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Columbia Business Monthly

#YeahTHATAgenda: Rooftop Terrace Coming to Greer, New Hires, CresCom Merger, Opportunity for Charleston Tech Center, $1 Billion Greenville County Square Project Moves Forward

Jul 17, 2019 06:50PM ● By Chris Haire
City of Greer Board of Architectural Review Approves Plans for Rooftop Venue at Key Downtown Intersection: In a step that bodes well for the ongoing redevelopment of Greer Station -- aka downtown Greer -- the City of Greer Board of Architectural Review has unanimously approved an as yet to be announced rooftop venue at 101 Trade St.
Located at the main gateway into Greer Station, 101 Trade St. was the long-time home of B.A. Bennett Insurance, which merged with Countybanc in 2018. In May, the property was purchased by D&D Opportunity Zone Fund LLC for $350,000.
In June, D&D Investments & Const. LLC submitted plans to the BAR for a rooftop terrace at the property, a location that would give visitors views of both Trade and Poinsett streets.
"The rooftop terrace is obviously the most significant addition to that historic property," says Steve T. Owens, Greer communications manager. "The property does not yet have a tenant so we can’t legitimately call it a dining area, but I believe that is the desired intent."
Trade Street is currently in the midst of a major streetscaping project called CenterG, which will remove curbs and create a flat, brick-covered street.
Now that the BAR has approved the rooftop terrace at 101 Trade St. Zoning and construction permits will be submitted to the city.
As for CenterG, Owens says, the project is now 35% complete — slightly ahead of schedule and on budget." He adds, "The Trade Street intersections will be among the final pieces of the project next spring and will provide the crowning touch to Trade Street."
CenterG is one in a number of steps the City of Greer has been taken since 1998, when the city, Greer Public Works, the Greer Development Corporation, and Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce set out to revitalize downtown Greer by forming the Partnership For Tomorrow. 
By the close of the effort in 2008, the city had a new city hall and a new downtown park, complete with a large green and a wide sidewalk for events, a centerpiece fountain, and a playground. 
The move also kickstarted a new surge of restaurants and retail in the area. Today, Greer Station boasts coffee houses, a frozen custard shop, a pizza parlor, a beer hall, sports bars, international eateries, fine dining, an event venue, a wine shop, and a fried chicken joint, among other businesses.
The next 
item on the revitalize Greer agenda: the construction of a four-story, 108-room Hampton Inn on Main Street. Grace Church is also working a new Greer Station outpost.
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$100 Million: Charleston-based Carolina Financial Corporation plans to merge with the Tar Heel State's Carolina Trust BancShares, a  $100 million acquisition for the Holy City holding company of CresCom Bank. Carolina Trust BancShares is the parent company of Carolina Trust Bank. Combined. The company will have over $4.5 billion in assets, $3.1 billion in loans, and $3.3 billion in deposits (CresCom Bank)
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Work on the Charleston Digital Corridor's Charleston Tech Center office complex (aka Flagship 3) begins thanks to Opportunity Zones credits (Post and Courier)

After initial opposition, solar company will get tax break for 4 Greenville solar farms (Greenville News)

Three tips for approaching banks with an 'appetite' for major building projects (Columbia Business Monthly)

The layout and person named the 2019 Myrtle Beach golf course and employee of the year (Myrtle Beach Online)

A Pay Increase Is Just The Start To Making The Teaching Profession More Attractive (Greenville Business Magazine)

Housing plans with 232 units OK’d by Spartanburg County planners (GoUpstate)

Go-karts: inside vs. outside? Hilton Head zoning board debates plan for outdoor track (Island Packet)

Oil and gas giant BP gives $1M to Charleston’s soon-to-be-built African American Museum (Post and Courier)

Bank of America’s profits jump to $7.3 billion despite looming interest rate cuts (Charlotte Observer)

‘Panthers bill’ included increased job tax credits in rural counties (WIS-TV)

Can astronauts’ poop turn into spaceship cleaner? NASA is paying Clemson to find out (The State)

Slater Mill: “The Mill That Went To The Moon” (WSPA)

Some Charleston patients see ketamine infusions as the future of psychiatric treatments (Charleston City Paper)

Five Years On, Craft and Draft’s Success Mirrors the Midlands’ Beer Boom (Free Times)

Why online news costs money and more answers from the P&C's executive editor (Post and Courier)

Central receives grant to help build connector for Green Crescent Trail (WSPA)

New Hires and Honors
The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives has named Erin Aylorvice president of marketing at the Charleston Metro Chamber, one of its Forty Under 40. (Charleston Metro Chamber)

Greenwood-based Countybank has named Tim Lincolnhol its new senior vice president and commercial banking executive and Ginger King its new relationship manager and commercial administrator. Lincolnhol and King bring a combined 67-plus years of experience in banking, with both spending time at Oconee Federal Savings and Loan. (Countybank)

Smoak Public Relations has hired Hannah Robinson as its digital media coordinator and Leslie Lapointe as office manager. Robinson will strategize, create, and publish social media content., while Lapointe will support the staff with general administration and operational duties. (Smoak Public Relations)

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1,556: The number of shelter and rescue animals who found new homes during Pick Me! SC's statewide pet adoption event, July 12–14.  Adoptions were up 33% this year over 2018's event. 

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Quote of the Day
"It has been vacant for 18 months. It hasn't appreciated $15 million over that period of time. Wouldn't all of us like to buy a piece of property, keep it 18 months, and reap an 80% profit?" --Greenville County Councilman Willis Meadows on the county's vote to purchase buildings formerly on the Fluor campus near Haywood Mall.

Located at 350 and 352 Halton Road, the buildings will be the home of county offices while construction on the $1 billion County Square redevelopment takes place. The county will take up residence in one building on the multi-use campus, arguably the biggest single project in Greenville history.

The buildings last sold for $18.35 million in January of last year, while Greenville County Council agreed to buy them for $33.1 million. Since the start of 2018, land in and around the area in question has been home to several new multi-family projects. (
The Greenville News | Reported by Anna B. Mitchell)