Linking Greenville's Neighborhoods to Jobs and Open Space

 
City of Greenville, South CarolinaJanuary 2012, Issue No. 1

   Kick-off Event set for March 1 

 

calendar iconConnections for Sustainability is thrilled to announce the public

Kick-off Event on March 1, 2012.  

 

  Visit connections.greenvillesc.gov for details and sign up to receive regular updates. 

 

   

 Connections for Sustainability Overview

 

West Side Greenvile

In the spring of 2011, the City of Greenville began a three-year federally funded planning project entitled Connections for Sustainability: Linking Greenville's Neighborhoods to Jobs and Open Space.

 

The project combines $1.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) with over $1 million of local and federal investments. 

 

Connections for Sustainability will create ties between affordable housing, transportation options, economic development opportunities, and open space.  The grant will achieve these connections by focusing on four areas: citywide planning, a west side comprehensive plan, education and outreach, and community involvement. 

 

Areas of Focus

    

1- Citywide Planning

Citywide planning will guide Greenville's growth in ways that improve quality of life for all residents and function as the groundwork for planning on the west side.  Elements include:

  • a citywide housing strategy
  • evaluation of the development approval process
  • a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) & Transit Oriented Development (TOD) plan
  • zoning and building codes to support TOD
  • baseline data & development of metrics to measure change

 

Please stay tuned for participation opportunities on the elements of citywide planning.  Visit connections.greenvillesc.gov for more details.
Sustainability Spotlight

 

"Glass Lasts"

  

Did you know that glass never breaks

down in a landfill? Scientists are unsure

how long it would take a glass bottle to

decompose in nature, but estimates range from 4,000 to a million years, so there's no question that your glass bottle is going to be around for a long time!

 

The good news is that glass can be recycled endlessly with no loss of quality or strength, and using recycled glass (cullet) to make new products saves energy and raw materials. According to the Glass Packaging Institute, recycling a single glass bottle saves enough energy to power a computer for 30 minutes.

 

Glass items are also infinitely re-useable. The City of Greenville collects glass bottles for recycling along with other recyclable items once a week or you can drop off glass at the City's recycling center located at 800 Stone Ave.

Quick Links

Join Our Mailing List!

   Email us:
 connections@greenvillesc.gov

    Call us: 864.467.4570

  

 2- West Side Planning

Comprehensive planning in Greenville's west side will seek to increase connections between affordable housing, transportation options, open space, and economic development opportunities. 

 

Focus teams on housing, transit, parks, economic development, health, and policy and implementation will guide the west side comprehensive planning process.  If you'd like to be involved with a focus team, please let us know. Components of the comprehensive plan include:

  • environmental site assessments through Brownfield funds
  • energy efficient affordable housing

  • economic development

  • programming plan for community park 

 

3- Education & Outreach 

Education and outreach will ensure that city residents and community leaders are familiar with the best practices for creating a sustainable community and are kept informed throughout the planning and implementation processes. Strategies include:

  • a Livability Educator to develop and implement a Livability Curriculum
  • an interactive website and outreach program 
  • a regular newsletter for updates
  • a Livability Studio for outreach events and education

 

4- Community Involvement

Community involvement will verify that all planning efforts represent the community's vision for the future and will increase support for the implementation of the community's goals.  Objectives include:

  • engaging neighborhoods and stakeholders
  • hiring the Alignment Consultant to assist in public participation
  • forming Focus Teams to involve residents, stakeholders, and local agencies in decisions on transportation, housing, parks and trails, economic development, and policy and implementation 
  • framing Alignment Team to steer all planning efforts and coordinate Focus Teams 
 
Sign up for our regular newsletter and visit connections.greenvillesc.gov for updates!

City of Greenville logo