Divorce Attorney in Travelers Rest SC

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Pushback against the possible building of a luxury hotel on Paris Mountain was a top issue at Monday’s night city council meeting in Travelers Rest.

“Recently we’ve seen concerning actions including hostile social media posts targeting city officials and staff,” Brandy Amidon, mayor of Travelers Rest, said.

“Intimidation tactics will not influence our established procedures or benefit anyone’s calls,” she added.

Amidon opened city council’s meeting with a message to people in opposition to a potential resort-style hotel in the city.

“Many of these attacks have taken a city matter, that has appropriate protocol and opportunity for concerned citizens to speak to these matters, and made them personal,” she explained in her opening statement.

Amidon said the concerning messages were posted online.

“We had a meeting last week, and I haven’t heard one hostile word said to anybody. If you’re going to make accusations, you need to back it up and say what they did,” Jim Edge, a Travelers Rest resident, said.

“Even though the proposed development wasn’t on Monday night’s city council agenda, that didn’t stop a handful of people from showing up in ‘Save Paris Mountain’ attire to show their opposition against the project.

“We want to show some support for Paris Mountain, and let them know we’re against what they want to do,” Edge said.

So far, more than 8,000 people have signed a petition asking council members to block the building of the 150-room Inn at Altamont.

“I see the deer, the bear, everything like that, and we’re running them out of the natural habitat. And I’m not a tree hugger, don’t take me wrong, but where are they gonna go? What are they gonna do?” Edge added.

So far, developers with The Divine Group haven’t submitted an application with the city. When, and if, they do, Mayor Amidon assured residents there will be an in-person meeting for people to voice their concerns.

Developers told FOX Carolina they originally wanted to boost economic development by building luxury condos, but decided a hotel was a better fit for the community.

“When we got there we realized there was a greater impact to the community with a lot less development,” Kurt Patel, CEO and Founder of The Divine Group, said.

The project would also bring 20 acres of green space to the city.

Developers postponed a meeting with the community on Monday in order to accommodate a larger crowd.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Residents react to $60 million luxury hotel proposal on Paris Mountain

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GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Bringing luxury accommodations to Travelers Rest. A new hotel is in the works on the slopes of Paris Mountain.

The Divine Group hopes to reimagine Travelers Rest’s lodging history with the $60 million Inn at Altamont. Which will feature a 360 degree view of the mountainside and downtown Greenville.

“We were drawn originally by the idea of potentially doing some high end luxury condos or a luxury for rent apartment development, but then we got there we realized that there is a potential for a greater impact to the community with a lot less development,” said Krut Patel, the CEO and Founder of The Divine Group.

The plan is for a 150-room, 4 story hotel boasting a grand ballroom, event lawn, rooftop bar, pool and spa. Patel says the plan is to open in 2030.

“We have no place where we can host a large event and be able to dine and be able to lodge while all of your guests are in one spot. so I think weddings, think business conventions,” he said.

Officials say the project will be the largest development in city history. With that—the developer hopes to also bring economic impact for downtown businesses. plus 20 acres of land preserved as greenspace for the city.

Developers will request annexation and rezoning. The community is already reacting.

“I’m all for, you know, responsible growth and what that looks like in small towns and how that can provide jobs and tourism money etcetera, etcetera. but this caliber of project is huge,” said Halli Mullins, a Travelers Rest resident.

Some worry about added traffic, wildlife and land loss—so much so a petition is gaining traction.

“It’s quiet, it’s quaint, and everyone here wants to protect that. So I feel like that goes directly against the kind of values that we hold here,” she said.

Others say they’re happy to see something other than housing.

“The tax revenue you get from a $60 million project like that is considerably more than what you get from a housing development without any strain on the services. so it’s just a win for the community,” said Travelers Rest resident Jacob Peabody.

Before they officially submit the project to the city for approval, developers want to hear your thoughts. There will be a public information meeting Monday February 10th at the Younts Conference Center at Furman from 6 p-m to 8 p-m.

For more information on the hotel, click here.

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A petition opposing a proposal to build a $60 million hotel on Paris Mountain associated with Marriott Hotels has garnered more than 4,000 signatures in a few days, with many people lamenting the changes it would bring to Travelers Rest and the surrounding mountain area.

The Divine Group of Greenville wants to build a 150-room hotel called the Inn at Altamont. The plans called for a ballroom and event lawn for large events, farm-to-table dining, a resort-style pool and spa, and upscale bars.

Altamont is the name of the road that leads from Greenville to Paris Mountain and beyond, a curvy thoroughfare that many bicyclists use for training.

The company has not yet filed its request to annex and rezone the 40 acre site into the city of Travelers Rest. They expect to in March. A public hearing will be required as well as approval by the city’s Planning Commission before going to Travelers Rest City Council.

The petition on change.org is addressed to the Travelers Rest City Council and the developers.

“The proposed large-scale resort threatens to irreversibly change the very essence of what makes our town special,” the petition states. “Paris Mountain is more than just land — it is a treasured landmark rich in history, a place of peace and serenity, and an escape for residents and visitors alike.”

The petition says the area is a place for families and outdoor enthusiasts who have shaped Travelers Rest’s identity. The petition also cites Eugenia Duke, who sold sandwiches to soldiers on Paris Mountain before starting her iconic company making Duke’s Mayonnaise.

“Bringing a corporate-backed resort to this sacred space will not only disrupt the landscape but will alter the town’s identity and character,” the petition says. “A development of this magnitude will increase traffic, raise property costs, and push out the small, locally owned businesses that make Travelers Rest unique.”

Casey Cooperman, who started the petition, said people are also concerned about drivers leaving wedding receptions and other events after drinking alcohol and driving on the mountain road.

“At night, you can see all the stars. No lights,” she said.

Lights from the hotel would change that.

Paris Mountain is a natural landmark, a beacon., she said.

When she started the petition, she hoped for 200 signatures. To see the response in just a few days has been encouraging.

The development, she said, looks amazing.

“I would love to go there. I just think it doesn’t belong there,” she said.

A woman on the change.org site said, “As someone who has lived in TR for 30 years, I can absolutely appreciate some of the positive changes that come alongside growth. But this is quite frankly despicable.”

Krut Patel, chief executive officer of Divine, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.