From Youth Correctional Facility to Community Gateway
The Givens project is an approximately 57 acre retail, office, and multifamily
development that transforms the site of the former Givens Youth Correctional Facility
into a gateway for the City of Simpsonville. The property is located ¼ mile from
the newly constructed I-385 and W. Georgia Road interchange, approximately two
(2) miles from the newly constructed I-185 (Southern Connector), and at the northern
border of the City of Simpsonville. The site provides a sensitive challenge due
to a running stream bisecting the property. The Furman Co., Development LLC realized this “challenge” as an opportunity to provide a new public park to
the City of Simpsonville. The fully landscaped park will consist of a permanent
wet pond for storm water management as well as providing a buffer to the existing
stream and recreational open space including a walking/jogging trail and picnic
area. Furman Development partnered with the City of City of Simpsonville and SCDOT for the project.
Furman Development initiated partnerships with the City of Simpsonville to develop the site to
higher standards than those provided by local codes and regulations. The elevated
standards also affected the architectural design review (agreement regarding natural
materials and earth tones as the preferred palette), landscape buffers, full-cut
off lighting, and limits to the number of curb cuts. These standards are now
being incorporated into Simpsonville’s development code. Furman Development even constructed the sidewalk along the newly widened W. Georgia Road gateway
to create a pedestrian friendly sidewalk so that a curb lawn with plantings could
be established for pedestrian safety. Furman Development also worked with the Metropolitan Sewer Sub-district to relocate a sewer trunk-line.
The project incorporates sustainable and innovative design techniques, which include:
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Landscape buffers utilizing native species
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Creation of new public park
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Pedestrian friendly sidewalks
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Full cutoff lighting
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Architectural review
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Canopy street trees
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Limited access to existing roads, utilizing interior circulation
The Furman Co., Development LLC is please to have partnered with the City of Simpsonville and SCDOT to provide
a gateway that Simpsonville can be proud of.
Developing Great Projects For Great Clients, Emphasizng Sustainable Design Through
Responsible Leadership.
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