Greenville approves $1.35M in federal funding for sidewalk project
- Charles Reams 1
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The Greenville City Council approved the following items at its Oct. 13th meeting.
Lowndes Hill Road sidewalk project funding
Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to appropriate $1.35 million in federal funding for a sidewalk project in the Overbrook neighborhood. The $3.4 million project will install approximately 5,100 linear feet of new sidewalks along Lowndes Hill Road.
The city received the money from the Transportation Alternatives Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The South Carolina Department of Transportation administers the program.
The city was required to provide a 20% grant match for the project. Approximately $1.35 million was previously appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund to meet the local match requirement and fund the remainder of the project.
Clint Link, the city’s director of engineering services, said the city will move forward with getting plans approved by SCDOT, completing an environmental study and acquiring right-of-way easements for the project. Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2026 and take a year to complete.
Update: Swamp Rabbit Trail North Main Connector
Council received an update on the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail connector through the North Main neighborhood during its Oct. 13 work session.
A feasibility study is being completed to determine the best route and design for the city’s portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail Orange Line extension. The city plans to extend the Orange Line from Greenville County’s planned extension to Worley Road near Other Lands to the intersection at Church Street and Wade Hampton Boulevard.
Community feedback on the project was collected in the spring and summer. Based on public input, the preferred route for the North Main Connector runs from Graves Drive down North Main Street and turns east onto Gallivan Street to the Stone’s Point Development at Wade Hampton Boulevard.
Calin Owens, a capital projects manager with the city, said the project’s next public meeting will be held either at the end of November or the beginning of December. A recommended route for the North Main Connector, along with more detailed design concepts, will be presented at the next open house. A public survey will also be available to collect feedback.
Approved: Annexation applications
Council gave final approval to four annexation applications, including the land parcel containing Greenlink’s new maintenance and operations facility at 205 Arcadia Drive. The 36.66-acre property owned by the Greenville Transit Authority will be rezoned to CV, Civic District, in the city.
Council also approved the first reading of an annexation application for 0.54 acres of right-of-way on Virginia Avenue. Cothran Properties, the applicant, plans to redevelop approximately 9.2 acres of land on Virginia Avenue.
Update: Business license changes
Council reviewed potential business license changes at its work session earlier Monday afternoon. Municipalities are required to update their business license classification every odd year with the most recent North American Industry Classification System codes under the South Carolina Business License Tax Standardization Act. The updated classification schedule must be adopted before Dec. 31, 2025.
Patricia Dennis, the city’s finance director, explained that two NAICS codes will increase by one classification: mining and transportation/warehousing. Approximately 100 transportation and warehousing businesses are located within the city limits.
Four NAICS codes will decrease by one classification.
“The lower the class, the lower the rates and the higher the class, the higher the rates,” Dennis said.
Council requested that city staff review options to adjust the rate classes in order to maintain a neutral revenue impact. Without the adjustment, Dennis said the city would see a $250,000 revenue decrease from the code classification changes.
Staff has also proposed that non-profit entities without a business license be required to file an annual registration with a flat fee. A declining scale for resident contractor outside-city gross receipts and a flat fee structure were also recommended, along with background check requirements for certain personal service businesses.
