Here’s a recap of the Feb. 23 meeting of Greenville City Council.
Final approval: $3M to begin City Hall renovation
Council gave final approval to the appropriation of $3 million from the city’s capital project reserve fund for the renovation of Greenville City Hall at 206 S. Main St. The funding will be used to cover the project’s design, engineering and other startup costs.
Greenville-based DP3 Architects was hired as the project’s architect. Design plans for the revamped City Hall are expected to be presented at the city’s project preview meeting in April. The Design Review Board will then review the project’s renderings in May.
Interior and exterior renovations to the city’s 53-year-old headquarters are expected to begin in early 2027. The project will take approximately 18 months to complete. The city hired Reeves Young LLC to be the project’s construction manager.
Read more about the Greenville City Hall renovation project
Public Hearing: Judson Mill District annexation
The city received an annexation petition for 48.60 acres of land comprising the Judson Mill District and other surrounding properties in November 2025.
Eighty-three percent of the property owners possessing 99% of the assessed value in the proposed annexation area signed the petition. The area includes 22 individual parcels located on Andrews Street, Bel Aire Drive, Easley Bridge Road, Fourth Street, A Street, Third Street, Lyncrest Street, B Street, C Street, Second Avenue, Third Avenue, Sixth Street, Neubert Street, Fifth Street and an unnamed alley.
The properties are currently zoned Single-Family Residential District (R.7.5), Flexible Review District (FRD) and Planned Development District (PD) in Greenville County. The annexation application proposes rezoning the properties to Neighborhood A District (RN-A) and Industrial Flex District (IX) in the city.
Only the public hearing was held during the City Council meeting. Council did not vote on the proposed annexation.
Review: Abandoned building certification for N. Main
Council reviewed a proposed abandoned building certification during a work session on Feb. 23. Greenville-based Oxford Capital Partners plans to complete an $18.4 million renovation of the former “Baby Bi-Lo” site in the North Main neighborhood. The shopping center at 505 N. Main St. will be transformed into Class A commercial development called “N. Main.”
The project’s developer is seeking to certify the property as an abandoned building under the South Carolina Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act. Sam Konduros, president and CEO of the Greenville City Economic Development Corp., said eight units within the shopping center, consisting of more than 80% of the total structure, have been vacant for more than five years.
The South Carolina Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act grants state income tax credits equal to 25% of the qualified rehabilitation expenses for an abandoned building. Konduros said the qualified expenditures for the project equal $10.25 million.
Council will formally vote on the item on March 9.
Approved: Annexation applications
Council approved the first reading of four annexation applications, including an application for 6.27 acres of land on Worley Road owned by the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority.
GCRA Executive Director Joe Smith said the authority is working with an experienced developer to complete a 72-unit senior affordable housing project on the site. The property is proposed to be zoned Community 3 District (RC-3) in the city.
The other annexation applications that received initial approval include:
- 1.51 acres of land at 208, 211 and 305 Minus St. and 113, 117 and 121 Middleton St., with the proposed city zoning of Neighborhood A District (RN-A)
- 1.17 acres of land on Redland Way, with the proposed city zoning of House C District (RH-C)
- 0.18 acres of land at 113 David St. and 115 Crest Lane, with the proposed city zoning Neighborhood A District (RN-A)
Final approval was also given by council to five annexation applications, including:
- 1.42 acres of land on Churchill Circle, with the city zoning of Park District (PK)
- 0.97 acres of land on Conestee Lake Road, with the city zoning of Park District (PK)
- 0.30 acres of land on West Pine Lake Circle, with the city zoning of Park District (PK)
- 0.66 acres of land at 1008 Jenkins St., with the city zoning of Neighborhood A District (RN-A)
- 0.29 acres of land at 805 and 805A Green Ave., with the city zoning of House D District (RH-D)
Approved: Samaritan Biologics Corral at the Greenville Zoo
Samaritan Biologics donated $50,000 for the construction of the paddock at Greenville Zoo’s Phillips Family Farm. Council approved naming the paddock the “Samaritan Biologics Corral” in honor of the donation. The Samaritan Biologics Corral will feature hands-on care stations and ambassador learning encounters.
The Greenville Zoo broke ground on the $3.6 million Phillips Family Farm exhibit in October 2025. The new exhibit is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.
Additional items
- A public hearing was held for the proposed abandonment of a portion of East Court Street and the property at the corner of South Main Street in downtown Greenville. The applicant, Steve Owings, plans to build a five-story residential and retail building with underground parking on the northeast corner of the Court Square Plaza.
- Council gave initial approval to an easement agreement with Greenville Water for the installation and maintenance of a new water main on Ridge Road.
- Council approved final reading of an ordinance to abandon portions of the existing right-of-way along Darwin Avenue and Rector Street located north of East Washington Street. The abandonment will be part of a 20-unit townhome subdivision with new public roads and a connection to the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail.
- Council heard a presentation from the Greenville Zoo Foundation during its work session on Feb. 23. Board Chair Jake Wanner said the foundation will be focusing on raising $8 million for a new Orangutan habitat after completing the fundraising for Phillips Family Farm.
