Board grants landmark status to 1920s-era downtown building

More than a century after its construction, the home of one of Greenville’s first car dealerships received Local Landmark designation.

The City’s Historic Review Board (HRB) approved the downtown property, built in 1922, and the plans to convert the building into a 17-room boutique hotel with a restaurant, rooftop bar and a private basement speak-easy.

The 101 College building was originally home to the Eugene F. Bates Motor Company showroom and service facility.

Bates was an entrepreneur who helped guide Greenville from horse-drawn travel into the automobile era. City planning staff highlighted that many of the building’s original architectural remain intact — including the brickwork, first-floor garage bay opening, the elevator shaft and pulley system. The building later housed the McDuffie-Parker Furniture Company, Lenny’s Sandwiches and most recently, Café and Then Some.

HRB members also approved a preliminary certification for special tax assessment for rehabilitated historic properties. The certification would freeze the building’s property taxes at its pre-rehabilitated value of $3 million for 10 years.