FAQs
A little sprinkling of information
This name gives a nod to the word “embolden,” meaning to encourage, give confidence to or make bold. “Bolden Street” creates the address for a unique, cohesive, pedestrian-oriented, center-street district. A dynamic destination, a bold stroke of placemaking, filled with Greenville’s courageous spirit of community and a newfound commitment to mobility as envisioned by GVL2040.
It all began a few years ago, when Hollingsworth Funds engaged Urban Land Institute and members of the Greenville community to explore the opportunity to redevelop Laurens Road that would build on GVL2040’s plan for Greenville. What emerged was a vision born out of our love for Greenville and our responsibility to use this land for the betterment of the larger community. This is the Hollingsworth Funds mission translated into a human experience — uplifting the Greenville community by literally helping to build it.
Verdae Development, Inc. will be working in partnership with a team of highly experienced and accomplished design and development professionals to make Bolden Street District a reality.
Site work will begin in mid-2026 at the vacant property at the intersection of Verdae Commons Drive and Laurens Road, starting with the addition of infrastructure to serve the phased development plan. We expect the buildout to take 10+ years for the 90-acre Bolden Street District.
Apartments, condos and townhomes are planned in phases of the district’s buildout, to meet the needs of all ages and stages of life.
The residential component of Phase 1 development includes multi-family housing that could be move-in ready in 2028.
The redevelopment of the commercial properties within Verdae’s plan will not displace any residents. In fact, the development will provide new housing solutions where there previously have not been residential options.
Verdae Development’s goal for the redeveloped parcels is to re-accommodate as many current businesses as possible within the new mixed-use district.
The Swamp Rabbit Trail and Laurens Road will serve as initial points of entry, with Haywood and Woodruff Roads offering access as future phases are developed. Bolden Street District is designed around a center street that internally captures traffic and supports new mobility options for residents and visitors. Residents in nearby neighborhoods will enjoy shorter travel distances to restaurants, retail, grocery, entertainment and more.
Bolden Street District will be a true mixed-use neighborhood, inclusive of a wide variety of retail, restaurants, entertainment, personal and professional services, medical & professional offices and more to support the surrounding community.
The designers of Bolden Street District are focused on community open space that can be activated in a variety of ways for residents and visitors. Open space and overall community connectivity are prioritized within a more urban design bordered by Laurens Road and the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Bolden Street District will be among the first of several nodes that the City of Greenville has identified as prime areas for development along corridors outside of downtown. Key components of GVL2040 that are reflected in the plans for Bolden Street District include purposeful growth with an emphasis on smart density, affordability, increased access to mobility options that reduce reliance on cars, and attractive and useful public spaces.
Absolutely. Much of Bolden Street District’s energy will be focused on trail connectivity, highlighting the accessible outdoor experiences that Greenville is known and loved for.
Bolden Street District will be a growing economic engine within the Greenville community for years to come — from the construction process through to a fully developed neighborhood offering job opportunities to countless Greenvillians.
The developer of Bolden Street District, Verdae Development, Inc., is a subsidiary of Hollingsworth Funds, a charitable foundation created by the late John D. Hollingsworth Jr., a textile industry magnate who left the bulk of his estate to Hollingsworth Funds upon his passing in 2000. This foundation focuses on aligning its assets to strengthen the pathways that propel all people forward in Greenville County. Bolden Street District will support the mission of Hollingsworth Funds in two impactful ways.
First, by creating financial value for Funds’ endowment which, in turn, increases the strategic investments in its named beneficiaries and other Greenville nonprofit organizations and initiatives.
Second, by contributing to the economic and cultural vibrancy for all of Greenville through the development of a walkable and connected trailside community where homes, businesses, and recreation come together to create a truly special opportunity for all. Learn more about Hollingsworth Funds here.