SCDOT delays South Hudson Street bridge replacement: Greenville City Council notes

Here is a recap of the Greenville City Council meeting on July 14.

Initial approval: South Hudson Street right of way sale

The South Carolina Department of Transportation’s replacement of the South Hudson Street bridge in Greenville has been delayed until August. The delay was due to the department’s need to secure new right of way and temporary right-of-way easements for five city-owned properties along South Hudson Street.

Council gave initial approval to accept SCDOT’s two offers totaling $241,976 for the new and temporary rights of way.

The South Hudson Street bridge was damaged during Hurricane Helene in late September 2024. The existing bridge will be demolished and a new structure will be built.

Initial approval: Opioid Response Team funding

Council gave initial approval to an ordinance appropriating $404,791 in the opioid grant fund to support the Greenville City Fire Department’s Opioid Response Team. The team combats the opioid epidemic in Greenville using preventative outreach initiatives, education and emergency response.

The funds for the response team come from the city’s share of opioid-related litigation-settlement money. The city submitted a technical proposal to the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board to access a portion of its Guaranteed Political Subdivision Subfund Allocation. The board approved the city’s proposal.

Initial approval: Greenville Zoo conservation funding

The Greenville Zoo has a new giraffe calf. Autumn gave birth just after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, according to the Greenville Zoo and city of Greenville. Photos by city of Greenville / Greenville Zoo and Megan Fitzgerald

Council approved the first reading of an ordinance appropriating $113,816 to programs and initiatives outlined in the Greenville Zoo’s conservation plan. The conservation efforts and programs receiving funding include:

$30,000 for the Greenville Zoo’s Kiosk Programs (Wildcat Conservation Fund, Sumatran Orangutan Research Program, etc.)
$24,651 for the Greenville Zoo’s Conservation Grant Program
$20,000 for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Programs
$18,273 for conservation organization annual contributions
$16,813 for on-site conservation initiatives
$4,079 for collection-based research, citizen-science initiatives, and staff participation in conservation activities

The allocated funding comes from the zoo’s conservation fund. The Greenville Zoo designates a portion of admission tickets and membership sales to the conservation fund, allow with additional donations.

Read more Greenville Zoo news

Approved: SCDOT roadway ownership transfer

The city of Greenville wishes to acquire portions of West Broad Street, Butler Avenue, West McBee Avenue and Townes Street from the South Carolina Department of Transportation. According to the city, ownership of these roadway sections would allow for the implementation of the city’s street and urban design standards, more efficient regulatory control, and streamlined permitting.

Council approved a resolution authorizing the city’s request that the South Carolina Department of Transportation transfer ownership of the roadway sections into the city street system. Greenville Mayor Knox White said the streets were carefully selected to make them more pleasing for the neighborhoods and the city’s economic development and planning process.

Approved: State Accommodations Tax funding

Council approved appropriating $3.06 million from the state accommodations tax fund to tourism-related events and projects within the city. Some of the events that received funding include Artisphere, euphoria, Fall for Greenville, SC New Play Festival and Greenville Jazz Festival.

The entities receiving funding were recommended by the city’s Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee. Greenville City Manager Shannon Lavrin said changes will be made to the accommodations tax funding application process for next year. This includes meeting with applicants twice before the formal process begins and creating a points system when reviewing applications.

Update: Public safety

Greenville Police Chief Howie Thompson presented recent crime data and survey responses at council’s work session on July 14. The city of Greenville saw a 16% decrease in total crime year to date in comparison to the same timeframe in 2024. There have been 1,291 violent and property crime incidences so far in 2025, a drop from 1,542 last year.

Violent crimes, which include murder, assault and robbery, are down by 2% compared to 2024. Property crime also decreased by 18% compared to last year. These include crimes such as burglary, theft and shoplifting.

The Greenville City Police Department also launched a new survey tool in April to gain feedback from citizens after officers respond to non-violent incidents. Thompson said they have received more than 500 responses to the survey.

According to the police department, 91% of survey respondents rated their interaction with the police officer positively. Respondents also rated their top safety concerns within the city to be: