Council approves scaled-back modification to Taft downtown development; parking deck removed, units reduced

After a public hearing on March 24, the Greenville City Council approved a modification to the city's 2022 development agreement with Taft Corporate Office LLC, reducing the scale of a proposed downtown apartment project and removing a required parking deck.

City Attorney Scott Dixon summarized the requested changes and the background: the original agreement dated July 6, 2022, followed TAF's purchase of the former museum building and included a 30-year lease at $1 per year for the museum and cash contributions required by the deal. Dixon told council Taft completed purchase of the City Museum Building and made cash contributions "in excess of $480,000" under the original agreement. The modified proposal reduces required housing units from 150 to 72, removes a parking-deck requirement and lowers dedicated public parking spaces from 35 to 15. Staff recommended approval after the public hearing and said the modification has "no fiscal impact to the city."

Developer Thomas Taft addressed the council and described the decision as a response to construction costs and interest-rate pressures, saying the group had invested in design prior to pausing work and now returns with a smaller project that Taft said they hope will move forward. A public commenter, Don Cavellini, urged the city to require community benefit agreements and told council Taft had provided significant contributions to the museum; Cavellini said the developer provided $1,200,000 to refurbish the Cupola and pledged $20,000 annually for 10 years to support the museum. That characterization was presented as public comment and attributed to Cavellini.

Councilmember Thomas Scully noted additional city support for the museum during council remarks and said the city contributed $240,000 as part of that project. After limited public comment and no speakers opposed at the hearing, Mayor Pro Tem Monica Daniels moved approval; Councilmember Robinson seconded. The motion passed 6–0.

The modification enables a smaller residential project with surface parking in place of the previously planned parking deck. Council discussion reiterated that the city-owned nature of the property enabled the city to include qualifications and public-benefit considerations in the conveyance; staff noted those opportunities would not exist where the property were privately owned.

Provenance: The presentation, public hearing, developer remarks and council vote are recorded in the meeting transcript.