Verdae 60 Acre Development on Laurens Rd
- Charles Reams
- May 1
- 3 min read
c.
Laurens Road gets massive redevelopment
Verdae Development Inc. plans to transform 90 acres along Laurens Road in Greenville into a vibrant community hub called Bolden Street District.
Plans for the redevelopment project were unveiled to the public on April 30. The Bolden Street District would stretch on the east side of the Laurens Road corridor from Haywood Road past Verdae Commons Drive. The district would border the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail and sit on the perimeter of the Verdae neighborhood.
Several semi-occupied strip malls and other vacant lots along the commercial corridor would be redeveloped as part of the planned project. A groundbreaking for the Bolden Street District is expected to take place in mid-2026.
Dan Klausner, CEO of Verdae Development Inc., said the project has been five years in the making. Original plans for the redevelopment project were revealed in 2022. Verdae Development Inc. collaborated with Hollingsworth Funds, the city of Greenville, community stakeholders and local business owners to redesign the new community district.
“Bolden Street District represents our commitment to inclusive, smart growth and economic opportunity that aligns with Greenville’s priorities for the future,” Klausner said. “Our vision for this redevelopment is a new community node that transforms existing retail into a vibrant, connected, and pedestrian-oriented destination that benefits the whole city.”
That portion of Laurens Road has seen increased vacancy rates and stagnant land values over the last several years. The city of Greenville established a tax increment financial district in 2024 to support future development projects along the corridor, like the Bolden Street District.
Bolden Street District’s preliminary site plan breaks the redevelopment project into three neighborhoods. The Bolden Square neighborhood is planned on the eastern portion of the site next to Verdae Commons Drive. It will feature a public gathering space surrounded by retail, restaurants, offices, residences and open space.
Two unnamed neighborhoods with mixed-use buildings and residences would comprise the remainder of the redevelopment site. A new roadway called Bolden Street would be built to stretch across the district. Additional green infrastructure, including trails, open spaces, plazas and parks, would be located across the Bolden Square District.
“The GVL2040 Comprehensive Plan presented how the Greenville community wants and needs to grow, and it was clearly the guide for the livable, walkable mixed-use communities of the Bolden Street District,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White.
An area along Laurens Road in Greenville, roughly between Haywood Road and Verdae Boulevard, was designated as a tax increment financing (TIF) district to aid redevelopment. Photo by Ryan Gilchrest
Once completed, the Bolden Street District would be one of the largest community nodes within Greenville. Bogue Wallin, board chairman of Verdae Development Inc., said the Bolden Street District is the next chapter in Greenville’s growth story.
“It represents a cultural crossroads – a space where businesses, residents, and visitors can come together in a sustainable, inclusive setting that enhances the fabric of the community while supporting Greenville’s broader vision for the future,” Wallin said.
Verdae Development Inc. is a Greenville-based real estate development company and a subsidiary of Hollingsworth Funds. Gage Weeks, president and CEO of Hollingsworth Funds, said Bolden Street District represents the kind of forward-thinking, community-centered development that aligns with the charitable foundation’s mission.
“This project honors the legacy of John D. Hollingsworth Jr. by investing in a more connected, inclusive, and vibrant Greenville – one that creates lasting opportunity for all to advance and thrive,” Weeks said.
By the numbers
90 total acres
1.5 miles fronting the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
2,900 residences
500,000 square feet of office space
750,000 square feet of retail space
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