Mortgage Broker in Mauldin, SC

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

Infinite Scroll Enabled

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

Your Email Address

Privacy Notice

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.

Recommended

South Carolina gas station must stop selling gas after what inspectors found in it, officials say

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.

As voters head to the polls Nov. 7, all Mauldin City Council candidates and Mayor Terry Merritt are running unopposed. While two other incumbents are running for reelection, Diane Kuzniar (Seat 6) is not seeking another term.

Mayor

Incumbent: Terry W. Merritt

Position: Retired and volunteers with several local organizations

Years as mayor: 4

What do you plan to work on in your next term? Continue getting our East Butler Road redeveloped along with a walking trail from the pedestrian bridge all the way to our City Center village area. Continue pursuing the building of sidewalks and seek funding assistance in getting these sidewalks built in critical areas of our city. Continue to prioritize plans to address our streets, pothole repairs, drainage, ditch cleanouts, leaf cleanup and city sidewalk maintenance. Continue updating our city’s comprehensive plan to address the long-term growth needs in providing the infrastructure needs for the different types of homes needed for the coming diverse population growth. The growth of our city is exciting times with opportunities for us to continue being a great place to live, work, play and dine.

Seat 2

Incumbent: Carol King

Position: Tax manager with Greene Finney Cauley LLP

Years on City Council: 8

What do you plan to work on in your next term? Public safety is always a No. 1 priority. Providing safe streets and neighborhoods to our residents will continue to be a top priority. I will continue to work towards the council’s goal of full implementation of our Main Street development so that our residents have a walkable space to include restaurants, shopping and entertainment with green spaces. I will work to bring additional trail segments to our city. I will always continue to be fiscally responsible and pass budgets that reflect the needs of our city. We have accomplished so much in the last four years but still have a lot of work to be done. I look forward to serving our city and working with all constituents in the four years to come.

Seat 4

Incumbent: Michael Reynolds

Position: Small-business owner and works with a local residential builder to build homes in the Upstate

Years on City Council: 8

What do you plan to work on in your next term? Much of the work that I am planning for my next term is a continuation of the positive momentum that we currently have. Over the last four years, we have worked to improve the conditions of Mauldin-owned roads, manage city growth in a responsible and reasonable way, and maintain the high level of service that our residents have come to expect. We have made strategic investments in infrastructure, equipment and employees and will continue to do so. I will also continue to push for a downtown that we can be proud of. Our Cultural Center and Sports Center complex have given people reasons to visit our city. I will make policy and fiscal decisions that point Mauldin in a direction that will not just encourage people to visit but encourage people to shop, eat, enjoy and most important of all, return to what we have to offer. We are facing many challenges to maintain pace as a city. Mainly inflation, manpower, our lower tax milage rates and stormwater. I am confident, however, that the team we have in place both on city council and with city staff, are diligently working to make the lives of our residents better.

Seat 6

Candidate: Mark Steenback

Position: Chief resource officer for Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County

What is the one thing you plan to change if elected? One of the motivations for me is to bring representation to a part of the city experiencing a lot of growth and has not had representation in the recent past. We currently have five members of the council all living in the same neighborhood. While the individuals themselves may be great for the council, they’re only able to speak to the everyday experience of a small part of the Mauldin population. I’d like the opportunity to change that. I think that would be a positive change for the city and those who live on the southern side of town.

Listen to this article

Four new tenants will join the mix at Mauldin’s soon-to-open BridgeWay Station.

Lili + Koko Boutique + Bubbles, Jerimiah’s Italian Ice, Lucille’s Music and Comedy Venue, and Mercato by Dine Development Group will be the latest businesses at the Mauldin development, according to a news release from developer Hughes Investments Inc.

Lili + Koko Boutique + Bubbles will occupy about 1,800 square feet of ground floor retail space on BridgeWay Boulevard. LiLi + KoKo began in March of 2021 with the mission from co-founders Lisa Suter and Courtney Thompson to offer on-trend styles that are affordable for women at any life stage.

As they transition to their new location, Suter and Thompson are set to introduce Lili + Koko Boutique + Bubbles, offering a space for women to gather with their friends, while also providing them the opportunity to empower themselves and their community, the release stated. Patrons have access to a champagne bar, rtisanal charcuterie boards desserts as they browse, sip and shop, the release said.

“LiLi + KoKo offers quality clothing and accessories that are accessible no matter our customers’ age or size, are easy to mix and match, and allow our customers to look and feel their best,” Suter said in the release. “With our move to BridgeWay Station, we will continue to provide the same great clothing and accessories we have since our inception, while also providing an in-store shopping experience that feeds the senses. We are so excited to be a part of BridgeWay Station and are looking forward to serving the Mauldin and surrounding communities.”

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice will feature Italian Ice, ice cream and gelato. Jeremiah’s has more than 100 locations open across the United States. The 800 square feet in BridgeWay Station will be the franchise’s seventh location in South Carolina, and franchise owners Myrol and LaKesha Frazier’s second location. Their first store is at 2 Ketron Court near Woodruff Road in Greenville, the release said.

Jeremiah’s will serve a variety of flavors, including sugar-free options and seasonal flavors. In addition, they will offer catering services and special “pup-cups” for canine companions.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to expand into a second location in this area and contribute to the growth of this community,” LaKesha Frazier said in the release. “Our new location will also be designed as a welcoming family-oriented destination, where families, friends and the community can come together to savor truly delicious treats.”

Lucille’s Music and Comedy Venue by MAS Ventures and Boulevard Consulting Group will allow customers to experience entertainment at this “cutting-edge” venue that occupies 3,160 square feet of retail space with a patio, the release said.

Boulevard Consulting Group is a development and strategic planning firm renowned for their expertise in site selection, demographic analysis, brand development, and real estate development. The group owns and operates franchises such as Denny’s, Starbucks and The Juicy Crab across seven states. Following the success of Blues Boulevard Jazz venue in Spartanburg, Boulevard Consulting Group expanded to downtown Greenville in 2013. A new location in Atlanta is underway.

The venue will feature tapas, entrées and specialty drinks.

Mercato by Dine Development Group will occupy 2,500 square feet on the corner of BridgeWay Boulevard and Via Corso Avenue (Main Street). This will be Dine Development’s fourth retail space at BridgeWay Station, complementing its other new enterprises, City Market at BridgeWay Station, Restaurant Rocco, and The Plank.

Mercato will serve breakfast and lunch bagels and sandwiches with a grab-and-go selection of prepared foods, breads, specialty drinks and more. A full-service coffee bar with Methodical Coffee, hand scooped ice cream, and boba tea will complete the space. There will be a large selection of healthy specialty drinks as well, from protein drinks to many varieties of nutritional beverages, the release said.

“We are very pleased to extend a warm welcome to these four exceptional retailers to BridgeWay Station,” Phil Hughes, president and founder of Hughes Investments Inc., said in the release. “Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is not only delicious, but perfectly complements our Italian-inspired development. Lili + Koko’s innovative concept of integrating a champagne bar with their boutique is both creative and enjoyable, aligning perfectly with the ethos we embrace at BridgeWay. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with Mark Sullivan [of Boulevard Consulting Group] on another site downtown, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with him again in this community. And finally, working alongside people as passionate as Thomas and Angie [with Dine Development Group] has been a true pleasure. Their dedication to their work and this particular project is highly motivating, and we are confident that they will bring something truly special to the table with this new coffee and deli space.”

These new tenants will occupy the spaces previously reserved by others who, due to market and industry challenges, are unable to pursue new ventures. Dine Development Group will take over the space formerly leased to Cohesive Coffee, while Jeremiah’s Italian Ice will occupy the area previously leased to Yogi’s Cups and Cones. Belladina’s Italian Market, an earlier announcement, will no longer be a part of BridgeWay Station. The remaining 6,000 square feet of space originally leased to Belladina’s Italian Market represents the last available retail space for lease, the release said.

“The profound — and ongoing — impact of COVID on both the construction sector and retail/restaurant industries has presented substantial challenges,” said Hughes. “We are appreciative of the changes these challenges have brought about in terms of our tenant mix. BridgeWay is poised to offer a diverse range of tenants that cater to a multitude of desires and needs, all in a convenient and beautiful location close to home.”

Retail tenants open at BridgeWay Station include Le Chic Nails Lounge, The Junkyard, Plum: A Lifestyle Boutique, and The Worx at BridgeWay Station. BridgeWay Brewery and City Market at BridgeWay Station will open by December and January, respectively. Additional tenants actively upfitting their individual spaces include El Guapo, Cocobowlz, Old Europe Desserts, Stella’s Restaurant Group, Rocco and The Plank by Dine Development Group, and Table 301. These retailers will be incorporated into the project alongside previously announced office and institutional users, including Dodge Bearings and Power Transmission; GREEN Charter Upstate High School; Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events; and Spectrum.

Lili + Koko Boutique + Bubbles, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Lucille’s, and Mercato are all slated to open in early spring.

BridgeWay Station will celebrate the holidays at its first public event in the 24,691-square-foot piazza and pavilion public space with a “Christmas at BridgeWay” event from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. BridgeWay Station’s ribbon cutting is slated for spring.

MAULDIN, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The idea of building a new multi-purpose sports stadium in Mauldin continues.

It’s been nearly a year and a half since the proposal was initially set back by the Greenville County Finance Committee.

“This stadium would be a complete game changer for the upper part of South Carolina,” said Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt.

Plans for the stadium, which would hold between 8,000-10,000 people and host around 150 events a year, including Triumph and Liberty soccer games, were introduced in early 2022. The price tag is $38.6 million.

“This is a complicated project because it’s got five different entities involved and bringing them up to speed and knowing what the players want and what could be,” said Merritt.

In 2022, Greenville County Council Finance Committee voted against letting the county administrator negotiate on the project. The new county council later voted to authorize those discussions.

But Chair of the Finance Committee Butch Kirven says there are no active discussions about the stadium by the county council.

“We agree it would be a very nice project, a wonderful project, a regional project, good for Mauldin. The location is good, a lot of development going on over there. But something would have to change,” he said.

Some funding is falling into place. In the state budget, $4 million would be sent to Mauldin for the stadium.

“We have the involvement of the state, and then we’ll take that and continue trying to run with it and explain it to our county council, which has their plate extremely full right now,” said Merritt.

Kirven says while the county isn’t in a place to put money into the project right now, it could help in other ways.

“We’re certainly always willing to listen and discuss those and see if they make sense for the county,” he said.

“We’re ready. City of Mauldin is ready. Just tell us,” added Merritt.

The money from the state budget is pending Gov. McMaster’s signature.

Merritt says having the county involved in the project as it is proposed is “critical”.

Copyright 2023 WHNS. All rights reserved.

MAULDIN, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The idea of building a new multi-purpose sports stadium in Mauldin continues.

It’s been nearly a year and a half since the proposal was initially set back by the Greenville County Finance Committee.

“This stadium would be a complete game changer for the upper part of South Carolina,” said Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt.

Plans for the stadium, which would hold between 8,000-10,000 people and host around 150 events a year, including Triumph and Liberty soccer games, were introduced in early 2022. The price tag is $38.6 million.

“This is a complicated project because it’s got five different entities involved and bringing them up to speed and knowing what the players want and what could be,” said Merritt.

In 2022, Greenville County Council Finance Committee voted against letting the county administrator negotiate on the project. The new county council later voted to authorize those discussions.

But Chair of the Finance Committee Butch Kirven says there are no active discussions about the stadium by the county council.

“We agree it would be a very nice project, a wonderful project, a regional project, good for Mauldin. The location is good, a lot of development going on over there. But something would have to change,” he said.

Some funding is falling into place. In the state budget, $4 million would be sent to Mauldin for the stadium.

“We have the involvement of the state, and then we’ll take that and continue trying to run with it and explain it to our county council, which has their plate extremely full right now,” said Merritt.

Kirven says while the county isn’t in a place to put money into the project right now, it could help in other ways.

“We’re certainly always willing to listen and discuss those and see if they make sense for the county,” he said.

“We’re ready. City of Mauldin is ready. Just tell us,” added Merritt.

The money from the state budget is pending Gov. McMaster’s signature.

Merritt says having the county involved in the project as it is proposed is “critical”.

Copyright 2023 WHNS. All rights reserved.