Historically, a successful community emerges due to the interaction among its community members, creating a “convivial” experience, such as those found in the ancient Greek and Roman “agora.” The agora, or a place of assembly or marketplace, became the political, commercial, administrative, and social heart of the city. Medieval and Renaissance cities found cathedral squares, civic squares and marketplaces to keep their community members close. Town squares, commons and main streets of early American establishments served as the center of community life.

In his book, City: Rediscovering the Center, William Whyte stresses the need to “return to the agora,” to get our communities back together. Open spaces located near people’s homes create an atmosphere of fellowship among the community members and improve the overall city environment. Dominated by the automobile, the last century saw American communities spread across the countryside. Villagio Verde, because of its proximate location and natural elevation, allows us to seize the opportunity to create our agora for midtown Greenville.

Villaggio Verde plans an Upper and Lower Piazza and to preserve green space as a Village Park. We believe that creating various open spaces surrounded by residences, shops and commerce will promote positive community relationships. Just like the agoras in ancient Athens, Villaggio Verde strives for “centrality, concentration and mixture.”

In keeping with the idea of common open space, Villaggio Verde has planned several means of promoting the agora.

Italian / American Commercial Exchange Program – partnering Italian and American shop owners charged with creating a true Italian village atmosphere and commerce.

Beautiful Italian Gardens and Landscape – this includes a portion of the six-acre tract’s naturally wooded green space.

Walkable streets – Villaggio Verde will design and build an infrastructure that will allow residents and visitors to enjoy a lifestyle created around walking rather than driving.

Upper and Lower Piazzas connected by a bridge – surrounded by shops, offices, and residential buildings, these piazzas offer a place to relax with a view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and the city of Greenville during the day and spectacular sunsets over the city at night.

Elimination of suburban-style parking lots – most parking will be hidden under buildings to lessen the amount of traffic along the streets and residential areas.

The city’s support - as Mayor Knox White stated, “Villaggio Verde is one of the most exciting and thoughtful planned developments we have approved in a long time.”