Downtowns across the country are struggling after COVID — with empty storefronts, declining foot traffic, and major uncertainty about the future of office districts and city centers.

In this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Mayor Knox White of Greenville, South Carolina to unpack what it really takes to save a downtown — and why Greenville’s approach has become a national model for mid-sized cities.

Greenville, SC is now known for its walkable Main Street, mixed-use downtown living, and the transformation of the Reedy River into Falls Park. But that success was far from inevitable. Mayor White reflects on downtown decline in the 1970s, the decision to invest ahead of the market, and the political courage behind bold moves like narrowing Main Street and removing the Camperdown Bridge.

The conversation explores:

• Downtown revitalization strategies after COVID
• Public-private partnerships in city redevelopment
• How tax increment financing (TIF) can support downtown recovery
• Why mixed-use development is essential for vibrant city centers
• How cities can reinvest downtown success beyond the core
• Housing affordability and rising rents in revitalized downtowns

As many cities search for ways to bring life back to downtown corridors, Greenville’s experience offers timely lessons on leadership, planning, and long-term investment.

This episode is for city leaders, planners, developers, and anyone thinking seriously about the future of downtown America.

Resources:

From groundbreaking to opening of Honor Tower, see Unity Park through the years (Greenville News)

Falls Park on the Reedy (Rudy Bruner Award)

Downtown Reborn (City of Greenville)

Small and midsized downtown recovery: Overcoming obstacles and uplifting innovative solutions in four regions (Brookings)

To save downtowns, cities need to do more than turn offices into housing (Urban Institute)

Can we save the downtown? Examining pandemic recovery trajectories across 72 North American cities (Cities)

Thanks for listening to Building Better Cities!
If you'd like to stay connected, don't forget to Subscribe and Follow.
You can find all our archived newsletters and podcasts right here.
Want to get in touch? Just email the team at kate@buildingbettercities.com.