The Team Blog

We don't see this atmospheric phenomenon much around here. But ice crystals high in the atmosphere reflect light to make a rainbow around the sun. A storm is brewing!  There might be 3 to 6 inches of snow in Greenville by tomorrow morning. That's a rare and huge storm for our part of the world. Real Estate showings in the Greenville, SC area will be slow on Thursday! 

If you are in downtown Greenville next month, expect to see Schneider Tree Company working on the trees after February 2. They plan to make the impact as minimal as possible but given the nature of Main Street and the work do be done, there will be some added congestion.  But hey, it's worth it to have those awesome trees that distinguish our downtown to be in great shape.  This is the ninth year they have worked on a regular maintenance program.  They will be working on replacing declining maples, and improving the growing conditions of the rest.

The empty lot at the corner of S. Main and River Streets in the West End will be moving forward with a mixed use development that will include 40 luxury apartments.  However, the project has been altered from the original concept approved in 2008,which was one with architectural guidelines more in line with a registered historic district.  That has gotten a bit of is dissent from those supporting the historic mill town style, but Greenville City Council has approved the new, more modern look that will be more in line with other prominent structures in the West End.   The building will be six stories high and incorporate more glass and metal instead of the terra-cotta look of the previous design. The prominent corner in the West End has been vacant since 2010 after the 1869 historic building was torn down because it was structurally unsound.  But the Great Recession slowed down progress and the project sat idle for five years.  Greenville's downtown area has since become a hotbed for development. And so, the march on this portion of Greenville continues as businesses and apartment dwellers push the demand up.  Directly behind 702 S. Main, another six-story apartment building, the Link Apartments, will be breaking ground soon.

Swamp Rabbit Economics

Impact to Laurens Road Corridor

Current Weather

A winter weather break is finally here! After some grey and rainy days this past week the sun will be out in full effect Friday and Saturday with a change of morning showers on Sunday. Highs will creep up into the mid 50s for the next week and overnight lows will hover at just above freezing. Rain will return for a couple days at the end of next week projecting highs into the upper 40s for next weekend. 

The National Association of Realtors had identified Greenville as a top 10 city that can expect an influx of baby boomers.  With a resurgence of the economy, many of the boomers are going to be moving south to warmer climates, where the cost of living is lower and temperatures are warmer.  According to a study done by NAR, these boomers have an income of about $92,000 and purchase homes around $210,000.  They are also thought to be about 30% of all buyers nationwide.  That's a pretty big slice of buyers.  Greenville's average price for a home is $190,700 for 2014. The pricing and low taxation rate has been attracting boomers to Greenville for years. And with the super attractive nature of the city center, the area is competing with other boomer cities in Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, and New Mexico.

If you are planning to visit Greenville, make sure you book early.  This October broke the record for hotel visits in the area, as lots of visitors flocked in to check out our fair city and the things offered here.  A recent push marketing the city called "VisitGreenvilleSC.com" probably had something to do with it, which began in 2013 and began to define Greenville, SC as a destination city, not just a business stop.  You get the idea on the title page of their site, Yeah, That Greenville.   It's full of reasons to stop here for the weekend.  Oh, and there are plans for another 1000 rooms to be built in the next few years, so perhaps the shortage will ease during the big months.

Local manufacturing giant Michelin is opening a new plant in Piedmont to produce a new wheel / tire design called the Tweel.  The Tweel made the cover of Time Magazine in 2005 and has been touted as a huge breakthrough in automotive technology. The airless design incorporates a molded tread band on a steel rim that is connected to the hub with a series of energy absorbing polyurethane spokes. Michelin has been working on a partnership with John Deer on this innovation and looks to have an impact on the commercial mowing market.  The plant is located near the current Michelin plant at the SCTAC airport, formerly known as the Donaldson Center.

Greenville County Schools Improve / Report Card System to Change

Market Update

There are finally buildings coming out the ground at the intersection of Duncan Chapel and Old Buncombe Rd, just behind the Publix Market at University Square.  The main attraction will be a Walmart Neighborhood Market, which is smaller than the full size model, and is expected to be running in early 2015.  Greenville Health System is also building  a new Children's Clinic at the location and hope to be finished by the middle of November in time for the winter sick season.  You can also look for another restaurant and more retails space.  This location marks a major development along the corridor between Travelers Rest and the Cherrydale area of Greenville.  The area has been gaining attention from the Swamp Rabbit Trail that offer a biking and walking path between those areas.