04. STRATEGY 04.1 Overview

ȑ Recall that the area surrounding and including the Village was an independent municipality called West Greenville from 1914 to 1948 - the origins of its eclectic spirit. This unique history means the area has had greater autonomy in the past, and a distinct cultural legacy. As such, addressing the multifaceted issues that face the area today requires a West Greenville, or Village-specific approach that understands the area as its own micro community, not just another node or neighborhood.

ȑ Even so, today’s West Greenville can be thought of as a community psychologically divided between its residents and businesses, who both accurately recognize the Village core as part of their home. In fact, the area’s name is even contentious, as legacy residents continue to use the moniker “West Greenville,” seeing the “Village” as representative of recent changes brought on by outside investment.

ȑ Exemplifying this, newly proposed development with an increased density along Pendleton Street, a direct response to the growth strategy established by GVL 2040, has been caught amid this bifurcation. Residents argue denser concepts step too far, destined to change the neighborhood, while area businesses clamor excitedly at the potential of increased foot traffic, a resource lacking to such a degree that many Village shops and restaurants have been forced to reinvent themselves as destination locations based on attracting outsiders, with varying levels of success. ȑ As such, forming a conservation district overlay and corresponding board would help greatly to ameliorate this problem, as would creating separate organizations to support the Village artist and business communities, ensuring all primary stakeholders and their needs are addressed. Together, these proposed groups form the proposed “Village Coalition.”