A few weeks ago, we told you Urban Design Associates (UDA) would be conducting a community charrette of the South Downtown area. We wanted to learn more about the “community charrette” process + goals for this project – so last night we attended the South Downtown Area Public Meeting. Here’s what we learned plus some information on how you can get involved.

First things first, what is a charrette? Spoiler alert, it’s not a fancy French cheese or a foreign car. Pronounced “shuh-ret”, a charrette is essentially a collaborative period of design or planning. The term is typically used in fields like architecture + design, and often involves a specific deadline or an allotted amount of time for the project to be completed.

Tuesday night’s South Downtown Area Public Meeting | Photo by the GVLtoday Team

UDA team members described the process as condensed workshopping – where you’re immersed in the environment and can connect with stakeholders (residents, business owners, City staff, etc.), putting a plan together and receiving feedback throughout the process.

By the way, if Urban Design Associates sounds familiar, it’s probably because they’re the firm that developed the recently-adopted Downtown Master Plan.

The community charrette they’re conducting on South Downtown is intended to help City staff, residents + property owners develop a broader look at the defined area. The finished product will essentially serve as a set of recommendations for how the city can grow – incorporating current projects (like County Square) and establishing standards for the future.

South Downtown is defined as the area just south of the Central Business District, between the Church Street and Augusta Street corridors.

South Downtown, between the Church Street and Augusta Street corridors | Photo by Urban Design Associates

The charrette will focus specifically on factors like:

Street and trail networks
Street character and circulation patterns
Public spaces
Transitions between mixed-use properties and single-family residences

Last night’s open-house style meeting allowed the public to interact with consultants on the topics of neighborhood connectivity + integration. Here’s some of our biggest takeaways.

Connectivity: The team is analyzing existing and proposed streets, paths + routes. They’re considering everything from street patterns and how building height affects street size, to vegetation + the amount of sunlight a street will get. Recommendations for improving walkability and bikeability are also a priority.
Green space: South Downtown has a “crown” of park space to the north (Falls Park), but the team recognizes the need for smaller, more navigable green space.
Maintaining character: Understanding the “feel” of a space is important. The UDA team is mindful of the characteristics that make Greenville unique + is working to maintain them, while outlining a plan for sustaining growth and development.

If you want to learn more about the community charrette + participate, the second open house will be held tomorrow, Nov. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Greenville Water Community Room.

You can also participate by answering the prompt below. We asked the UDA team for a question they’d like to ask our readers. Given the emphasis on connectivity, here’s what they said:

Question