02.2 Study Methodology

02.2 a Focus Area

Whereas the WLA Studio Historic Survey and the Wernick & Co. Village of West Greenville Micro Area Plan used narrowly drawn site boundaries (full discussion in Section 3.1), this study attempts to examine the area more comprehensively. Of specific interest are the parcels most likely to be redeveloped in the coming years, due to their proximity to the Village’s commercial core, or large, nearby adaptive reuse projects, like Brandon Mill. This is especially important due to recent proposed projects along Pendleton Street, as well as the node designation the Village received from the City of Greenville’s most recent comprehensive plan, GVL 2040, calling for more densely developed mixed-use areas. As such, the focus area stretches from Brandon Mill and the Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park, across the railroad tracks up to Woodlawn Ave, northeast of Poe West, and along the triple corridors of Perry Avenue, Pendleton Street, and Traction Avenue toward downtown.

2.2b Methods Followed

In our research, several methods were applied to explore the area and determine recommendations for its future development. We first critically reviewed the existing proposals, plans, and guidelines. These included the 2017 WLA Historic Resources Survey, GVL 2040 Comprehensive Plan, West End Small Area Plan, and the Village of West Greenville Micro Area Plan. Using this prior work as a launchpad, we built upon their combined foundation with new insights on the Village’s communities, assets, and broader development visions.

To better understand the character of the Village, our team conducted repeated site visits and a reconnaissance study. This strategy allowed us to identify the current condition of historic resources in the Village, and estimate their integrity based on the presence of alternations. The field research also helped to determine the historic district’s extent and logical boundaries for the overlay districts proposed. Additionally, during our visits to Greenville, we attended meetings and discussed the opportunities and challenges of the Village today with those representing the residential, business-owner, developer, artist, and nonprofit communities.

Our dive into the Village also included attending an outreach event and city council meetings discussing Woven, a higher density project recently proposed in the Village that gathered substantial public interest. Attending these meetings provided us with insight on the existing local conflicts in the area, as well as a better understanding of the visions and aspirations of different stakeholders.

In conjunction with this, we explored the best practices of other arts districts via case studies, and how their lessons might be useful for the growth of this identity in the Village.

Finally, we conducted a SWOT analysis based on all information we had collected. The major takeaways from this multilevel analysis shaped the framework used for the recommendations contained within this plan.