Greenville City Council took its first legal step toward bringing part of the Woodruff Road corridor inside the city limits, passing the first reading of an annexation ordinance on August 24. The area covers roughly 135 acres near I-385 and Smith Hines Road, about 87.46 acres of real property plus another 47.6 acres of right-of-way, and it includes the Merovan Business Center, Sam's Club, and retail spots like Chick-fil-A, Dave's Hot Chicken, Zaxby's, 7-Eleven, Discount Tire, and Shake Shack. South Carolina requires property owners representing at least 75% of the parcels, and at least 75% of the assessed value, to sign on, and the city says both thresholds were met, though a property that wasn't part of the petition can still end up annexed if the process is approved. Annexed properties would pay both county and city taxes going forward, and the exact impact depends on things like which special district fees you're currently paying, since a move into the city also brings a switch in fire and police service. South Carolina requires two readings before an annexation ordinance takes effect, so this isn't final yet, there's still a second reading ahead. If you own property along this stretch, start by checking whether your parcel falls inside the proposed boundary, then keep an eye on the city's Planning and Development page for when that second reading gets scheduled.

Here's the whole breakdown on what this annexation means for Woodruff Road and anyone who lives, owns property, or is looking to buy along that corridor:

It can sound like a construction project, but that's not what this is. This is a boundary change: land moves from unincorporated Greenville County into the City of Greenville. That changes who governs the property, who taxes it, and who handles services like police, fire, water, zoning, and traffic control. On August 24, City Council voted to approve the first reading of this annexation, which gives a pretty good idea where this is headed.

The size of this annexation catches people by surprise. We're talking about roughly 135 acres total, about 87.46 acres are real property, with another 47.6 acres of nearby right-of-way, including roads and sidewalks. All of it sits near I-385 and Smith Hines Road.

The city specifically lists the Merovan Business Center, which sold back in 2021 for just over $67 million, as part of this boundary. Local reporting puts that office park at around 60 acres by itself. Sam's Club, across the street, is also named by the city. And along this same stretch, you'll recognize places like Chick-fil-A, Dave's Hot Chicken, Zaxby's, 7-Eleven, Discount Tire, Shake Shack, and others.

For an annexation like this, South Carolina uses what's called the 75% method: property owners representing at least 75% of the parcels have to sign the petition, and those owners also have to represent at least 75% of the assessed property value in the area. The city says both requirements were met.

That petition process started back on April 14, and there's a 180-day window that runs through October 11. This is where some property owners can get frustrated: if you didn't sign the petition, your property can still be annexed if the process is approved.

The proposed zoning includes Business General, Business Heavy, and Industrial Flex, broad commercial and light industrial categories that could allow uses like big-box retail, hotels, and warehouse space in the future. But this vote doesn't approve a new hotel, store, warehouse, or any other specific project. It changes which government will make those land-use decisions moving forward.

On paper, this has moved through several steps, but we're not at the finish line yet. The petition process started on April 14, 2026. On July 24, the Planning Commission announced its review. On August 6, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the zoning and recommend the annexation to City Council. Then on August 24 at 5:30 p.m., City Council held a public hearing at Greenville City Hall and passed the first reading of the annexation ordinance.

South Carolina requires two readings before an ordinance like this can take effect, so after the August 24 vote, there's still another step before anything becomes final.

The public hearing on August 24 has already happened, so that part is closed. For that meeting, the city asked anyone who wanted to speak to email City Clerk Camilla Pitman by noon that day.

But the annexation process is still moving, and the easiest way to follow it is through the city's Planning and Development page and the City Council agenda portal. Once that second reading gets scheduled, that's where you'll see it posted. If you want to speak at a future meeting, you can call the City Clerk's office and confirm the process directly. Greenville City Hall is at 206 South Main Street.

If you own property anywhere near this corridor, keep an eye on that agenda before the next vote happens.

There isn't one simple tax answer for every property in this annexation. Greenville County has confirmed that annexed properties would pay both county and city taxes going forward.

We saw a different setup with the Cherrydale annexation back in 2024. At the time, the city said some property owners could save on taxes, get faster emergency response, and pay lower water rates. Part of that comes from how fire service works: annexed properties can stop paying a county fire subdistrict tax and move over to city fire and police service instead.

So the final tax impact depends on the property, it comes down to which special district fees you're paying. If you own a business along this corridor, check your parcel specifically. For the city, this annexation also brings in new property tax revenue, business license fees, and stormwater fees from this commercial corridor.

One detail worth knowing: Greenville didn't raise its municipal tax rate this year. The FY2027 city budget kept that rate flat.

Greenville has dealt with a similar annexation battle before. Back in 2024, the city annexed Cherrydale, along North Pleasantburg Drive and Poinsett Highway. The Parker Fire Department had been serving that area and collecting tax revenue from it, and when Greenville moved forward with annexation, Parker pushed back. The department said its response times were faster than the city's, and losing that area would also mean losing revenue.

We could see similar disputes come up around Woodruff Road, fire coverage, water, or sewer service can all become part of these annexation talks. This time, though, the city says the retail corridor has broad support from property owners.

There's another piece of this that matters when you look at Woodruff Road as a whole. This is also where the long-delayed Woodruff Road Congestion Relief Project is supposed to happen, the bypass designed to take pressure off this exact stretch. The cost has grown from around $121 million to an estimated $277 million, and as of this August, regional planners at GPATS are still reviewing a funding gap.

So Greenville is working to annex one of the busiest commercial corridors in the Upstate and bring that tax revenue into the city, while the project meant to ease the traffic out there still doesn't have all of its funding in place. That's something worth keeping an eye on as this annexation moves forward over the next few months.

If you're relocating to Greenville and trying to understand how growth like this could affect where you buy, that's exactly the kind of thing my team and I can help you think through, whether you're buying your first home here or planning your next chapter. And if you're a homeowner inside this boundary line wondering how this could affect your home's value and cost of living, reach out and I'm happy to talk it through.

What exactly is being annexed on Woodruff Road?

Roughly 135 acres near I-385 and Smith Hines Road, about 87.46 acres of real property plus 47.6 acres of right-of-way, including the Merovan Business Center, Sam's Club, and retail spots like Chick-fil-A, Dave's Hot Chicken, Zaxby's, 7-Eleven, Discount Tire, and Shake Shack.

Has the annexation been finalized?

Not yet. City Council passed the first reading on August 24. South Carolina requires two readings before an annexation ordinance takes effect, so there's still another step before this becomes final.

What if I own property in the area but didn't sign the petition?

Your property can still be annexed if the process is approved. South Carolina's 75% method requires that property owners representing at least 75% of the parcels, and at least 75% of the assessed value, sign on, not every single owner.

Will my taxes go up if my property is annexed?

It depends on the property. Annexed properties pay both county and city taxes going forward, but you may also stop paying a county fire subdistrict tax and move to city fire and police service instead. Check your parcel specifically, especially if you own a business along this corridor.

Does this annexation approve a specific new store, hotel, or development?

No. The proposed zoning (Business General, Business Heavy, and Industrial Flex) could allow those kinds of uses down the road, but this vote only changes which government, city or county, makes those land-use decisions going forward.

How does this relate to the Woodruff Road traffic problems?

It's a related but separate issue. The Woodruff Road Congestion Relief Project, the long-delayed bypass meant to ease traffic on this stretch, has seen its cost grow from around $121 million to an estimated $277 million, and regional planners at GPATS are still working through a funding gap as of this August.

How can I stay updated on what happens next?

Watch the city's Planning and Development page and the City Council agenda portal. That's where the second reading will get posted once it's scheduled.

Woodruff Road is going to keep growing, whether that congestion project gets fully funded or not. The bigger thing to watch now is who gets control over how that growth happens.

If you own property near this corridor, or you're trying to make your next move while Greenville keeps changing, my team and I can help. Email us at [email protected], or call or text at (864) 688-9738. We're working with property owners through these kinds of decisions every week.

And if the headlines about Greenville home prices have you worried, that's worth a closer look too. The median price alone can give sellers the wrong picture, especially when downtown luxury condos get mixed into the same numbers as homes like yours.

As always, I'm Will Sawyer, your friend in real estate. Until next time, stay safe.