Cultural Resources Element

Greenville's preservation movement started in the 1920's with an effort to preserve the Old Records Building which was to be razed to make way for a new building. These efforts failed. Other notable structures lost include the old Post Office, Textile Hall, and the entire original campus of Furman University. Unlike the city, which has experienced notable losses as a result of new construction, Greenville County's losses have resulted from the fact that few attempts have been made to recognize and preserve the many resources in the first place.

The Peace Center for the Performing Arts is an excellent example of the successful rehabilitation of several historic structures into a present-day cultural resource.

Preservation in Greenville is not all disappointment, though. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts incorporated the rehabilitation of several notable historic structures into a dynamic cultural resource. The City of Greenville currently has four historic districts and a Board of Architectural Review to protect the integrity of those areas; and the City of Greer has an inventory of its resources and has made efforts to preserve them. As a result of Designing Our Destiny, County Council began adoption of a Historic Preservation Ordinance in July, 1999.

Throughout the county, many property owners have taken steps to restore and preserve their homes, churches, and businesses; and the scenic mountains of northern Greenville County will remain natural assets through the establishment of several state parks and a protection program through property easements.

The Bi-Lo Center, one of Greenville's newest sources of entertainment offering a wide array of choices, is located on the former Greenville Memorial Auditorium site.

Greenville County currently has 56 properties, districts, or sites located on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of these properties were listed as a result of the efforts of the property owners to recognize their property as historically significant. Over half of the properties, districts, or sites are located in the Greenville city limits.

Greenville County has three organizations that deal specifically with preservation issues, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the Historic Greenville Foundation, and the Greenville County Historic Society. The Historic Preservation Commission is a group of volunteers appointed by County Council to promote preservation issues. The Historic Greenville Foundation is a private non-profit organization with a similar mission. In addition, the Greenville County Historic Society for several decades has dedicated itself to further research, writings, and education about the history of the community. Plans are underway to build a new historic museum.

Upcountry Friends and the Greer Historic Preservation Review Board are each locally-focused groups that deal with the history and preservation of the "Dark Corner" of Greenville County and Greer respectively. A final group is the City of Greenville Design and Preservation Commission, an appointed committee of the City Council that reviews building designs within the central business district and historic preservation districts.

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