Greenville design review board greenlights $4.5M redevelopment project

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The Greenville design review board approved an expansive $4.5 million redevelopment project in West Greenville.

Mill Village Ministries’ more than 14,000-square-foot project at 1186 Pendleton St. is set to be the permanent home for its four social enterprises: Mill Village Farms, Village Wrench, Village Launch and Village Engage, said Mill Village Ministries Executive Director Dan Weidenbenner.

The space will integrate a full-service bike shop by Village Wrench, a Mill Village Farms’ FoodShare warehouse to facilitate the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables across the county, dedicated training spaces for entrepreneurial classes through Village Launch, and nurturing spaces for youth leadership development programs. This building layout will unite all four enterprises under one roof to multiply the organization’s impact in the community, Weidenbenner said.

“This facility is not merely a consolidation of Mill Village Ministries’ diverse enterprises,” he said. “It is envisioned to be a community hub that reaches out to all Greenville County residents. Featuring an event plaza with public artwork, it aims to be a catalyst for community interactions, a space for minority and women-owned pop-up markets, and a host to special events for the residents of West Greenville and beyond. This building location will place Mill Village Ministries in the midst of all neighborhoods being served.”

The architect-on-record for the project is Johnston Design Group and the civil engineer is Seamon Whiteside.

Interior construction of the new building was completed in Q3 and Q4 of 2023, while exterior construction will begin within the first quarter of this year, completed by the end of the year. Mill Village awaits only permitting from the city before proceeding, Weidenbenner said.

Related story: Mill Village Farm finds new partner in Hartness community

“We believe this project will help break down systemic barriers in our community, support upward economic mobility and create relationships that strengthen families for generations to come,” Weidenbenner said. “By 2030, we expect that this project will deliver over 230,000 fresh and healthy produce boxes to low-to-moderate income community members, launch 1,700 under-estimated minority and female entrepreneurs, train 2,200 youth in leadership development, and repair over 15,000 bicycles for community members.”

The design review board said the overall design in in compliance with design guidelines and recommends approval including these conditions:

Murals must be reviewed and approved by the Arts in Public Places Commission. Murals shall be installed prior to issuance of a final Certificate of Occupancy.

The applicant must provide a lighting plan, including a nighttime rendering, to be approved by staff and a two-member panel of the board.

All signage will require a separate sign permit and Certificate of Appropriateness and must adhere to the sign standards of the Greenville Development Code.

All equipment must be screened with vegetation, per PUB 12.5 and standards of the Greenville Development Code.

Entry glass at both the south and east entrances must be highly transparent, using nonreflective and minimally tinted glass.