The Hayne School, on Toy Street in Greenville’s Pettigru Historic District, was built in 1919 to serve the Boyce Lawn neighborhood. The school closed in 1970 and subsequently became the focus of various development efforts (we know… we worked on architectural drawings more than once).
Now another local developer, Babcock Investment Company, has a plan to convert The Hayne School and its site into a residential development. Plans call for 14 condominiums in the school building, 18 townhomes on the sides and rear of the property, and a pocket park in the middle, plus gathering spaces to instill a sense of community and promote pedestrian activity.
We’re big fans of adaptive reuse. It lets us connect with the history of a building as we think about design choices and it dovetails perfectly with the principles of restorative architecture. The Hayne School project starts with wonderful resources — and much of what we need is right here on Toy Street, which is as locally sourced as you could want.
Our design calls for natural, well-used materials and daylight to revive the spirit, so we’re planning to install large, historically accurate windows and reveal the school’s original high ceilings. There are oak floors ready to be refinished and six of the new condominiums will have rooftop terraces.
Once completed, the school will be transformed — revitalized 40-plus years after the end of its primary use as a thriving residential campus, sensibly sized and designed for a symbiotic relationship with the neighborhood. Greenville’s Design Review Board will consider Babcock’s application for a certificate of appropriateness at its December 1 meeting. Watch this space for further developments!
To read more at the Upstate Business Journal, visit:
http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/news/developer-wants-turn-historic-hayne-school-condos/
