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Board approves arena renovation and addition; staff to review blank‑wall treatments and marshalling‑yard screening
Summary
DRB approved CA26‑411 to renovate and add to the arena, including enhanced entries, transparency and a future connected amphitheater; staff required alternatives for blank walls, material mockups and a planting/fencing plan for the marshalling yard; vote was 3–0.
The Design Review Board Urban Panel approved Certificate of Appropriateness CA26‑411 on June 18 for a renovation and addition to the arena (marshalling yard and entries), endorsing the design team's emphasis on improved transparency, new primary and secondary entries and a future connected amphitheater while assigning follow‑up conditions to address blank walls, missing materials and marshalling‑yard screening.
Staff (Jamie Pratt) recommended approval with conditions: the applicant must propose alternative treatments for large blank walls (art, vegetation or articulation) and submit missing material specifications plus an on‑site mockup for staff and two board members. The plan must also include views from North Academy, a planting plan and fencing specifications for the marshalling yard; signage will be reviewed under a separate CA application, and the CA is subject to the Greenville Development Code and the Vested Rights Act of South Carolina.
Applicant Mike Martinez (LS3P) and the design team presented a placemaking‑driven concept that preserves the arena’s drum massing while adding lower‑scale companion elements, timber V‑columns, expanded transparent entries oriented to a future promenaded plaza and an amphitheater to knit the arena to adjacent parking and the public realm. The team emphasized operational improvements, pedestrian scale and inspirations drawn from Greenville's river and tree canopy.
Several stakeholder speakers and the Visit Greenville CEO (Heath Dillard) spoke in favor, citing the arena’s economic role in hosting concerts, sporting events and conventions and arguing the renovation will help Greenville remain competitive for major events. Board members praised the reduction of monolithic massing, improved wayfinding and pedestrian activation and approved CA26‑411 with the staff‑recommended conditions by a 3–0 roll call vote.
Next steps: the applicant must submit alternative blank‑wall treatments, complete material specifications and a planting/fencing plan for staff and two‑member review before construction approvals proceed.
