Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I think you're being a little melodramatic. Greenville is home to BMW and Michelin as well small many smaller scale manufacturers. I often read magazine articles about how the author's were impressed by the language diversity of downtown. When I go to Coffee Underground I'll often hear three or four different languages. Beyond that Greenville has an extremely marketable workforce. We have one of the highest concentrations of MBA's as well as engineering degrees.
I agree with you, VH.
I am a Greenville booster, even if I think the transport system needs improvement.
This backs up my comment about GRV having a "European" influence:
Max Heller's statue
Under Heller's mayoral leadership, the revitalization of downtown became a priority. The site of the Greenville Woman's College was renamed Heritage Green and there the Hughes Main Library for Greenville County, the Charles E. Daniel Theatre, and the Greenville County Museum of Art were built. Main Street was converted from a four-lane thoroughfare to a two-lane street lined with trees and wide sidewalks. In 1978, the city of Greenville received a federal Urban Development Action Grant, which resulted in the construction of the Hyatt Regency and convention center on North Main Street. The convention center was named for Max Heller, and the Hyatt became an anchor around which downtown commerce flourished.
===
/source: http://library.furman.edu/specialcol..._biography.htm
Reading about Max Heller's contribution was one of the things that got me to travel from HK to visit Greenville two years ago
Hmm.
Sounds like you are trying to squash a bug, or close off a conversation (?)... Or perhaps not.
I am looking forward to searching for a few Condos online, and asking people if they know the properties and think the neighborhoods are walkable, and suitable for Carfree living. But it may be a few more days before I post specific locations here.
I hope people are open to that type of discussion here.
I merely attempted to highlight the established fact that answers the initial question, hoping this discussion could move beyond bickering among members regarding the walkability of Greenville. Be aware that most input submitted is from suburban dwellers and even one or two antagonistic poseurs who have very little or no experience actually living in Greenville, yet wish to convince everyone (or at least a majority of prospective newcomers) that positive recommendations from long-time residents are somehow untrue or inaccurate. Please be careful when researching information in an online forum comprised of faceless and unaccountable individuals who have strong opinions about everything and may or may not represent reality. Rely on your own experience more than on advice from complete strangers. If you are able to travel frequently and at will, then spend as much time as possible visiting the cities you are most interested in. If you still desire serious outside help to find your best fit, then seek advice from an unbiased professional relocation specialist.
Geo, lots of interesting comments to sort through. I am not sure if you are really interestedin moving to Greenville or just fishing around for info (you have posted the same question on Charlotte's board), but my advice is to spend as much time as possible in the area which is most interesting to you. On this board, especially in Greenville, you have a core group that see the town in a completely different way than how most people live in Greenville (interesting that the most staunch supporters have moved away). I lived most of my life in the Greenville area but now live in Charlotte. Since I know a lot about the area and am there frequently, I can say that what you read is different than day to day life. By nature, Greenville is a suburban city. The downtown area is nice but small. It is a larger version of Hendersonville, which is not bad. It is just not as cosmopolitan and sophisticated as some would have you believe here and in the magazines. It is walkable as are a lot if cities but, due to the suburban nature, living here without a car would be a very tall challenge. In general, there is a movement towards living closer to downtown areas across the country and Greenville has moved in that direction as have many Carolina cities. However, Greenville is way behind other cities in building mass transit. We could debate statistics and the international aspect over many pages (you can see a lot of the metrics that help define the area here and elsewhere) but, ultimately if you like the area, it does not matter what the posters on this board who cheer for Greenville from long distances or from those who still live close enough to understand what is happening and what is reality. Again, none of that matters, it comes down to how invested you are in living without a car and what conveniences you are willing to give up to live in a suburban city without a car. Good luck and PM me if you have any questions.
Geo, lots of interesting comments to sort through. I am not sure if you are really interestedin moving to Greenville or just fishing around for info (you have posted the same question on Charlotte's board), but my advice is to spend as much time as possible in the area which is most interesting to you. On this board, especially in Greenville, you have a core group that see the town in a completely different way than how most people live in Greenville (interesting that the most staunch supporters have moved away). I lived most of my life in the Greenville area but now live in Charlotte. Since I know a lot about the area and am there frequently, I can say that what you read is different than day to day life. By nature, Greenville is a suburban city. The downtown area is nice but small. It is a larger version of Hendersonville, which is not bad. It is just not as cosmopolitan and sophisticated as some would have you believe here and in the magazines. It is walkable as are a lot if cities but, due to the suburban nature, living here without a car would be a very tall challenge. In general, there is a movement towards living closer to downtown areas across the country and Greenville has moved in that direction as have many Carolina cities. However, Greenville is way behind other cities in building mass transit. We could debate statistics and the international aspect over many pages (you can see a lot of the metrics that help define the area here and elsewhere) but, ultimately if you like the area, it does not matter what the posters on this board who cheer for Greenville from long distances or from those who still live close enough to understand what is happening and what is reality. Again, none of that matters, it comes down to how invested you are in living without a car and what conveniences you are willing to give up to live in a suburban city without a car. Good luck and PM me if you have any questions.
I merely attempted to highlight the established fact that answers the initial question, hoping this discussion could move beyond bickering among members regarding the walkability of Greenville...
Geo, lots of interesting comments to sort through. I am not sure if you are really interestedin moving to Greenville or just fishing around for info (you have posted the same question on Charlotte's board), but my advice is to spend as much time as possible in the area which is most interesting to you. On this board, especially in Greenville, you have a core group that see the town in a completely different way than how most people live in Greenville (interesting that the most staunch supporters have moved away). I lived most of my life in the Greenville area but now live in Charlotte. Since I know a lot about the area and am there frequently, I can say that what you read is different than day to day life. By nature, Greenville is a suburban city. The downtown area is nice but small. It is a larger version of Hendersonville, which is not bad. It is just not as cosmopolitan and sophisticated as some would have you believe here and in the magazines. It is walkable as are a lot if cities but, due to the suburban nature, living here without a car would be a very tall challenge. In general, there is a movement towards living closer to downtown areas across the country and Greenville has moved in that direction as have many Carolina cities. However, Greenville is way behind other cities in building mass transit. We could debate statistics and the international aspect over many pages (you can see a lot of the metrics that help define the area here and elsewhere) but, ultimately if you like the area, it does not matter what the posters on this board who cheer for Greenville from long distances or from those who still live close enough to understand what is happening and what is reality. Again, none of that matters, it comes down to how invested you are in living without a car and what conveniences you are willing to give up to live in a suburban city without a car. Good luck and PM me if you have any questions.
I suppose I have been "fishing around for comments" on both areas, and on a few others besides.
It is easier to do this by internet, rather than making the LONG trip from Hong Kong to visit all the places on my short list. Is that not a legitimate use of the internet? Because I am not limited by job concerns, I can live anywhere in the US and anywhere in the world. So the search for me is not as narrow as it is for most people who are contemplating a job in only one or two places - Does that mean (as one Mod told me), I should not be using C-D at all, since I might be "misleading" people who are seeking to help relocating jobseekers. If someone can explain to me how a wide, but genuine search, misleads people then I will better understand his comment.
I have been to Greenville before and have a genuine interest in the place. So I will almost certainly visit again. But my "Carfree" posts elsewhere have allowed me to eliminate a few other places - such as Serenbe in GA, and Rock Hill. SC.
Given that you have lived in both places, I would like to ask you, which place (GRV or CLT) do you think would be better for a property investment? (using Carfree living as the theme.) I think this would limit me to a small handful of Condos in GRV, and maybe 20 or more in CLT.
The answer may depend upon one's view as to whether the excess supply of Condos in CLT will soon be absorbed, and after that, if people will SEEK to live near light rail stops, as they have done in several other countries that I have lived in. In GRV, it may depend upon how quickly new busineses come into the city.
I may buy something in CLT or GRV and live there less than 6 months a year. This will be combined with some travel, including some travel back to HK, where I have some interests.
Given "security issues", I will probably have to stick to a Condo, since leaving a home empty for long periods will pose security issue.
One thing that I do not like is the high property taxes and HOA fees that I would have to pay in SC/NC. Such costs are MUCH lower in HK, and I do not really understand what people get for their money - How can HK do it so much cheaper?
Easy, prudent, or wise? Probably not now or any time in the near future.
If you want to live somewhere without a car, there are far better cities than Greenville, SC. Most of them are going to be much larger and in other parts of the country (the Mid-Atlantic, NE, and out west).
I love this area but it would not be an easy place to live without a car.
I am "fishing around for comments" on both areas, and on a few others besides.
It is easier to do this by internet, rather than making the LONG trip from Hong Kong to visit all the places on my short list.
Given that you have lived in both places, I would like to ask you, which place (GRV or CLT) do you think would be better for a property investment? (using Carfree living as the theme.) I think this would limit me to a small handful of Condos in GRV, and maybe 20 or more in CLT.
Any honest answer will be neither. Both cities are in the southeast where the car is king. If you want to live carfree, it would be far wiser to pick a part of the country where that is a feasible exercise.
I suppose I have been "fishing around for comments" on both areas, and on a few others besides.
It is easier to do this by internet, rather than making the LONG trip from Hong Kong to visit all the places on my short list. Is that not a legitimate use of the internet? Because I am not limited by job concerns, I can live anywhere in the US and anywhere in the world. So the search for me is not as narrow as it is for most people who are contemplating a job in only one or two places - Does that mean (as one Mod told me), I should not be using C-D at all, since I might be "misleading" people who are seeking to help relocating jobseekers. If someone can explain to me how a wide, but genuine search, misleads people then I will better understand his comment.
I have been to Greenville before and have a genuine interest in the place. So I will almost certainly visit again. But my "Carfree" posts elsewhere have allowed me to eliminate a few other places - such as Serenbe in GA, and Rock Hill. SC.
Given that you have lived in both places, I would like to ask you, which place (GRV or CLT) do you think would be better for a property investment? (using Carfree living as the theme.) I think this would limit me to a small handful of Condos in GRV, and maybe 20 or more in CLT.
The answer may depend upon one's view as to whether the excess supply of Condos in CLT will soon be
absorbed, and after that, if people will SEEK to live near light rail stops, as they have done in several other
countries that I have lived in. In GRV, it may depend upon how quickly new busineses come into the city.
I may buy something in CLT or GRV and live there less than 6 months a year. This will be combined with some travel, including some travel back to HK, where I have some interests.
Given "security issues", I will probably have to stick to a Condo, since leaving a home empty for long periods
will pose security issue.
One thing that I do not like is the high property taxes and HOA fees that I would have to pay in SC/NC. Such costs are MUCH lower in HK, and I do not really understand what people get for their money - How
can HK do it so much cheaper?
I can't answer th HOA question. If I were investing in a condo as I did prior to the recession, I would look at Charlotte based on a few reasons. 1, Charlotte has been one of the leading growth cities for a while. It slowed some but the area is gaining steam again with companies like Met Life looking at moving 1,000 people here, possibly more. 2, Charlotte typically gets roughly 50k new residents annually, Abiut equal to Greenville's city population. 3, folks in Charlotte are wealthier and better educated, a target market for condos. Charlotte's infrastructure is better suited to attract new companies 6, Charlotte is investing heavily in mass transit. The light rail is expanding, the first street car line is beginning construction and the bus fleet is well over 500. 7, Charlotte has a large service based economy which tends to attract younger people and potential condo renters/buyers. 8, Charlotte has a very well established art scene with multiple theatres, all within walking distance to many condo developments, 9, the condo market in Charlotte has largely absorbed excess capacity, primarily through converting condos to apartments. 10, the scale at which Charlotte is developing downtown, Southend, Elizabeth and the surrounding street far neighborhoods is making the city feel much more dense. While it is not as dense as northern cities, all of the reasons above are feeding he desire for people to live in town. 11, there are 7-8 fortune 500 companies headquartered in Charlotte, this proudest a great base to build from.
That is just a partial list of why I would incest here over Greenville but, with any project, you have to look at all cost, potential rent and disposition costs to determine what payback you can expect. I am sure here are projects in Greenville that may provide a good return but, Greenville need more depth downtown than currently exists for me to look at investing there.
Hey, the incestment return in SC is still top 3 in the upstate according to the Palmetto Incestment Journal.
Last edited by Mohtalim; 02-27-2013 at 11:43 AM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
