New developments continue to rise across downtown Greenville. Each project must comply with a set of design-based guidelines which focus on protecting the existing character of downtown while prioritizing new projects that will further enhance the city.
City staff have been working with consultants from Cooper Carry and ADP Urban Planning and Development since May 2025 to update the downtown design guidelines using public and stakeholder feedback. The city of Greenville’s Design Review Board and Planning Commission held a joint meeting on Feb. 26 to review preliminary recommendations for the updated guidelines.
The updated downtown design guidelines will reflect the expanded downtown boundary created with the adoption of the city’s new development code in 2023. New areas such as the Village of West Greenville and Unity Park now fall under the design guidelines.
Special character districts are proposed to be added to the design guidelines. These district would have specific design standards to help preserve the unique characteristics within each defined area. The suggested special character districts include:
- Halprin District (northern end of downtown Greenville)
- West End District
- Unity Park District
- The Village of West Greenville District
Another recommendation is to add specific design standards for single-family residential and small-scale multifamily projects to the downtown design guidelines. This change directly responds to the new residential areas that now fall under the design guidelines as a result of the downtown boundary expansion.
A draft of the updated downtown design guidelines is expected to be completed in the spring and will be presented during the city’s project preview meeting. For more information, visit greenvillesc.gov/2676/Downtown-Design-Guidelines.
