GREENVILLE, S.C. — South Carolina is about to get a new tallest building, and it’s coming to the heart of Greenville.
Construction will begin in September on the Gateway building, a 29-story mixed-use tower set to rise on the long-vacant lot at 250 N. Church St., once home to the historic Memorial Auditorium. The auditorium, a beloved local venue, was demolished in the 1990s to make way for the Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly the Bi-Lo Center).
The $130 million project, developed by Miami-based NR Gateway Greenville, will include 327 apartments, 8,500 square feet of commercial and rental space, and a parking structure. When completed in early 2028, the Gateway will stand taller than Columbia’s Capitol Center, a 26-story tower that has held the title of South Carolina’s tallest since 1987.
While Myrtle Beach’s Margate Tower has 29 stories as well, it does not reach the same height the Gateway is projected to achieve.
To support the development, the City of Greenville will contribute $7.256 million toward infrastructure and public enhancements. Planned improvements include sidewalks, crosswalks, landscaping, a public plaza, and a new public art gallery. Importantly, the upgrades will create a direct connection between the Wellness Arena and downtown Greenville, reimagining the site as the official gateway into the city for drivers arriving from Interstate 385.
“By transforming a site that has sat vacant for nearly three decades into a lively, connected space, we are honoring Greenville’s history, while creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors alike,” Greenville Mayor Knox White said in a statement.
The improvements will extend to Church Street, North Street, and Beattie Place, creating a vibrant, walkable environment. The development is also expected to generate about 100 jobs, further boosting Greenville’s economy.
For years, the property has been notorious as a “Bermuda Triangle of downtown development” — a phrase coined by Mayor White after multiple proposed projects failed to materialize. The Gateway building is now set to break that cycle.
NR Gateway Greenville’s co-founders, Nir Shoshani and Ron Gottesman, bring a track record of revitalizing neglected urban sites. In Miami, their Filling Station Lofts project transformed an abandoned structure into 81 residential units, sparking the rebirth of the surrounding Omni District into what is now known as the Arts and Entertainment District. Their portfolio also includes projects in Florida, Ohio, and even Peru.
With its mix of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces, the Gateway aims to set a new standard for high-rise living in South Carolina while cementing Greenville’s growing reputation as one of the Southeast’s most dynamic cities.
Originally reported by Lyn Riddle in The State.
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