on Haywood Road
Haywood Road Master Plan
Laurens Road
Known as the "Motor Mile" since it is home to most of the City’s large automotive
dealerships, this bustling corridor provides a direct connection between Downtown
and Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). CU-ICAR
has established the Upstate region as a major player in the motorsport industry.
This premier automotive and motorsport research center offers training and advanced
degrees in automotive engineering and motorsport technology, and will create approximately
20,000 high-paying jobs.
Pete Hollis Gateway & West Washington Street
A $24 million dollar roadway expansion project will be reshaping this commercial
district over the next several years. The project includes the widening of Buncombe
Street and the extension of Stone Avenue to Buncombe Street. Rezoning of the area
has taken place to encourage appropriate development. A recent traffic study proposed several alternatives for making West Washington Street a pedestrian friendly corridor. This includes diagonal parking, a landscaped median and a narrowing of the travel lanes. A master plan and streetscape design for the corridor are currently being developed. Additionally, a market study for West Washington Street and the Western Corridor was completed in 2001.
View Market Strategies for West Washington Street and the Western Corridor
View the
Pete Hollis Gateway Plan
Pleasantburg Drive
Pleasantburg Drive is Greenville's principle north/south corridor running through
the geographic heart of the city.
“Pleasantburg” has seen many uses since it was first established in
1941 and now extends 7.3 miles in length with connections to both I-85 and I-385.
The corridor is home to some of the City's most significant institutions, including
Greenville Technical College, the Greenville Downtown Airport, Carolina First Center
and the University Center.
The City of Greenville is working with the Pleasantburg Drive Business Association
to assist property and business owners in marketing the corridor as the location
of choice for business, technology and education.
A 2001 Market Study identified the area as a potential high-technology
corridor. The Pleasantburg Drive Master Plan, completed in 2004, provided specific recommendations
for redevelopment and has helped guide the revitalization of the corridor. The City
recently completed a $22 million renovation of the Carolina First Center. The newly-constructed
Forest Park Shopping Center, anchored by The Fresh Market, has been a catalyst for
redevelopment in the area. The City’s Facade Improvement Program, which offers
grants for eligible exterior building improvements, is also available to business
owners and property owners in the Pleasantburg Drive Overlay District. Please call
864-467-4404 for more information.
More Information on Pleasantburg Drive
Pleasantburg Drive Master Plan
Facade Improvement Program
Guidelines and Application