Greenville's Airport District: 'Critical area' for city could see overhaul. See the plan.

Additions of sidewalks for pedestrians, Swamp Rabbit Trail connections, a skate park and a runway viewing platform are being recommended for Greenville's Airport District.

The district is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Greenville and encompasses the Downtown Municipal Airport, which is the busiest general aviation airport in the state, and the Greenville Convention Center.

The city hopes to combine "the economic development and land use vision of the city of Greenville with the logistical requirements of the Greenville Airport Commission."

"When we have a plan demonstrating the city's investment and support of that area, it helps us bring in partners at the state and federal level," said City Councilmember At-Large and Greenville Airport Commission liaison Dorothy Dowe. "We are showing as a city that we have skin in the game, that this is a critical area for us and that we see it as part of our economic engine."

A draft compiled from recommendations from the study, conducted by Arcadis, an engineering consulting company based in Greenville, was released earlier this month. Citizens can provide feedback on the plan until Sept. 29. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and make a recommendation at its Oct. 5 meeting before consideration by City Council.

"The study casts light on the untapped potential of the Airport District. Among the recommendations are traffic and pedestrian safety enhancements and new recreation opportunities including a runway loop trail," said Greenville City Manager Shannon Lavrin. "If the success of the existing trail is any indication—this future project could yield enormous benefits."

Here's what to know about the Airport District planning study:

Haywood Road, Pleasantburg Drive and Laurens Road recommended for improvements

The study recommends improvements to traffic safety along Haywood Road, Pleasantburg Drive and Laurens Road.

The study notes that stakeholders, businesses, residents and city staff envision a “connected community that no longer caters to just moving cars faster."

Instead, the vision is to create an environment that embraces healthy and active choices for pedestrians. Other goals include increasing access and visitors to the Greenville Convention Center.

The city recommends lowering the speed on Haywood Road from 40 to 35 mph. Adding 5-foot sidewalks, pedestrian streetlights and high-quality intersections for pedestrians are also included in the draft. Pocket medians and street trees, both with the intention to slow vehicle speeds, are also in the plan.

City recognizes the district as a food desert

Defined as an urban area where access to healthy and affordable food is difficult, the airport district is a food desert, according to the study and US CDFI.

It was noted that the planning team heard an "overwhelming need from the surrounding neighborhoods to have access to an affordable grocery store."

Though Publix and The Fresh Market, both located on South Pleasantburg Drive, are within the district, many residents said these were not affordable options.

The draft says there are plans to investigate adding a value grocery store, such as Aldi, Lidl or Food Lion.

Runway Loop Trail included

With the Green Line Extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail noted as a high-quality community asset, plans include building off the trail and connecting to the Airport District with a Runway Loop Trail.

The 10–12-foot wide trail would encircle the district and be 4.5 miles in length.

Other recreational offers within the corridor, such as a skate park or an airplane viewing platform along the trail, are also recommended.

Funding mechanisms for Airport District redevelopment included in study

According to the study, the Airport District “is currently challenged with a lack of investment and inadequate infrastructure.”

But there are multiple plans for funding, including: 

• Public-private partnerships

• Tax Increment Financing

• Municipal bonds

• Federal, state and local grants for transportation improvements

• Capital Improvement Program within the city’s annual operating budget

• Federal tax incentives

• Grant funding

Reach Savannah Moss at smoss@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville's Airport District could see traffic, safety improvements