Greenville council approves land purchase for Falls Street conference center; designates building to pursue state tax credits

Henry Coburn for the city of Greenville said the City Council approved land purchase agreements for a six‑acre project off Falls Street that will include a conference center, office space, retail units and underground parking, and will host a flagship Aro Hotels property replacing the Bowwater building and adjacent garage.

The council also approved a resolution certifying the former Baby Bo site at 505 North Maine as an abandoned building. Coburn said that designation allows the developer to seek state tax credits for an $18 million renovation that the city describes as creating its first resilience hub, a facility intended to serve neighbors during natural disasters.

Coburn said the council approved additional construction funds for the Nickeltown Community Center to purchase and install a large generator. According to the bulletin, the generator will help the hub serve as a safe space for neighbors during emergencies. The transcript does not specify vote tallies, mover/second, ordinance or resolution numbers, or a detailed funding breakdown.

The bulletin identified United Community as expanding in Greenville and noted a half‑acre of concrete surface adjacent to Falls Park will be converted to landscaped green space to extend the park. The city described the overall Falls Street plan as including mixed uses intended to activate the district and increase downtown amenities.

What happens next: the developer may pursue state tax credits after the abandoned‑building designation; details about approvals required, timelines for construction, and specific funding sources beyond the general reference to state tax credits were not specified in the bulletin.

Sources: All details above were read aloud by Henry Coburn in the City of Greenville weekly bulletin.