Greenville City Leaders Focus on Balance of Parking and City Development

Despite Greenville’s efforts to build popular pedestrian amenities like parks and trails, the city is undeniably a place built to accommodate cars. As the number of cars and visitors grows, Greenville’s leaders have to balance the need for adequate parking against the need to achieve the highest and best use of the city’s limited real estate.

Getting that balance right is an ongoing priority for city leaders. The city is fortunate that leaders in decades past had the foresight to plan and build a series of strategically located parking garages throughout downtown. Public parking in those structures is comparatively cheap, and the garages are reasonably proximate to many of the main points of interest people want to visit.

The challenge is ensuring visitors know where the garages are located. This is one reason the city created an interactive map available through the city’s website. The site also gives a real-time indicator of parking availability at the city’s 10 downtown garages.

The influx of new visitors and residents to Greenville means the public’s expectations about parking are sometimes at odds with reality. Regardless of perception, the need for additional parking in certain parts of the city is a pressing concern. Additional parking is needed now in the West End and the Village of West Greenville.

Creating more parking requires land. In the city’s high-density areas, much of the land available for parking is owned by private businesses or property owners. The city is engaged in multiple, ongoing conversations to partner with existing businesses or property owners on parking.

The periodically acute parking shortage in the West End is in many ways a matter of timing. The city knows there are challenges for parking in the West End with the closure of County Square. While exploring new opportunities to add public parking with existing lots, the city purchased a lot at 911 S. Main St. to create more parking near Fluor Field. Parking is free at the lot with a two-hour limit.

In the Village of West Greenville, the city opened a parking lot on Branwood Street to allow for public parking. Street parking was also added to both sides of the village’s Flatiron Building.

The council also looked at acquiring property for a new municipal lot in the Village of West Greenville last year but ultimately opted not to pursue that option. The need for additional parking is likely to continue to grow.

Part of the city’s plan to expand parking in the Village of West Greenville involves requiring a percentage of new parking associated with the Woven project on Pendleton Street be available for public parking. The city is leaving no stone unturned in how to create more parking.