Greenville Leader

The neighborhood, located just south of downtown, includes Sirrine Stadium on one side and a residential area between Laurens Road and Augusta Street on the other. Guided by a steering committee composed of neighborhood and business leaders as well as property owners, the new plan addresses the distinct needs and character of both the Haynie and Sirrine districts, and their historic physical division: Church Street.

"Residents want to protect, preserve and enhance what's already special about the neighborhood,” said City senior development planner Michael Frixen. “Plus, there's a lot of excitement and momentum around goals like affordable housing and open space.”

The proposed plan prioritizes its major recommendations, offers a future land use map to identify allowed uses of property, and includes a height map that implements the new development code to unlock opportunities for affordable and missing middle housing.

"Real happy with the time and effort that the city has put towards this, listening to the community and putting a good step forward for good planning," said David Stone, Haynie-Sirrine Master Plan Steering Committee member and property owner.

On the Haynie side, where many vacant lots exist, single-family homes or small multi-unit residences are proposed to preserve existing neighborhood character while responding to increased housing demands. A well-established neighborhood exists on the Sirrine side, so the development code could be applied to maintain lot and building-size consistency.

"They know what they want their neighborhood to look like. They know what they want in their neighborhood,” said Greenville City District 3 Council Member Ken Gibson. “And I believe that the product that we came out with exhibits, and reflects what those desires are."

Along the two large corridors – Augusta and Church streets – the committee recommended allowances for additional height, improving pedestrian access, and providing transition for the neighborhoods behind them.

One key recommendation is to leverage the Springer Street tunnel as a safe pedestrian crossing under Church Street, reconnecting the neighborhood and creating an opportunity for a neighborhood trail system.

Comments are welcome through the process. The next step will be Planning Commission review including a public hearing in September followed by City Council review.

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