Greenville planning commission greenlights $28M townhome project

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The Greenville Design Review Board voted 5-1 to greenlight a townhome development during an April 20 meeting.

The McDaniel is slated to be the first project under the city’s new development code, as outlined in its 2040 comprehensive plan, according to the project’s real estate development and investment company, Keene Development Group.

Keene Development Group and Wilson Associates, one of Greenville’s largest independent real estate firms, will soon launch The McDaniel, a high-end $28 million downtown townhome development. These 3,100-4,100-square-foot townhomes on a lot currently occupied by an old office building near the intersection of McDaniel and McBee avenues are modeled on the luxury townhome and urban living options in large metropolitan areas like New York, according to a news release.

Twenty units will be a mix of five floor plans as part of the Phase I development and will be priced from $1.4 to $2.2 million.

“Catering to discerning buyers seeking an elevated downtown lifestyle, The McDaniel will marry refinement, grace and style with the best of city living, all within easy walking distance of Main Street,” the release said. “Because Keene Development has focused heavily on improving the neighborhood, offering a lower density housing model and enhancing property values, The McDaniel has enjoyed support from both city officials and area residents.”

In an era of new construction in Greenville, this development fills a unique need and niche, and developers believe it will attract people looking to adopt urban living without sacrificing their high-end lifestyle. It also will be attractive to transplants from larger cities who are accustomed to this type of real estate offering, according to Keene Development.

The McDaniel is the first Greenville development by Keene Development founder Kyle Keene, who is a Greenville native and former New York-based residential real estate developer. When he returned to Greenville, he saw potential opportunities and a distinct need to develop and deliver significantly higher and urban properties like those found in larger cities, the release stated. That was the genesis for The McDaniel.

“When I returned to Greenville after almost a decade of living and working in New York, my developer’s mind immediately recognized the immense opportunity our city presented in terms of delivering on pent-up demand for newer and better high-end urban living options,” Keene said. “The McDaniel stands alone in Greenville as the best of both worlds for buyers who can afford to live anywhere, a place where location, luxury and lifestyle intersect and city and sanity co-habitat beautifully.”

Wilson Associates has been named Keene Development’s exclusive sales partner for the development and will begin pre-sales this summer, opening a sales center in its downtown office until a model can be built, the release said.

Wilson co-founders Sharon Wilson and Nick Carlson anticipate high demand for these units, especially among those moving to Greenville from larger markets where this type of product currently exists, the release said.

“The McDaniel will be both gorgeous and designed with the painstaking attention to detail that attracts the most refined buyers,” said Carlson. “Wilson specializes in delivering concierge-level buying experiences, but, at the end of the day, we are selling lifestyle as much as houses. The McDaniel creates an incredible opportunity for niche buyers to live the life they’re envisioned without compromises, so we expect these townhomes to sell out quickly.”

Greenville-based MHK Architecture designed the four-story townhomes, which will be constructed with a gray limestone façade and include private side-by-side garages, balconies and rooftop terraces. The community also will feature sidewalks and street lighting to encourage walkability.

MHK Architecture lead architect Matt Jones’ design was inspired by elegant and timeless Parisian architectural elements with a modern twist. Keene Development is interviewing interior design firms to decorate the model unit, and Greenville-based Upper West Creative will handle all branding and marketing for The McDaniel.

Headquartered in Greenville, Keene Development Group is a privately owned real estate development company with a focus on residential and hospitality opportunities throughout the Southeast.