u/gvl_guy

Please donate if you can to help with their operational costs. Also, they have their Holiday show coming up December 9th. They are awesome performers! Get tickets and help them sell out.

Is this going to be good or bad for Haywood Mall? (I'm talking about safety, of course.) Since the article is behind a paywall, here's the gist of it:

GREENVILLE — Round1, a Japanese arcade and entertainment center, appears to have begun construction at the former Sears anchor space at Haywood Mall in Greenville. It will be the company’s first South Carolina location and one of a handful in the region.

Round1 announced on Instagram on Aug. 31 that it will open a new store at the mall. Construction fencing now rings a significant amount of parking on that side of the mall. The company did not respond to questions about when Round1 would open.

A fence with Round1 signs has been installed in front of an entrance to the former Sears wing, promising a host of activities: arcade games, bowling, billiards, food and a bar. It will also feature Spo-cha, a timed play area where patrons can play various types of sports.

We actually need to thank California, New York, Texas and New Jersey, among others, for their contributions to our state. From this article:

"The other 31 states and Washington, DC, received more than they sent, with the largest gaps in Virginia ($89.0 billion), Alabama ($44.7 billion), and South Carolina ($38.9 billion). "

Remember the guy with Keene Development Group that is/was running into trouble because of the McDaniel luxury townhomes on East McBee? Well, it's happening again, this time with the Vardry development. Foreclosure.

You can read the full story at the link or the basics from the Upstate Business Journal:

The 100 N. Markley St. property associated with a proposed $92 million residential and hotel project is under foreclosure, according to a public notice from the Greenville County Court of Common Pleas.

The foreclosure sale ..... 0.91-acre parcel at the corner of Rhett and North Markley streets in Greenville.

The property was to be the site of The Vardry Residences by Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants being developed by Greenville-based Keene Development Group, a $92 million project that would have involved 26 condos and a 133-room hotel.

This is likely behind a paywall, but the bottom line is this:

"The S.C. Arts Commission approved arts funding for some, but not all, organizations earmarked to receive $3.7 million in grants.

On Aug. 20, the board of commissioners met to revisit a June 18 vote to approve the grants that was delayed after some members voiced concerns that two of the potential recipients could be violating President Donald Trump's executive order targeting gender identity.

As the commission prepared to approve the grants, which support operating costs for about 180 museums, orchestras, theaters and other arts organizations across the state, commission members raised an objection about two of the grant beneficiaries, Greenville Gay Men's Chorus and Proud Mary Theater Company, on the basis of artistic merit.

An amendment was proposed that would require the two organizations to return to the commission at its Oct. 15 meeting to further explain and defend the artistic merit of their programs. "

The ACLU is fighting this.

Board member Jessica Rourke said, “My decision is based on a personal and governance principle that commission funding should not be directed toward organizations structured around specific sexual orientations, nor should public funds support drag performances."

“Looking at the two organizations that they are bracketing off, in the meeting, they are saying that this is about artistic merit,” ACLU of South Carolina spokesperson Paul Bowers told The Post and Courier. “In writing, in the email that we've obtained, they were not discussing artistic merit. The objections that at least two commissioners raised in writing was the subject matter and the people depicted in the art. Pretending this is about artistic merit does not make it so.”

Everyone always seems to complain about our roads - and that's a pretty valid complaint. But how good or bad is our infrastructure really? Details are here from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

One of the biggest challenges is how fast our population is growing. In a way, I was pretty shocked that most of the categories in this report show us with a D letter grade, including things like drinking water. Bridges got a C grade and, the only thing we seem to do well with are our ports with a B grade. (I actually think we can give a thank you to BMW for part of that.)

Here are some details that I didn't know about, but the city sent out an email about it.

First: the money would be used for some 527 items in five categories: roadway improvement projects, stormwater and road-related drainage projects, critical sewer infrastructure projects, public assembly facilities, administration buildings and public safety projects, and fire stations.

Second: Under state law, most groceries, gasoline and prescription medications will be exempt from this local sales tax if passed. I believe the rule is the same if the County version of this also passes. So that shouldn't raise the cost of living in some critical areas.

Third: Under the new act, if passed, at least 20% of all revenue must be used for property tax credits for owner-occupied residences. No landlords getting the tax relief. No vacation rental properties. No apartment buildings. Just actually homesteaded properties.

Since the City expects to get 1% of $50 billion dollars in annual sales, that means a 1% tax could provide city homeowners with approximately $11 million in property tax relief and fund roughly $45 million in specific infrastructure projects each year for eight years. The tax automatically expires in 8 years unless people vote for it again.

Now, my opinion only: this is a good thing if passed. Not only would a good amount of money come in to handle projects that many people seem to complain about because of Greenville's much increased population and construction projects - infrastructure - but homeowners, actual people paying property taxes, will get some tax relief. Plus, the 1% sales tax will be paid by, not only locals who buy within the city, but tourists and business folks who come here to visit. Seems like a win-win to me.

You've probably heard that the city of Greenville is planning to put a proposal on the November ballot to add a one penny sales tax within the city limits. (Other local cities like Simpsonville and Maulden are also considering this idea.)

This write-up from City Council member Tina Belge is a great explainer. Bottom line: this tax will be paid by everyone, including tourists and visitors and, at the same time, be used to decrease property taxes....all while getting money to make much needed infrastructure improvements. This is worth a read (and watch.)

Greenville ranked #33, according to Orkin, for bedbug infestations