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New pedestrian bridge over I-385 nears grand opening, plans to connect to Swamp Rabbit Trail

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MAULDIN, S.C. —

The Swamp Rabbit Trail will soon be getting a bit longer.

A bridge connecting the city of Mauldin to a new town center will soon be open to the public.

"The pedestrian bridge we are talking about today is exciting because it's something that has allowed Mauldin to answer a question that people have been asking for years, how do you get the Swamp Rabbit Trail across 385 and that's what this pedestrian bridge does," councilman Taft Matney said.

The bridge adds another quarter mile to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, but in Matney's eyes, the addition opens the door for people to experience what the city of Mauldin has to offer. This includes places like BridgeWay Station and Maverick Yards.

"With our access to rail, our access to 85 to 385, it's very attractive for businesses to locate, but it's also attractive for families to live here. We want to make sure we provide dining, shopping, entertainment options that will keep bringing people to Mauldin for years to come," Matney said.

Joel Ann Chandler has owned her business along East Butler Road for 40 years. It's less than a 10-minute bike ride away from the new bridge.

"Anytime you have new people coming into the area, this is one of the first places they come to. Of course, now they can come across the new bridge, come visit us, come visit Mauldin, and see everything there is to see here," Chandler said.

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For many others, the possibilities this new bridge will bring has them excited.

"It not only attracts us high schoolers to go to that part and explore but for people who want to move into South Carolina, it's a really good opportunity," Mauldin High School student Junior Lopez said.

"I mean, we are just excited to connect to the swamp rabbit trail and be able to get out more and take the kids out biking, get out walking, running, doing things like that more," Karen Olson said.

People will have until Sept. 5. to submit a potential name for the new bridge. To submit a name, click here.

A projected date for the bridge to open is sometime in the fall.

MAULDIN — Mauldin’s long-held dream of creating a city center is moving forward after the sale of a downtown property to developers responsible for constructing what will be the Maverick Yards project.

Mauldin officials on April 6 completed a $1.15 million sale of a 6.5-acre, city-owned property to Greenville-based Parker Group and Spartanburg-based Longbranch Development.

Composed of residential townhomes and an entertainment and dining complex, the mixed-use Maverick Yards project will be located at the corner of Jenkins Street and Jenkins Court in Mauldin.

“To finally be at this point is beyond exciting for us and represents a major step toward fulfilling the vision that will be Mauldin’s City Center,” Drew Parker, founder and broker-in-charge of the Parker Group, said in a statement.

It includes the redevelopment of a 20,000-square-foot warehouse into “The Pickle Yard,” where pickleball courts will headline. It will also have three or four food concepts, a stage for live performances and a beer garden. It will eventually have access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

On the former city Public Works facility and a light industrial building, 40 rentable townhomes will be constructed on 2.4 acres next to the entertainment hub.

Demolition will happen this summer with both portions of the projects expecting to open in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“This is an exciting development for the City that marks a key step in our transformation from a crossroad community to a destination,” Mayor Terry Merritt said in a statement.

The proceeds the city gained in the sale will fund public improvements throughout the development area like new sidewalks, road improvements, installation of a pedestrian/bike trail, landscaping and public parking.

The project intends to complement the recently finished Maverick Station redevelopment project at the corner of East Butler and Laurens roads, which the Parker Group also helmed. Maverick Station, transformed from an old Rite Aid pharmacy, includes Charleston-born Bohemian Bull and bagel shop Sully’s Steamers, holistic health provider iCRYO and AT&T.

Fatz Cafe is done, cooked.

With less than 10 grand in the bank, the South Carolina-born and -bred casual dining chain pulled the plug on its remaining 18 restaurants about two weeks ago, including eight in the Palmetto State. Its owner of less than a year filed for bankruptcy about 48 hours later.

“We thank you for your support throughout our years in business,” according to a sign that was posted at a shuttered location in eastern Tennessee.

Texas-based owner ACM Fatz VII LLC will likely be liquidating assets to repay creditors rather than try to reduce debt and restructure its finances.

The company called the decision to shut down the chain “difficult.”

“While this is not the outcome anyone expected or wanted, we take solace in knowing that ACM Fatz Cafe served its intended purpose by providing a place for family and friends to gather around a dinner table and make memories that can be cherished for a lifetime,” it said in a written statement Thursday.

The bankruptcy petition the company filed in Dallas on Aug. 25 painted a grim financial picture, with sales falling 15 percent from 2021 to $32 million last year.

Fatz also listed total debts of $5.14 million, including back rent and taxes owed to various landlords and government agencies. The company’s assets were valued at $7.3 million, made up mostly of equipment and furnishings.

The operating account held just $9,912.50.

Fatz Cafe served up its first healthy-portion dish about 35 years ago in a converted peach shed in Spartanburg County, with Calabash chicken among the staples on the Southern-style comfort-food menu.

The concept was the brainchild of late Upstate restaurateur Jimmy Rogers, whose Cafe Enterprises Inc. holding company later added three more locations. By the late 1990s, the founder had moved on after selling his stake in the business to a former CEO of Quincy’s Steakhouse.

While its seemingly sudden demise last month was a surprise to outsiders, Taylors-based Fatz has been struggling for more than a decade, including a previous bankruptcy stint more than six years ago.

For most growing cities and towns, not having a traditional downtown might prove a handicap, but for Mauldin that lack has turned into opportunity.

Through forward-looking zoning and land-use policies, the city’s leaders are reimagining what defines community and are using the generational shift in what people want from where they live, work and play to attract a series of marquee projects that have put Mauldin in the vanguard of the Upstate’s most desirable places to be.

The challenges of growth

Like every municipality in Greenville County, Mauldin is absorbing a historic influx of new residents and the businesses needed to serve them. According to Community Development Director J.R. Charles, this poses both challenges and opportunities.

With the county expected to attract as many as 250,000 new residents in the next decade, Charles says one of the biggest challenges is developing the housing needed to accommodate so many people.

“We’re going to have to have housing for every demographic,” he says.

Developers and homebuilders are bringing new projects online in record numbers to meet demand, according to David Dyrhaug, Mauldin director of business and development services.

“We’re in the midst of seeing more homes being built in Mauldin than probably at any one time ever before,” he says.

“We’re in the midst of seeing more homes being built in Mauldin than probably at any one time ever before.” – David Dyrhaug

To illustrate the jump in activity, Dyrhaug says the city averaged about 2,000 building inspections a year in 2017, while 2022 saw more than 18,000 inspections.

Many of those new projects reflect a generational shift in the types of homes people are looking for, according to Seth Duncan, Mauldin’s city administrator.

Townhomes and small lots are increasingly prevalent as both retirees and young families seek housing with fewer maintenance demands. Duncan says the trend is driving a shift to build “up, not out.”

That trend toward more density and the accompanying shift in where people want to spend their time — not at home but out on trails and in parks or enjoying restaurants, shops and entertainment venues such density supports — is the driving force behind such major Mauldin projects as BridgeWay Station, Maverick Station and City Center Village, Duncan says.

“We’re going to be very quickly a city that didn’t have any downtown to having three specific, unique little communities,” he says.

The urban village

That outcome was no accident.

Recognizing growth patterns and how not having a traditional downtown to act as a development magnet might be a handicap, Mauldin’s leaders created a new zoning district — the urban village.

Duncan says the reality is Mauldin is in a competitive market that is striving to attract residents and businesses that have a range of options when coming to the Upstate.

Recognizing that, the city is using form-based zoning like the urban-village district to attract the kinds of projects people want, and no other project in the city represents that approach better, at least in terms of scale, than BridgeWay Station.

The project is being built by Greenville developer Phil Hughes, founder of Hughes Investments.

The 40-acre development adjacent to Interstate 385 is rapidly taking shape as a purpose-built town center incorporating a range of residential, retail and restaurant, office, and entertainment options meant to be a self-contained community that will be a regional destination.

Hughes says while “vision” is an evocative word to describe the Italianate, old-world design behind the project, the real driving force for BridgeWay Station is practical.

“We just try to give people what we think they want,” he says. “It’s really about that simple.”

But that “simple” aim is based on two extremely pertinent observations: Urban centers offer a concentration of attractions people find appealing, and suburban areas generally offer more space and proximity to a lot more people.

“We’re trying to put the best of downtown with the best of the suburbs,” says Hughes.

In the same vein but on a smaller scale are two other Mauldin projects, City Center Village, and within that, Maverick Station. Both are being developed by The Parker Group and, like BridgeWay Station, are designed to be destinations in and of themselves. The mixed-use projects combine residential, retail and entertainment options that are expected to become popular community hubs.

Drew Parker says the City Center project was a chance to address Mauldin’s lack of a traditional downtown, and he and his team were intrigued by both the opportunities and challenges of placemaking.

“It struck me as the perfect place to build community,” Parker says.

Phase I of the project is complete with the development of Maverick Station, which offers office and restaurant options, including Sully’s Steamers and Bohemian Bull. Phase II will begin later this summer and involve construction of townhomes and a communal space known as Maverick Yards, within which will be a collection of pickleball courts known as The Pickle Yard.

Parker says he envisions the projects will serve as a catalyst for further development that will see City Center Village become a true community hub.

“My goal with this is to kick things off,” he says. “My hope is other developers will see the value of Mauldin and the community we’re creating.”

Here’s a rundown of some of Mauldin’s most recent and significant developments aimed at meeting a mix of needs:

Developers plan to build 156 townhomes in Mauldin between two developments. City Council gave initial approval for a pair of rezonings that will make way for the coming projects during an Aug. 15 meeting.

The larger of the two developments would include 99 units and be located in central Mauldin along North Main Street, between Kellet’s Korner and the C.F. Sauer manufacturing facility, and would open the door for a new city park.

The 99 townhomes would be built on about 15 acres of the 23-acre property.

The developer intends to set aside close to seven acres for a public park and to reserve a 21-foot easement for a future pedestrian and bike path. At a July 26 Planning Commission meeting, Sam Davis of the Upstate Greenways and Trails Alliance said the easement would facilitate the planned future extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, according to notes provided to council.

The site is currently undeveloped and largely wooded. City Council voted unanimously to approve first reading of the property rezoning.

The development is roughly a mile north of the coming city center, a mixed-used project that will feature a food hall, pickleball courts and 55 new homes. It would also be across the street from another planned development, which will include 36 new homes, restaurant space and pedestrian access. According to council materials, the developer plans to build high-end townhomes priced between $320,000 and $340,000.

The smaller of the two projects voted on Aug. 15 would include 57 townhomes on a roughly five-acre tract off West Butler Road. It would sit between Taylor Road and Laurel Meadows Parkway next to the Mauldin branch of the Greenville County Library System.

The townhomes would be priced at about $300,000, according to council materials.

Council voted 6-1 on first reading to rezone the property, with Councilman Jason Kraeling voting against, citing concerns about density.

In response to Allgood’s questions ahead of the vote, Austin Allen of Arbor Land Design told council the density is high but in keeping with surrounding developments, and while there are no specific plans for amenities at this point, the developer is evaluating its options. Just under an acre of the property has been reserved for open space under the current plan.

Fatz Cafe is done, cooked.

With less than 10 grand in the bank, the South Carolina-born and -bred casual dining chain pulled the plug on its remaining 18 restaurants about two weeks ago, including eight in the Palmetto State. Its owner of less than a year filed for bankruptcy about 48 hours later.

“We thank you for your support throughout our years in business,” according to a sign that was posted at a shuttered location in eastern Tennessee.

Texas-based owner ACM Fatz VII LLC will likely be liquidating assets to repay creditors rather than try to reduce debt and restructure its finances.

The company called the decision to shut down the chain “difficult.”

“While this is not the outcome anyone expected or wanted, we take solace in knowing that ACM Fatz Cafe served its intended purpose by providing a place for family and friends to gather around a dinner table and make memories that can be cherished for a lifetime,” it said in a written statement Thursday.

The bankruptcy petition the company filed in Dallas on Aug. 25 painted a grim financial picture, with sales falling 15 percent from 2021 to $32 million last year.

Fatz also listed total debts of $5.14 million, including back rent and taxes owed to various landlords and government agencies. The company’s assets were valued at $7.3 million, made up mostly of equipment and furnishings.

The operating account held just $9,912.50.

Fatz Cafe served up its first healthy-portion dish about 35 years ago in a converted peach shed in Spartanburg County, with Calabash chicken among the staples on the Southern-style comfort-food menu.

The concept was the brainchild of late Upstate restaurateur Jimmy Rogers, whose Cafe Enterprises Inc. holding company later added three more locations. By the late 1990s, the founder had moved on after selling his stake in the business to a former CEO of Quincy’s Steakhouse.

While its seemingly sudden demise last month was a surprise to outsiders, Taylors-based Fatz has been struggling for more than a decade, including a previous bankruptcy stint more than six years ago.

Upstate South Carolina residents and businesses can soon experience WOW!'s multi-gig speeds and full suite of advanced services

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone (NYSE: WOW), a leading broadband services provider, today announced construction of its all-fiber network is well underway and the company anticipates offering its high-speed Internet services to consumers in Mauldin, South Carolina in the coming months.

On the heels of leasing a facility in Greenville County to support local operations and welcoming WOW! veteran Dominick Silvio into the role of local director, WOW! is making swift progress toward bringing its comprehensive portfolio of products and services to the Upstate region in the near future. WOW!'s expansion into South Carolina is part of the company's continued initiative to build new markets non-adjacent to its existing network and deliver its advanced fiber technology and award-winning customer service to residents across its growing footprint. With these expansions, WOW! plans to reach 400,000 new homes passed by 2027, increasing its total passings by 21%.

"Since announcing our plans to bring WOW!'s state-of-the-art services and offer additional choice and flexibility for broadband options to Upstate South Carolina less than a year ago, we've made tremendous progress toward activating our first customers in the region," said Robert DiNardo, corporate SVP of market expansion at WOW!. "We're thrilled to bring our blazing fast speeds to consumers and delight them with our dedication to being a positive force in the community and offering outstanding customer service."

Residents in Mauldin, followed by additional Greenville County communities including Five Forks, Fountain Inn, Piedmont and Simpsonville, will soon be able to stay connected with WOW!'s all-fiber network and fastest speeds available, including residential symmetrical Internet speeds up to 5 Gbps. Subscribers will receive the necessary equipment upfront to get started along with WiFi at no extra cost, unlimited data, and no annual contracts. WOW! will also offer WOW tv+, reliable home phone plans, and WOW! mobile powered by Reach.

To learn more about WOW!, and to find out if its services are available in your area, please visit www.wowway.com.

About WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone

WOW! is one of the nation's leading broadband providers, with an efficient and high-performing network that passes nearly 2 million residential, business and wholesale consumers. WOW! provides services in 15 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, including the new all-fiber network in Central Florida. With an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed Internet services, cable TV, home phone, mobile phone, business data, voice, and cloud services, the company is dedicated to providing outstanding service at affordable prices. WOW! also serves as a leader in exceptional human resources practices, having been recognized nine times by the National Association for Business Resources as a Best & Brightest Company to Work For in the Nation, winning the award for the last five consecutive years and making the 2022 Top 101 National Winners list. Visit wowway.com for more information.

SOURCE WideOpenWest, Inc.