“South Carolina’s Other Beautiful City!”
December 2nd, 2008: Mayor Knox White is very proud of the City of Greenville, for good reason. Mr. White is a partner at the state-wide law firm of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., in Greenville, where he heads the immigrations and customs practice group. Between traveling to China for business, and hosting exchange students from his own Rotary club, he somehow finds time to govern the City of Greenville. He has been the Mayor there for about 13 years, during which time Greenville’s downtown has become an exciting destination for locals and visitors. Mr. White is also as sharp as a whip –he immediately conceded to our club that it is not easy to attempt to transform his city into one as fashionable as Charleston. While he loves visiting Charleston, he boasts endlessly about his very own Greenville.
Since the time he has been in office, Greenville has gotten a noticeable facelift. The minor league baseball stadium was built downtown, inhabited by the team ingeniously named, “The Greenville Drive.” Mayor White noted that the name was initially controversial, but then caught on. It is meant to reflect the perseverance and futuristic “drive” of the locals, and is also a play on the automobile manufacturing done in the area. Mayor White is not afraid of controversy, and spear-headed another project that was initially looked upon with mixed reviews: the beautification of the Falls Park at the River Reedy, in downtown Greenville. Once a river forgotten, the Reedy and its falls were covered up by a large cement bridge for years. Now the area is virtually unrecognizable compared to its former days. In place of the old bridge, there is a lively pedestrian bridge spanning the falls. The new bridge was designed by a German firm, and there is none other like it the country. In addition, there are beautiful gardens and green space in the Falls Park. It is one of the most popular downtown destinations on the weekends.
Mayor White credits his downtown beautification project to some tactful funding methods. While the City fronted the 13 million to overhaul Reedy River, private investors have followed suit, pouring in over 200 million to the surrounding area, making the project a huge win. Around the Falls and Main Street, there are mixed use buildings. Restaurants, shops, and condos are all on the same block and oftentimes the same building, in downtown Greenville. Mayor White noted that there are over 75 restaurants in the downtown, which is packed from Thursday evening through all-day Sunday. The City wisely built 7 large parking garages, and shuns parking meters on the street.
Major White’s presentation was fantastic advertising for Greenville, which seems to be an exciting destination. We enjoyed Knox White’s presentation, and hope to host this fellow Rotarian again soon.
Submitted by Jackie Grau, Keyway Committee