5.2d Tactical Urbanism

Specifics of the action:

In the short-run city might imply this policy by aligning temporary improvements with existing event programs in the areato multiply the benefits of the community activities and road diet on Pendleton Street. First Fridays have the great potential to accommodate and promote tactical urbanism as they engage local artists already involved in the art event. Further, these initiatives will help connect the Village of West Greenville to the West End and Greenville downtown with a temporarily improved streetscape and walkable environment in previously disconnected parts of the city. In the long term, Village Arts Foundation can arrange road diet days and community workshops with the streetscape improvements. The resulting scheme and the feedback collected from visitors will be incorporated into capital improvement plans. The vision of local artists allows more creative solutions to further capital improvements, and the temporary and playful format creates the opportunity to promptly collect feedback from a broad range of stakeholders. Working with the SCDOT to narrow or temporarily close the existing roadway will enforce connectivity, walkability, and a community sense of belonging.

Anticipated opportunities and challenges:

The temporary improvements and related events must be organized in advance in close coordination with the SCDOT. This might help prevent conflicts over SC 124 (Pendleton Street). Energized stakeholders and the existing cultural programming will help draw the public attention to the area improvements and collect the broader community’s feedback. Local restaurants and coffee shops will be good in developing the cultural program for pedestrian-friendly interventions and pedestrian days. Greenville’s Center for Creative Arts in Brandon mill near Pendleton Street can provide a temporary location for launching the workshop. This supports local artists and serves the community through education while promoting the First Friday art walks. Art galleries in the Village, including Art Bomb Studios in Brandon Mill’s original General Store, can also serve as platforms for developing creative proposals for different street segments. Mill village Ministries also run an event called Village Launch: Third Thursdays, on the third Thursday of each month, showcasing minorityowned and women-owned startups in the Poe West parking lot. The tactical improvements will contribute to the connectivity between the commercial and cultural nodes while empowering the local community to build a better-shared neighborhood vision.