Preliminary recommendations for the Greenline-Spartanburg Neighborhood Master Plan were unveiled to city of Greenville leaders and the general public Aug. 15.
The city has spent the last several months working with Arcadis, neighborhood residents and stakeholders to develop an updated plan for the neighborhood. The outdated plan for the Greenline-Spartanburg neighborhood located northeast of downtown Greenville was created in 2001.
Read more on the development of the Greenline-Spartanburg Master Plan
The new master plan will consist of ways to use the neighborhood’s vacant properties and address old infrastructure, fragmented roads and lack of sidewalks.
“We want to make sure that Greenline-Spartanburg is a neighborhood that celebrates and builds community, that is an affordable safe place to live and that is a well-connected community,” said Amanda Morrell, the project manager with Arcadis.
Future ideas
Several strategies to preserve and produce affordable housing in the neighborhood will be included in the master plan, from increasing preservation opportunities to increasing new housing production. The plan aims to ensure that around 63% of the neighborhood’s housing is affordable.
Recommendations have also been made on where new affordable housing units could be built in the neighborhood. For example, 18 affordable cottages are proposed to be created on property owned by Mt. Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church.
A main element of the plan is to create a new roadway called the Chestnut Street connector. The street would cross Richland Creek and connect the north and south sides of the neighborhood.
Enhancements to neighborhood intersections have also been recommended with new traffic calming and safety features. Some intersections into major corridors have been suggested to be closed for safety including the Spartanburg Street and East Stone Avenue intersection.
“Safety is big because now we’re opening up. There is going to be more homes and there is going to be more individuals moving around and walking around. We need that safety,” said Jennul Mennazz, a Greenline-Spartanburg resident and member of the plan’s steering committee.
Phased improvements to the David Hellams Community Center site are also proposed. The first phase includes adding grass to the baseball field, covering the existing playground, adding an outside mural, building a water feature and leveling the basketball court.
Additional connectivity and recreation recommendations include adding:
- 3.4 miles of new sidewalk with street lighting
- A 1.5-mile neighborhood trail system
- A connection to the Swamp Rabbit Trail Orange Line extension
- “Gateway Park” at the corner of East North Street and East Stone Avenue
- “Peak Community Park” on Austin Street
- A boardwalk
- A bridge overlook
- 30 swings detailing the story of the neighborhood
During the public meeting, residents were asked to identify which recommendations should be a priority for the city. Arcadis will use this feedback to create a draft master plan that is planned to be released in September. The final master plan is anticipated to go before the city for adoption in October.
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