GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — The city of Greenville hosted a first look of the proposed layout for the Falls Park Conference District on Tuesday, inviting the public to speak with developers and take a closer look at the site plans.
During the September Project Preview meeting, developers showcased their proposed six-acre, mixed-used development that’s set to include a conference center, ballroom, an expansion of Falls Park, a hidden parking garage, and more.
“Our thought was a 24/7 type concept that had a more dynamic use than just a conference center,” Stephen Navarro, president of Furman Company, said. “There’s a multifamily aspect, there is a retail aspect, there is the hotel, which will actually occur on both sides of Fall Street, and then we’ll also have a couple of Class-A office buildings.”
The project is planned for the parking lot on the corner of Falls and Webster streets, across from the Grand Bohemian Lodge and Camperdown Plaza.
Navarro said massing and site development will take place over the new few months, with construction beginning in 2027. If everything goes to plan, he said operations at the district could begin before the end of 2029.
The meeting also allowed residents to ask questions about the development process and how construction could impact them.
Developers said traffic will be temporarily affected during construction, while some roads will undergo permanent changes. They said they hope to limit congestion and improve surrounding road conditions.
“We’ve gone through the application process and have approval to close a portion of Webster Street and a portion of Calvin Street, both of those will now go directly into the garage,” Navarro explained. We are widening Vivien Street and we’ll be improving Falls Street and Camperdown.”
The multimillion-dollar project is a public-private partnership between the city and private investors. City leaders said there will be no tax or fee increases for residents to develop the conference district.
“The estimated budget for the city’s portion, which is the parking garage and the conference center, is in the $130 to $150 million range. In addition to that, we’re projecting another $400 to maybe $500 million in private investment that will be on top of that,” Navarro said.
Developers said the conference district is intended to improve walkability around downtown and Falls Park while creating a destination for residents and visitors.
The project is still in its early stages. The next step for developers is a design review board meeting on Oct. 15, where the height and width of the various buildings within the district will be discussed.