Closed Paw’s Diner in Seneca will soon be surrounded by more Clemson student housing (2024)

SENECA— A 488-bedroom student housing development is headed to eastern Oconee County, just a quarter-mile from Hartwell Village and on the doorstep of the beloved Paw’s Diner.

When Paw’s Diner announced in mid-June it was closing indefinitely, developer Brent Little said he was just as shocked to hear the news as his firm had spent two years working “very hard” to preserve the diner while planning surrounding housing.

Paw’s hasn't responded to The Post and Courier's requests for comment.

Texas-based Fountain Residential Partners, the developers of nearby Dockside in Clemson, plans to start construction on Hartwell Ridge this summer so that residents can move in for the fall 2026 semester.

The 168 units on Clemson Boulevard will be a mix of efficiency, one-, two-, four- and five-bedroom apartments set up in a two-story townhome style.

FRP has successfully used this style at the University of Houston, according to the initial proposal.

Little initially sought a fee-in-lieu of agreement with the county, as the area currently has no sewer service – a fact that has significantly slowed growth between Seneca and Clemson.

The land is in a control-free zoning district, meaning the development could go forward regardless of council’s vote, though developers would have been able to offset some of the initial infrastructure costs.

After the council unanimously turned down “Project Greenpaw” in April 2023 while decrying student housing expansion in Oconee County, Little secured an agreement with the Oconee Joint Regional Sewer Authority in March 2024 to incentivize Hartwell Ridge.

Rather than paying impact fees, FRP is paying close to $4 million to install force-main sewer lines and an oversized pump station required to serve the area. These lines will create additional capacity for future sewer authority projects as well, OJRSA Executive Director Chris Eleazar told the board in March.

The agreement with OJSRA mentions up to two FRP projects, including the “Paw’s Diner Project” and a “Greenfield/TDC” project. Greenfield Industries sits a quarter-mile west of Hartwell Ridge, and beside it is an empty 40-acre parcel.

What does more student housing mean for traffic on Highway 123?

With approximately 30,000 drivers passing by the future Hartwell Ridge every day, some road improvements are coming along with the project.

A designated left-turn lane headed west will give access to both Paw’s Diner the apartments from Clemson Boulevard. Another curb cut will be eliminated and a shared access will be created for the two smaller outparcels expected to be restaurants.

Hartwell Ridge is bordered on two sides by Clemson University property. To its south sits the Ravenel Campus, one area the university has identified for future growth and pedestrian connectivity.

The two U-shaped apartment buildings will each be four floors, situated on either side of Paw’s with parking in the rear. With 8 acres over three parcels, Hartwell Ridge has two smaller buildings along U.S. Highway 123 currently designated as a coffee shop and restaurant.

Both buildings have a pool and come furnished with queen-sized beds and walk-in closets. “Luxury” apartments will have granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a 65-inch TV and full-sized laundry machines.