Greenville County settles on firm for County Square redevelopment project, name withheld from public

One of the most sought after pieces of property in Greenville overlooking the Reedy River and Falls Park now has a developer.

However, the developer's name won't be released because negotiations with the chosen firm, identified as "C," are ongoing, said County Administrator Joe Kernell.

"Now we're trying to do a business deal. You don't disclose your hand publicly or privately until it's time," Kernell said.

Meanwhile, one council member, Willis Meadows, has alleged that his fellow colleagues voted to begin negotiations with just one of the firms during a July executive session.

If true, the action would be a violation of the Freedom of Information Act.

Meadows said the vote, which he said instructed Kernell to proceed with negotiations with one firm, took place during a July 19 closed meeting. Meeting minutes from July 19 do not mention a vote.

Kernell denied the allegation, saying "it was a poll about what different individuals felt about the proposals we've seen" and viewed it as a "discussion issue."

The Freedom of Information Act mentions poling and states that "members of a public body may not commit the public body to a course of action by a polling of members in executive session."

“Polling is forbidden, and that’s just another word for a vote," Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association, said Monday. "So that was totally illegal and anything they do illegally could be challenged in court

Meadows also said Councilman Bob Taylor, who chairs the committee, adjourned the July 19 executive session while behind closed doors.

FOIA states a vote to adjourn a closed session must take place in public. It says the only actions that can be taken in executive session are to adjourn or return to public session.

Because of these two reasons, Meadows said, he could not sign off on the July 19 meeting minutes.

County Square

The massive County Square project has not only received the attention of county officials, but city officials, too.

Minutes show at many of the meetings concerning County Square, Greenville City Manager John Castile and the city's Deputy Manager Nancy Whitworth have been present.

In May, the county inked a deal with the city spelling out a potential parking garage on Greenville's West End.

Earlier this year, the county released a request for proposals to firms interested in developing the property at 301 University Ridge.

The property, once home to Furman University and a shopping mall and theater, includes County Square, Greenville County Family Court and 37 acres of property between Augusta and Church streets.

Proposals had to include a detailed plan for mixed-use facilities, financing models and a replacement option for administrative offices prior to demolition of the current building.

Project proposals were released to the public in January and were due back in April. The county announced six development firms in April, later narrowing the search to three in June.

RocaPoint Partners, of Atlanta, and Virginia-based Armada Hoffler Properties, which teamed with CitiSculpt in North Carolina, were the only two firms to confirm they were engaged in discussions with the county.

Between April and July, there were six executive sessions.

No action was taken during those meetings, minutes state.

Kernell said if the county is unable to broker a deal with the current chosen firm, officials will approach the next firm, identified as "B," and so on to developer "A" if the second company doesn't pan out.