GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville City Council has cleared the way for the city to assemble land for its planned Falls Park Conference District, unanimously approving about $10.76 million on Oct. 26 to buy property for the roughly $500 million mixed-use project in downtown Greenville.
The money comes from the city’s parking fund, which is supported by garage revenue and parking fees rather than property taxes, FOX Carolina reported. According to the Greenville Journal, the city has signed four purchase-and-sale agreements covering about six acres along Falls Street and Camperdown Way, purchases council first authorized in March. The city will also draw on previously appropriated state funds for the acquisitions. Closings are expected by the end of the year, and construction is planned to begin in early 2027, the Journal reported.
The project, a public-private partnership between the city and master developer The Furman Company, would bring a conference center, a luxury hotel, multifamily housing, two office buildings, retail space and public green space to the blocks next to the Grand Bohemian hotel, FOX Carolina reported when the first detailed plans were unveiled in September. An elevated skybridge would link the conference center and hotel. A parking garage of roughly 1,250 spaces, including some underground parking, would become the city’s largest, topping the 978-space Church Street garage, according to FOX Carolina. Hotel brand, room count and the square footage of the conference and office components have not been publicly detailed in those reports.
City projections cited by FOX Carolina put direct annual spending above $37 million by the project’s fifth year, with total annual economic output approaching $63 million once ripple effects are counted. Earlier city estimates called for more than 100 events a year and about 40,000 additional hotel room nights. Councilmember John DeWorken said the district could draw more customers to downtown businesses, calling it “a great opportunity to have people who are maybe new to Greenville come in.”
The same meeting produced several other development actions, according to the Greenville Journal. Council gave initial approval to rezone 15.13 acres at the Costco on Woodruff Road from Planned Development to Business Heavy to allow more parking. It certified 420 Mills Ave. as an abandoned textile mill site for Bogey’s Golfgarten, a planned 18-hole putting course with a clubhouse and coffee and beer shop on four acres, targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of 2027. Council also certified the site of Parkstone, a $25.4 million, 32-unit luxury condominium project at 450 E. Park Ave., as an abandoned building site, which can qualify it for state income tax credits.
For brokers and investors, the land vote moves the conference district from concept toward execution and signals that the city is willing to put its own capital behind the deal. A meetings-driven anchor with a new hotel, offices and a large public garage could lift demand for nearby hospitality, restaurant and retail space around Falls Park, while two new office buildings would add supply to a Greenville-Spartanburg office market where CBRE recently reported vacancy falling to 9.6% and asking rents at a record high, according to Greenville Business Magazine. Key milestones to watch include the year-end closings, design approvals and the 2027 groundbreaking.
Sources: Greenville Journal, FOX Carolina, FOX Carolina, Greenville Business Magazine
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