WEAKNESSES

Social group fragmentation

There are multiple actors involved in the area’s redevelopment, inevitably conflicting with one another. The result of these conflicts increases the resistance of the local residents to new economic development and undermines the mutual understanding in the process. The key actors involved include permanent residents of the Village and the adjacent areas, artists, local entrepreneurs, and neighborhood organizations. The interests of the groups deeply rooted in the area might have conflicts with the goals and aspirations of the new businesses, land developers, and potential newcomers. The city needs to find the golden middle to mitigate the conflict of interest and allow a reasonable combination of protection and privacy with development and attracting new visitors. It will be vital for the Village to create a platform for the constructive communication of all stakeholders.

Significant parts of the Village of West Greenville are outside city limits

The Village of West Greenville, the former city surrounding the area we know as the Village today, stretches beyond the City of Greenville’s legal limits - a problem that has left the historic area disconnected and divided between city and county jurisdictions. As an example of this problematic situation, annexation efforts by the city have brought Woodside Mill into the jurisdiction, yet Brandon Mill, which is far closer and more impactful on the Village, remains in Greenville County. Furthermore, the partial authority the city has over the bifurcated area has caused an imbalance in regulations and funding. Annexation might mitigate these problems and enable a more comprehensive approach to managing growth in the Village.

Pendleton Street under SCDOT control

The same problem of undetermined areas of responsibility affects the traffic connectivity, safety, and walkability of Pendleton Street - the main area corridor. The city is the primary actor responsible for the development along the corridor, whereas the street falls under the jurisdiction of Greenville County. Thus, the threat of uncontrolled changes compromises the public spaces` uniformity. Working with SCDOT on road diets, streetscape improvement, and better connectivity in the Village could create a safer area for pedestrians and a stronger physical connection to downtown.

Lack of visibility & wayfinding

Key landmarks in the Village, especially Poe West and the mills, for example, are hidden, and not easily accessible, due to their location off the Pendleton Street corridor. As a result, the businesses located there lack an inflow of visitors, and vacant properties are generally left unnoticed. The area needs to market these distinct features by implementing recognizable visual coordination and signage to enforce the neighborhood’s connectivity and image. Local small businesses and artists would benefit considerably from the visual coordination of their location along the walkable routes by street signage.