Shows
Spartanburg City NewsFire Chief Pierre Brewton reflects on his journey back to Spartanburg to lead departmentIt's been almost four months since City Fire Chief Pierre Brewton returned home to Spartanburg to lead the department where he first honed his skills as a firefighter. Returning after serving for four years as Fire Chief for the City of Albemarle, NC, Chief Brewton began his career with the City of Spartanburg in 1988, assigned to garbage collection in the Public Works Department. In 1994, he successfully transitioned to the Spartanburg Fire Department, rising through the ranks to eventually serve as Assistant Fire Chief, the highest-ranking minority member in Spartanburg Fire Department history. Chief Brewton was born and raised in the H...
2024-07-1139 minSpartanburg City NewsDiscussing the history of Spartanburg City HallFirst opening its doors in April of 1961, Spartanburg City Hall will soon be no more, making way for the construction of a new joint municipal government facility to be shared by the City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County. As the City says its final farewells to the current City Hall—likely the last building to ever carry the name—Dr. Phillip Stone, Archivist at Wofford College and Brad Steinecke, Assistant Director of Local History at Spartanburg County Public Libraries join us to discuss the history of that building and the various facilities the City of Spartanburg has used to do the...
2024-01-2446 minSpartanburg City NewsNext steps in bringing minor league baseball back to SpartanburgLocal baseball fans were so excited last month with the announcement that the Down East Wood Ducks would be moving to Spartanburg from their current home in Kinston, NC that they could practically smell the hot dogs. Once here, the team will play its games in the 3,500-seat centerpiece of a along S Daniel Morgan Ave., which in addition to the ballpark will feature tens of thousands of square feet of residential, office space, and retail. A lot of work is still yet to be done before the stands are filled for the first pitch of a minor league baseball ga...
2023-06-0731 min
First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg SermoncastFPC Spartanburg Confirmation Podcast | Ep. 2 - Holy Communion & HospitalityThe Youth Ministry of First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg presents a special podcast series, recapping the 2023 Youth Confirmation sessions.
Rev. John Daniel and Rev. Craig discuss the significance of the Lord’s Supper and how hospitality plays a role in what it means to be a Christian. Whose table is it? Is the bread and juice really Jesus? Is there more to sacrament then "remembrance?" Tap in for this new conversation!
2023-02-1030 min
First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg SermoncastFPC Spartanburg Confirmation Podcast | Ep. 1 - Baptism & The Holy SpiritThe Youth Ministry of First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg presents a special podcast series, recapping the 2023 Youth Confirmation sessions.
On today's episode, Rev. John Daniel and Rev. Craig discuss baptism and the Holy Spirit. Do you remember your baptism? What's a sacrament? How is the Holy Spirit God? Join us in this engaging conversation.
2023-02-0937 minSpartanburg City NewsDiscussing Downtown Spartanburg pedestrian spaces, midcentury to presentWhether you're getting in some steps at the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail or strolling through Morgan Square after dinner, it's fair to say there are more pedestrians moving in and around Downtown Spartanburg than at any point in living memory, and with historic levels of private development and accompanying new infrastructure showing no signs of abating in Spartanburg's urban core, the pedestrian experience in our city is changing rapidly. So how did we get here? What was downtown like back before concepts like "walkability" dominated the urbanist landscape? How did the national trend towards car-centered suburban development in the...
2022-08-251h 08Spartanburg City NewsDiscussing Spartanburg's planned joint City-County government complexIn April, both Spartanburg County Council and Spartanburg City Council approved the site of the current City Hall on W Broad Street for construction of a new joint city-county local government complex. Expected to be around 180,000 square-feet and to stand 4-6 stories, the building will serve as a replacement for both City Hall and the Spartanburg County Adminstration Building on N Church St. that also funds construction of the new Spartanburg County Judicial Center, the new facility will also feature an adjacent parking deck with around 500-600 spaces. Located one block from Morgan Square, the W Broad Street site beat o...
2022-06-0829 minSpartanburg City NewsProposed apartment project would be first affordable housing development in Downtown SpartanburgAt their last meeting, Spartanburg City Council gave approval to a property sale that could pave the way for Downtown Spartanburg's first-ever apartment development composed of entirely affordable units. Located adjacent to the Kennedy Street parking garage on the corner of Kennedy and S Converse streets, the 2.6 acre site will be sold to developer Blue Wall RE LLC for $4,500, well below market value, in the hopes that the developer will be able to secure state Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to construct the project's planned 55 units. If successful, the units would be leased to those making no more than 80 per...
2022-03-0322 minSpartanburg City News'Plan Spartanburg' to become nation's first citywide comprehensive plan with racial equity as guiding principle It's not the easiest route to satisfy a state requirement, but here at the City of Spartanburg, we don't shy away from big challenges and we're never afraid to be innovators. That's why when discussions around racial equity in our community were given new urgency on the heels of showing large racial disparities in practically every area of our residents' lives, our City Council and City Staff understood that in order to do our part to correct those imbalances, our City's most important guiding development document should reflect our commitment to ending those disparities and increasing racial equity for our re...
2020-10-1943 minSpartanburg City News'Lead-safe Spartanburg' program to assist residents in removing dangerous lead paint from older homesLate last year, the City was awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a new City initiative, "Lead-safe Spartanburg." Funding will be used to remove lead-based paint hazards and reduce other health hazards in the home for families with children under the age of 6 and safely improve the housing stock of pre-1978 homes in our community. Both owner-occupied and rental units in the city are elegible, and all applicants must meet the following requirements: Home must be located within the City of Spartanburg A Child under the age of 6 must reside or...
2020-04-2218 minSpartanburg City NewsDiscussing the tornado recovery effort in SpartanburgIt cut right through the heart of our city, and no one can ever remember seeing any weather event in Spartanburg quite like last Thursday's tornado. Carving a path through Spartanburg, from beyond the western edges of the city to our most eastern neighborhoods, the twister sowed chaos in our community and left behind debris and damage that will impact our residents' lives for weeks to come. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager, Chris Story about the City's response to the tornado, what teams were called into action, what each phase of the recovery process means for...
2020-02-1234 minSpartanburg City NewsLooking back on 10 years of public, private recreation investment in SpartanburgWith Spartanburg's explosive growth across every sector over the past decade, it's probably not surprising to anyone paying attention that the number and variety of ways for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and get active has also grown exponentially. Whether it's the City's $2.5 million neighborhood parks improvement plan that touched all corners of our City, or the addition of new parks at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport and Denny's Plaza, or the new Butterfly Branch Greenway on the Northside, or the public-private partnership led by Partners for Active Living that has seen more than $1.7 million i...
2020-01-2233 minSpartanburg City NewsLooking back on a decade of Spartanburg arts growthChange is seemingly everywhere you look in Spartanburg these days, from the historic levels of growth seen in our downtown, to the transformational community redevelopment seen in some of our city's most underserved areas, the energy that can be felt throughout our community is palpable. The arts are no exception to this incredible journey of change and growth. Today on our next #Spartanburg2020 podcast, we're talking with Chapman Cultural Center President and CEO Jennifer Evins about the amazing surge she's seen in Spartanburg's arts community and what that growth has meant for both local artists and for the community as...
2020-01-1543 minSpartanburg City NewsTaking a look back at the last decade in SpartanburgIt's become an annual holiday tradition on the City Podcast to take a look back at the previous year in Spartanburg, but with the 2010s winding down, this year we decided to dial that up a bit. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager, Chris Story about what we believe has been the most transformative decade in living memory. From the hundreds of millions invested in Downtown Spartanburg, to the combined public, private, and nonprofit efforts on our city's Northside, the city we had in 2010 was in an enormously different place from the one we call home today...
2019-12-1144 minSpartanburg City NewsHub City Press releases 'Above Spartanburg'It started as an Instagram account that burst onto the local scene late last year with some stunning aerial photos of Spartanburg. Right from the start though, it was clear that Above Spartanburg wasn't your typical drone photography page. The shots are taken with an artist's eye, with the lighting and the symmetry of each one clearly reflecting the amount of planning and forethought going into each one. That attention to detail wasn't lost on the folks at Hub City Press, and after admiring the new mystery Instagram account feed for a while, they decided to reach out to its cr...
2019-11-2035 minSpartanburg City NewsWalkability expert Jeff Speck to hold free event in Spartanburg, November 7Walkability. It's one of the keys to future prosperity in every city and has been a crucial lens to help focus downtown development in Spartanburg in recent years, and at a free event next month, area residents will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of walkability from the person who literally wrote the book on the topic. Walkability expert Jeff Speck will share his thoughts on creating a more walkable Spartanburg at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church on November 7 at 5:30 p.m. who advocates internationally for more walkable cities. As Director of Design at the National Endowment for the Ar...
2019-10-1631 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg Municipal Judge seeks to establish Homeless CourtFor those experiencing homelessness, even a minor criminal charge can have a major impact, leaving individuals trapped deeper in a cycle of poverty and addiction that becomes even more difficult to break. Spartanburg City Municipal Judge Erika McJimpsey has a plan to offer some of our community's most vulnerable members a different path by starting a homeless court in our city. Homeless courts were founded as an alternative legal process for homeless people, who come into contact with law enforcement more often, that centers on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. The idea is to connect a qualified person with service providers...
2019-08-2820 minSpartanburg City NewsUsing data to understand, shape Downtown Spartanburg growthIf you're a longtime City Podcast listener, you've heard us talk for years about the growing momentum in Downtown Spartanburg. Those of us who spend our working days and leisure-filled evenings walking Main Street have been noticing the increased company for a long time now, and even a cursory glance at the storefronts in our central business district would show you that this isn't the Downtown Spartanburg many of us remember from 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. The thing is, all that personal experience is just that, personal. Anecdotes from those of us who frequent downtown don't amount to much when t...
2019-07-3138 minSpartanburg City NewsNew colorful crosswalk murals to brighten Downtown Spartanburg, raise pedestrian visibilityPedestrians in Downtown Spartanburg will soon have a safer, more visible walk across some key intersections thanks to some planned for the intersections of Main St. and King St., Main St. and Spring St., and Main St. and Magnolia St. Each installation is being designed and painted by a different local artist or artist team with Michael Webster painting Main St. and King St., Matthew Donaldson painting Main St. and Spring St., and Frankie Page and Adrian Meadows painting Main St. and Magnolia St. The artists were chosen by a panel from the Spartanburg Downtown Cultural District Steering Committee made up...
2019-07-1734 minSpartanburg City NewsThe hottest Spartanburg summertime tips of 2019Another summer is upon us here in Spartanburg, and along with the usual complaints about the heat (a more longstanding Southern tradition you will not find) and the questions about where we're all going for vacation this year (somewhere cooler if you're a pragmatist, hotter if you're a masochist) conversations tend to come down to how best to the long days and humid nights we've got coming these next few months. Today on the podcast, we're helping all y'all out with that question with a rundown of the best ways to spend your summer in Spartanburg. From trails and splash p...
2019-06-1940 minSpartanburg City NewsTaking a look at the Spartanburg of 1919It started with a simple question posed in the Spartanburg Herald back in 1919: "Do you suppose it is possible for the world to be different a hundred years from now as our world of today is different from that of a hundred years ago?" A new library exhibit puts context around that question, with panels covering such diverse topics as race relations, downtown and neighborhood development, and how the closing of a World War I training camp on the the city's current westside led to a bear calling Morgan Square home for a time. Today on the podcast, we're talking...
2019-06-061h 04Spartanburg City NewsBarter Boat docked at Fr8yard in Downtown SpartanburgOne person's trash is another person's treasure, right? A traveling interactive art project with roots in Spartanburg is in Downtown Spartanburg through May 5 to test that theory. Barter Boat, a project of Radar Art, a group formed by former Hub-Bub Artists-in-Residence, Anna Abhau-Elliott, Robin Schwartzman, and Desiree Moore, is set up at Fr8yard and will be encouraging passers-by to trade whatever they have at hand for curated assemblages of objects previously bartered at the project's other stops throughout the country Today on the podcast, we're talking with Anna about Barter Boat, getting an idea of what potential participants can exp...
2019-04-2446 minSpartanburg City NewsHello Family initiative seeks to improve outcomes for Spartanburg's most vulnerableAt a recent City Council meeting, City Manager, Chris Story gave an overview of , a proposed collection of support systems that would seek to improve outcomes for young children and their families by providing a continuum of evidence-based services for all children born in the City of Spartanburg from prenatal care through age five. Designed to significantly improve child wellbeing, boost future prosperity, and provide quantifiable financial benefits to our community well in excess of its cost, Hello Family would bring a number of existing services in the city under one umbrella in order to link their efforts and produce ver...
2019-04-1743 minSpartanburg City NewsSeay House sheds light on lives of 19th century women in SpartanburgIt's the oldest home in the city limits of Spartanburg, and for for most in town, that's all they know about the Seay House—if they know anything at all. However, there's a lot more to this old farm house than meets the eye, and the is hoping that the home can shine a light on the stories of women and their lives in 19th century Spartanburg. Originally built by Kinsman Seay around 1831, the home was later owned his three unmarried daughters, Ruthy, Patsy and Sarah Seay. The sisters have a story that's unconventional for the period in Spartanburg, owning pro...
2019-04-1028 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg Soaring returns to Barnet Park, April 13It's an event that grows in popuarity each year, and on April 13, returns to Barnet Park in Downtown Spartanburg. The free international kite festival fills the sky with hundreds of colorful flying works of art and features live music, food trucks, and a makers market with wares from local artisans. The event also features a “rokkaku” kite battle, where teams battle to down the kites of other competitors. A City team will be competing this year, so come out and meet your humble podcast hosts (and cheer us on!). Today on the podcast, we're talking with Melanie Terry, Special Events Coordi...
2019-04-0320 minSpartanburg City NewsFoodShare Spartanburg providing new affordable produce option on Spartanburg's NorthsideA recent reorganization of Spartanburg Urban Mission CDC with Ruth’s Gleanings healthy food rescue—in partnership with FoodShare South Carolina in Columbia and funding from Mary Black Foundation—has created an innovative approach to tackling problems of access and affordability for healthy, fresh produce. Foodshare Spartanburg has recently launched its affordable bi-weekly produce box service targeting needy families in our area. Based on FoodShare South Carolina, which began in Columbia in 2015, the proven, evidence-based model provides families with fresh food boxes filled with around 12 varieties of top-quality fruits and vegetables, along with recipes and tips for their use. The group...
2019-03-1321 minSpartanburg City NewsCycleBar set to open Downtown Spartanburg location this springOne of the hottest new trends fitness trends in America is about to have a home in Downtown Spartanburg. CycleBar, a premium indoor cycling fitness center, plans to open this spring at 120 W. St. John St., near the newly opened, renovated Montgomery Building. Featuring premium amenities, stadium-style setting, and instructors that the company calls "equal parts DJ, drill sergeant, motivator, and friend" the high-energy boutique group fitness concept is set to add something entirely different to the gym landscape in Downtown Spartanburg. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Simone Mack-Orr, General Manager of CycleBar Spartanburg about the new concept. L...
2019-03-0715 minSpartanburg City NewsSilver Hill neighborhood to bring new townhome, single-family construction to Downtown SpartanburgAmong last year's dizzying number of fantastic Downtown Spartanburg announcements was a plan to create 28 new homes on a long-vacant parcel behind Barnet Park. Located next to another planned downtown residential project—Florida-based Forge Capital's 200-unit apartment complex—the Silver Hill development will feature 18 single-family homes and 18 townhomes on the long-vacant 4.5 acre parcel. Construction on the project is expected to start this spring. Today on the podcast, we're joined by Jennifer Evins, partner on the Silver Hill development and President of Chapman Cultural Center, about her first foray into the development world and what this new neighborhood will offer for those...
2019-01-2333 minSpartanburg City NewsHUB-BUB launches project to see 'home' through Spartanburg residents' eyesLast fall, we met HUB-BUB's latest pair of artists-in-residence, Ambrin Ling and Marisa Adesman and had a great conversation about the residency, Spartanburg, and what they planned to do with their time while here. Today on the podcast, we're here to find out how it's going so far and to get details on a wonderful new project they'll be working on during the remainder of their time in Spartanburg. Called “A Mosaic Portrait of Spartanburg,” the project will feature Ambrin and Marisa creating 200 small paintings for a single series portraying the many, diverse visions of home as contributed by individual citi...
2019-01-0927 minSpartanburg City NewsCity Social Media contests to spotlight Downtown Spartanburg businesses in January & FebruaryAre you a dedicated Dowtown Spartanburg visitor looking for a way beat those post-holiday winter doldrums? This week’s podcast is very much for you. For the first time ever on the podcast, we’ve got the entire City Communications Department team here to tell you about a pair of social media projects that might just make this January and February a bit more exciting. First in January, thanks to an overwhelming response from local businesses, we’ve got an entire month of daily giveaways featuring many of your favorite downtown hotspots, ranging from small gift cards for a few tastey...
2018-12-2127 minSpartanburg City NewsTaking a look back at 2018 in SpartanburgAs we head into the holidays and many of us prepare to enjoy family, friends, and fellowship, what better time to take a look back at 2018 in Spartanburg? It's a year that saw the completion of the largest historic renovation in Downtown Spartanburg's history, cap-stoning yet another year of unprecedented growth in our city center. It's a year that saw leadership changes for City Government, with two new City Council members and a new City Manager. It's a year when the City's commitment to equity and fairness received a vocal boost, with the groundbreaking of a new Dr. T.K...
2018-12-1943 minSpartanburg City News'Underground Guide to Spartanburg' solves all your holiday weekend planning woesDo you have relatives or friends coming to town this weekend? Looking for a way to show off the coolest unexpected treasures Spartanburg has to offer after everyone awakens from their annual turkey-induced coma? This week's podcast is for you! Today we're talking about the new edition of the Underground Guide to Spartanburg, published by our friends at . Hub City's founder and Director of Development, Betsy Teter and Assistant Press Director, Kate McMullen join us to give you the ideas you're looking for to be your family's Thanksgiving weekend hero. Listen below for more and be sure to grab a...
2018-11-2129 minSpartanburg City NewsSpooky Spartanburg Halloween storiesSpartanburg has been around for a long time (1787, 1789, or 1831...whatever date you choose, it's been a minute) long enough to have its fair share of creepy history and lore, perfect to explore on this Halloween edition of the City Podcast. We're talking with our friend Brad Steinecke, Spartanburg County Public Library Assistant Director of Local History, to hear some terrifying local tales. Happy Halloween!
2018-10-3138 minSpartanburg City NewsCity Manager Chris Story discusses his new role, aspirations for Spartanburg's futureHe's new to the job but definitely not new to Spartanburg and its people's aspirations and challenges. City Manager Chris Story is through his first couple of weeks on the job after Spartanburg City Council voted 7-0 to award him the position after the retirement of former City Manager Ed Memmott. Story had served as Assistant City Manager since 2009 and held the position of of Assistant County Administrator with Spartanburg County for nine years before that. Today on the podcast, we're diving deep with our new City Manager, getting his take on the role his leadership position plays in the l...
2018-10-2538 minSpartanburg City NewsUp close and personal with new Spartanburg City Manager Chris StoryHe's new to the job but definitely not new to Spartanburg and its people's aspirations and challenges. City Manager Chris Story is through his first couple of weeks on the job after Spartanburg City Council voted 7-0 to award him the position after the retirement of former City Manager Ed Memmott. Story had served as Assistant City Manager since 2009 and held the position of of Assistant County Administrator with Spartanburg County for nine years before that. Story is certainly no stranger to City Podcast listeners, but today, on part one of our conversation, we're getting to know the person behind...
2018-10-1723 minSpartanburg City NewsOutgoing City Manager, Ed Memmott reflects on 21 years in Spartanburg (part two)As you might imagine, in his 21 years serving in Spartanburg City Government, outgoing City Manager Ed Memmott has seen our city go through some drastic changes. Coming to the the City in 1997 to serve as Community Development Director, Memmott then served as Assistant City Manager for five years before becoming City Manager in 2009 and has overseen one of the most important development periods in Spartanburg's history. The list of projects speaks for itself. During his tenure, Ed Memmott led City efforts on the Advance America headquarters building, One Morgan Square, QS/1, Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, the University of South C...
2018-09-2641 minSpartanburg City NewsOutgoing Outgoing City Manager, Ed Memmott reflects on 21 years in Spartanburg (part one)As you might imagine, in his 21 years serving in Spartanburg City Government, outgoing City Manager Ed Memmott has seen our city go through some drastic changes. Coming to the the City in 1997 to serve as Community Development Director, Memmott then served as Assistant City Manager for five years before becoming City Manager in 2009 and has overseen one of the most important development periods in Spartanburg's history. The list of projects speaks for itself. During his tenure, Ed Memmott led City efforts on the Advance America headquarters building, One Morgan Square, QS/1, Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, the University of South...
2018-09-2047 minSpartanburg City NewsGetting to know new Spartanburg Philharmonic Music Director, Stefan SandersIt's an arts institution with a storied 90-year history in our community, and for the first time since 2005, there will be a music director at the helm of as they enter a new season. After a two-year search process that brought three guest conductors to Spartanburg, Stefan Sanders was named Music Director in March. Sanders comes to Spartanburg after five seasons as resident conductor of the Buffalo (New York) Philharmonic Orchestra. He also serves as Music Director for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina and Music Director for the Round Rock Symphony in Central Texas. He recently concluded a...
2018-08-2940 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg Little Theatre season to kickoff with 'The Little Mermaid,' September 7-23Their performances routinely sell out the theater at their Chapman Cultural Center homebase, and when it comes to community theater companies, Spartanburg Little Theatre is in a class by itself in the upstate. And taking a look at the performances scheduled in their , it's pretty easy to see why. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Spartanburg Little Theatre Executive Artistic Director, Jay Coffman about the local theater scene and the organization's place in our city's creative community.
2018-08-0931 minSpartanburg City NewsA Spartanburg County Courthouse history tourAs Spartanburg gets ready to construct the seventh courthouse in our 229-year history, we're sitting down with Spartanburg County Public Library Assistant Director of Local History, Brad Steinecke to talk about the previous six. What did each say about the community it served? How can looking back at these foundational civic structures, perhaps the most public of all public buildings, inform us about where we ought to be going? Listen below to hear us ruminate on those questions and for the deepest dive on local civic history you're likely to find anywhere.
2018-07-2644 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg Chamber's Terrance Hawes on equity, inclusiveness, and growing up on the NorthsideUnequal access to economic opportunities. It's an ugly truth that communities around the country confront (or don't confront) every day, and Spartanburg is no different. Inclusivity, equity, and diversity—principles that many in leadership positions throughout our community value today—have long been challenges for Spartanburg. Racial and class disparities create very real barriers to economic mobility for individuals and for entire communities, and the task of removing those barriers is an enormous and necessary undertaking for all of us who want to see Spartanburg thrive. is bringing his energy and perspective to that challenge. A Northside native and success stor...
2018-06-0630 minSpartanburg City NewsScrappy Shakespeare returns this summer to Downtown SpartanburgIf you ask us, Spartanburg punches far above its weight when it comes to creative talent. Sometimes that means being blown away by a local music performance at one of the dozens of venues downtown, sometimes it means hearing a reading from a local writer that you'll swear should be on the New York Times Bestseller List, and then sometimes it means seeing a performance put on by absurdly talented professional local actors who take it upon themselves to put on some extremely low-budget, high-engagement Shakespeare plays in the summer. In case that setup didn't give it away, this week's...
2018-05-3036 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg Methodist College opens downtown event spaceWe've spent a lot of time on the City Podcast over the years chronicling Downtown Spartanburg's rise. We've covered historic redevelopments, transformative new construction projects, new City streetscaping, restaurant and retail openings, and events that cater to our diverse, newly vibrant downtown crowds. Along the way, we've also tried our best to contextualize each of these pieces of the downtown redevelopment puzzle, showing as best we can the landscape Spartanburg's people are creating in our city's core. What's the cumulative effect of all that movement? Simple: Downtown Spartanburg is now the place where local institutions, organizations, businesses, and individuals want...
2018-05-2336 minSpartanburg City NewsChildren's Museum of the Upstate opening its doors in Downtown SpartanburgIt's been one of the most highly anticipated new Downtown Spartanburg developments since its announcement last year, and starting May 19, preschool-aged children from throughout our community will have a new space to call their own as . The new 6,000 square-foot museum features interactive exhibits geared towards children ages 5 and younger, all of which seek to inspire learning through play. All of those exhibits are exclusive to the Spartanburg museum, with some highlighting local landmarks as well as our region's plants and animals. The new museum plans to kick things off with a grand opening celebration on May 19, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. whic...
2018-05-1625 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg's biggest challenge and the principles guiding City Staff's response Walking through Downtown Spartanburg these days is a feast for the eyes. New buildings and renovated historic icons, new original upscale dining and nightlife options, and a corresponding level of activity that hasn't been seen in decades are the story of our city's core in 2018, and that level of growth and energy shows no signs of waning. The downtown boom isn't just something local bureaucrats push anymore. It's now a very evident reality celebrated daily by organizations and ordinary residents throughout Spartanburg County. But drive just a short distance from that new energy and excitement, and it becomes clear that th...
2018-04-2642 minSpartanburg City NewsHub City Hog Fest returns to Downtown Spartanburg, April 6–7After five years on the scene, it's managed to become one of the most anticipated annual events in downtown Spartanburg with the move to Morgan Square in 2015 further raising the bar, folks throughout Spartanburg are gearing up for the return of Hub City Hog Fest, April 6–7. With dozens of teams competing in three categories, opportunities to sample some of the smokey goodness will abound, and the event will feature plenty of delicious food vendors. The festival also features great live music on both Friday and Saturday, with Big Daddy Love featuring Shane Pruitt and The Trongone Band headlining respectively. For more...
2018-04-0414 minSpartanburg City NewsA history of Downtown Spartanburg, part 2This week on the City Podcast we've got part two of our conversation with two of the most knowledgeable local historians we know, Brad Steinecke, Assistant Director of Local History at the Spartanburg County Public Library and Phillip Stone, Archivist at Wofford College. We're taking this moment, at the end of one of the biggest years for development that Downtown Spartanburg has ever seen, to try to contextualize this current moment in our urban core's history by taking a look at how we got here, starting with the construction of Spartanburg's first county courthouse and ending with a discussion about...
2017-12-2854 minSpartanburg City NewsA history of Downtown Spartanburg, part 1As we're heading towards the end of another spectacular year of the biggest boom Downtown Spartanburg has experienced in anyone's memory, we thought this might be a good moment to get together with two of the most knowledgeable local historians we know, Brad Steineke, Assistant Director of Local History at the Spartanburg County Public Library and Phillip Stone, Archivist at Wofford College, to try to contextualize this current moment in our urban core's history by taking a look at how we got here, starting with the construction of Spartanburg's first county courthouse and running through to our present day. Of...
2017-12-2148 minSpartanburg City NewsWhat can we learn from examining Reconstruction-era violence in Spartanburg County?Last month, a local theater project, curated by Anna Abhau Elliott and Crystal Tennille Irby, highlighted one of Spartanburg's least understood historical periods, Reconstruction. is based on 1871 Congressional Joint Select Committee testimony of residents living in Spartanburg County who were terrorized by the Ku Klux Klan. For the project, interviews were adapted from the committee's report, part of a Federal investigation in which three Northern Congressmen interviewed freedmen, political organizers, white, black, rich, poor, town folks, and country folks throughout the South. Reconstruction in the Upstate was a bloody time when the Ku Klux Klan and other paramilitary groups terrorized Afri...
2017-11-3049 minSpartanburg City NewsHow potential federal tax changes could stifle Spartanburg developmentIt won't merit mention in national stories about proposed federal tax reform legislation that recently passed the House, but for folks in Spartanburg excited for historic redevelopments like the project and community enhancements like the Northside's , changes may be coming that would severely curtail similar projects in the future. A pair of tax credits that have been frequently used by to stimulate development in Spartanburg, the and the , would be eliminated under the version of the federal tax reform bill currently being considered. Underscoring the importance of using such credits to stimulate investment, Montgomery Building developer that Historic Tax Credits "bring the...
2017-11-2227 minSpartanburg City News'A Taste of Spartanburg' showcases local chefs and farmersWe've talked a lot about Spartanburg's emerging reputation as a foodie town on the podcast. Over the last few years, our local restaurant scene has taken off in ways few people would've imagined a decade ago, with new and exciting concepts opening with almost metronomic regularity. Against that backdrop, a book celebrating Spartanburg's food culture seems perfectly timed, and it's no surprise that the folks at Hub City Writers Project were plugged in enough to make that happen. is a celebration of Spartanburg's emerging foodie and farm culture, highlighting a mix of local food producers who uphold the upcountry small far...
2017-11-1615 minSpartanburg City NewsDetails on the planned 200-unit apartment development coming to downtown SpartanburgA challenging seven-acre lot behind the Chapman Cultural Center that had been vacant for years is slated to become home to the largest apartment development in downtown Spartanburg's history after with Forge Capital Partners, LLC of Tampa, Florida to construct a $30 million complex. Preliminary site plans show a mix of three and four-story buildings in the seven-building luxury complex, with a 300-space parking area centered between. Today on the podcast, Assistant City Manager Chris Story sits down to give us details on the development agreement, the proposed project, and where this transformative project fits in with the accelerating growth we've bee...
2017-10-2525 minSpartanburg City NewsUntitled Reconstruction Project coming to Spartanburg Downtown Library, Oct 20–22As it is in much of the South, Reconstruction is one of Spartanburg's least understood historical periods. A tumultuous time that is often glossed over, sandwiched between the Civil War and our area's well-covered industrialization and rise as a textile manufacturing powerhouse, Reconstruction in the Upstate was a bloody time when the Ku Klux Klan and other paramilitary groups terrorized African Americans through beatings, lynchings, and intimidation, all with the intent of stripping away political power and ensuring that recently freed former slaves would remain second-class citizens. Ultimately, the tactics were successful, helping to initiate an era of Jim Crow se...
2017-10-0534 minSpartanburg City NewsDiscussing next downtown steps with Spartanburg Chamber's Jansen TidmoreIt doesn't take long in conversation to figure out that Jansen Tidmore understands that downtown development has some pretty serious differences with other kinds of commercial development. "Downtowns are an emotional investment," he says, and the factors that go into creating a vibrant downtown that serves as a showcase for its city aren't often the sorts of things that fit neatly on a spreadsheet. Hired in May to serve as , Tidmore came to Spartanburg from Dothan, Alabama where he served as head of the city's Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Today on the podcast, we sit down with Tidmore to talk about h...
2017-08-2324 minSpartanburg City NewsAffordable housing, inclusionary zoning, and a look at Spartanburg's downtown housing landscapeA recent bill in the state General Assembly sponsored by Sen. Marlon Kimpson of Charleston that would allow cities to require a percentage of apartment units of any new development to be priced as affordable housing, with below market rate rents specifically targeting residents with incomes below 80 percent of the local median (around $42,000 per year for a family of four in Spartanburg). The bill is a response to the rapidly developing downtowns of South Carolina cities like Charleston and Greenville and their corresponding rapid growth in rental rates, and a in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal brought the issue local attention. So, is in...
2017-08-0333 minSpartanburg City NewsDiscussing the 'Spartanburg movement' with Betsy Neely SikmaIt's been just a little more than a month since Betsy Neely Sikma assumed her role at the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as Director of Entrepreneurial Development for the Economic Futures Group, but in that short time, but she's already managed to make a splash in Spartanburg, penning one of the most inspirational stories of a native daughter's return home in recent memory. Today on the podcast, we're sitting down with Sikma to hear more of her story and more about her important work with the Spartanburg Chamber.
2017-07-2735 minSpartanburg City NewsA year in Spartanburg with Hub-Bub Artist-in-Residence, Lydia SeeFor years now, artist-in-residency program has inarguably been, for many in our city, one of the Spartanburg's most beloved arts programs. Through the program, artists come to our city to work on their own projects and to embed themselves in our community, often leaving lasting positive impacts in their wake, with each year's artists helping Spartanburg to see itself from their fresh, and very often novel perspectives. While the impact this year's artist, Lydia See had on Spartanburg is undeniable, her 11-month residency was a bit different from what Hub-Bub had done in the past. For the first time, the res...
2017-07-1934 minSpartanburg City NewsLight bulb sculptures raise bar for public art in downtown SpartanburgIt's quickly become one of the most talked about public art projects around, putting the work of local and regional artists in the public eye in a unique and whimsical way. It would be a massive understatement to say that Lighten Up Spartanburg has been a success for in their goal to push visual art into the larger community beyond their walls at the Chapman Cultural Center. From the constant stream of folks around downtown taking pictures of the 28 bulbs to the tens of thousands of responses, the installations have received on social media, the buzz generated by this unique...
2017-05-3119 minSpartanburg City NewsOne Spartanburg launches five-year action plan to boost economic, cultural prosperityLast Tuesday at the Chapman Cultural Center, after more than a year of work and data gathering, including input for thousands of local residents, the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new strategic action plan. The ambitious plan seeks to move Spartanburg forward in eight key areas, affecting areas as wide-ranging as downtown economic development, improving educational attainment, poverty alleviation, and building a more cohesive sense of community. Announced at the event was the addition of Meagan Rethmeier as the new executive vice president of One Spartanburg and news that the Chamber has already raised $3.3 million of the $5.1 million go...
2017-01-3130 minSpartanburg City NewsLooking ahead to 2017 in SpartanburgWith a new hotel recently topped out and massive historical redevelopments announced for the Montgomery Building and former Aug W. Smith building, 2016 was one of the most exciting years in Spartanburg's history on the downtown development front, and with new restaurants like Pokéritto, Mezcal, and the new Miyako's space all well underway, 2017 is already a year full of promise for Downtown Spartanburg. Combine that with important progress expected on the Northside as well as our city's parks and outdoor recreation options, and it sounds like we've got the makings of a pretty interesting podcast, previewing what we know and s...
2016-12-2842 minSpartanburg City NewsPokérrito bringing new sushi concept to downtown SpartanburgThe restaurant announcements just keep coming in downtown Spartanburg, and at this past Monday's City Council meeting, another new concept got a big thumbs-up as Council approved a development agreement to bring . The concept, a fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese cuisines, has exploded in and is not only new to Spartanburg, but new to South Carolina, and brings new life to another long-vacant storefront in the city's central business district. Today on the podcast, we're talking restaurant momentum in downtown, as well as taking a look at the other action from .
2016-10-1335 minSpartanburg City NewsSeeing Spartanburg in a New Light art installations to be unveiled during National Night Out, October 4In October 2014, invited U.S. mayors to collaborate with artists and arts organizations to develop innovative projects that engage residents and attract visitors. In all, 237 cities submitted proposals, with Spartanburg joining three other cities around the country selected to receive up to $1 million for public art installations. Spartanburg's winning bold and innovative idea? , which will bring nine temporary art installations by internationally renowned light and digital media artist to 10 city neighborhoods From October 4 – April 1. The project is a partnership between the City of Spartanburg and ten city neighborhood associations, and is being led by . Seeing Spartanburg in a New Light bui...
2016-09-2823 minSpartanburg City News'Hub Crawl' mini art fair coming to downtown Spartanburg, Sept. 28It's our city's both literal and figurative centerpiece, a space with which practically everyone who lives in Spartanburg County is familiar. Serving as the home for recurring events like Jazz on the Square and Music on Main, Morgan Square has long been an ideal (and iconic) place for the community to come together to celebrate. Now, thanks to local arts organization Hub-Bub and their partners throughout Spartanburg, those opportunities are more abundant than ever. As part of their mission to "reimagine place," the group has launched a new initiative that will bring dozens of events of all types to the s...
2016-09-2127 minSpartanburg City NewsHub City Bites explores Spartanburg's growing restaurant sceneWith new restaurants opeing seemingly every week lately, it's probably safe to say that Spartanburg's restaurant scene is on an upswing, a . If the clockwork-esque opeings aren't enough to convince you though, maybe Spartanburg's new food blog, , can. The website provides reviews of local restaurants, as well as listings broken down by meal, type of cuisine, and feature. Today on the podcast, we're talking with the founder of Hub City Bites, Amanda Richardson. Be sure to check them out at the , as well as on , and .
2016-08-3114 minSpartanburg City NewsLooking at the Montgomery Building's place in downtown Spartanburg's historyIf you've heard any downtown Spartanburg news at all lately, you know that . On Monday, City Council passed a development agreement with developer James Bakker, a crucial procedural step that will allow Bakker to move forward with his plans to renovate the building to include 9,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground floor, 9,000 square feet of office space on the second floor, and 72 residential units on floors three through 10. Today on the podcast, we're diving in deep on the biggest historcial redevelopment in downtown Spartanburg's history with Brad Steineke, Local History Archivist with Spartanburg County Public Libraries, a...
2016-08-2629 minSpartanburg City NewsWhat does the Montgomery Building's redevelopment mean for downtown Spartanburg?It is perhaps Spartanburg's most iconic struture, a symbol of our history as a textile powerhouse, and a long-vacant, sometimes painful reminder of downtown's 20th century heyday. In many ways, and for many locals, the Montgomery Building has become a barometer for downtown progress. Bring back this beauty, the reasoning goes, and we'll know there really is sometihng to this whole "downtown revitltilization" thing. Yeah...there's something to it. At Monday's meeting, Spartanburg City Council approved first reading of a development agreement with developer James Bakker, a crucial procedural step that will allow Bakker to move forward with his plans t...
2016-08-2316 minSpartanburg City NewsTaking a look at Spartanburg's growing restaurant sceneFoodies in Spartanburg have never had it so good. New restaurants throughout the city have either opened or announced openings at a rate faster than anyone can seem to remember, and lunch lines out the door for new downtown hotspots are a daily downtown occurrence these days. The numbers back up what our eyes are saying as well. Hospitality Tax revenue, paid as a percentage of gross restaurant food sales, continues to climb at an ever increasing rate, with downtown restaurants, in particular, seeing even greater growth. The implication is clear. Those larger and larger crowds seen downtown recently are...
2016-08-1023 minSpartanburg City NewsWhat should Spartanburg learn from Chattanooga?A few months ago, the released a detailing the challenges and opportunities Spartanburg faces as our community evolves with the changing global economy. Underpinning that 48-page document, was a comparison between Spartanburg and several "peer communities." Among those is Chattanooga TN, a city that has become a poster-child for growth and smart development in our region. On the heels of the report, the Chamber organized a field trip to Chattanooga, inviting City and County leaders to join. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Spartanburg Chamber Board Chair Todd Horne about what Spartanburg can learn from Chattanooga...and maybe a...
2016-07-2724 minSpartanburg City NewsMagnolia Street improvements to support accelerating growth in downtown SpartanburgWalking down the western side of Magnolia Street will be a lot less claustraphobic pretty soon, as our latest streetscaping project is underway between Dunbar and W Saint John streets. The Magnolia Street project is the third of the City's $2.3 million streetscaping plan, passed by Council in 2014. Designed to improve storefront visibility, create additional public space, and significantly improve the street's pedestrian experience. Plans call for replacing and widening the sidewalk, as well as constructing four “sidewalk patios,” around 24 ft. wide and 42 ft. long, meant to serve as outdoor dining space. The project also includes changes to the street's landscaping, remo...
2016-06-2930 minSpartanburg City NewsSlide the City returns to downtown Spartanburg, Saturday, June 18Officially, summer hasn't actually arrived yet, but you'd have a hard time guessing that if you've spent anytime outdoors lately. Looking for a unique way to beat the heat this weekend? On Saturday, June 18 consider that heat beaten thanks to our friends at . , a one-day event offering the chance to slip and slide down a 1,000-foot section of Daniel Morgan Avenue in downtown Spartanburg, comes to town June 18, 10 a.m–6 p.m. Registration for the event is open now, so for what's sure to be the most fun way to get some hot weather weekend kicks in Spartanburg. Today on the...
2016-06-1515 minSpartanburg City NewsGet a bird's eye view of Spartanburg this Saturday at the Downtown Memorial AirportFor many, the Downtown Memorial Airport is likely one of those rarely visited gems, something most locals know exists but may not know much about. Looking for a chance to take a look around one of Spartanburg's lessor-known amenities, and maybe get a view from above while you're at it? Then you definitely don't want to miss Airport Fair at Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport on June 4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission and parking for the event are free. Airplane and helicopter rides around the city will be offered for $30, as well as rides on a military Huey or Cobra starting at ...
2016-06-0113 minSpartanburg City NewsDiscussing Spartanburg community assessment report with Chamber President, Allen SmithIt's been nearly two years since Allen Smith took the reins as President & CEO of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. A lot has happened at the Chamber since then, including a new marketing push and .
A lot has happened in the larger community as well, with downtown Spartanburg's accelerating redevelopment adding a new dimension to our county's economic story. Today, on part two of our converstaion with Smith, we take a look at the Chamber's recently released community assessment report. The 49-page document details Spartanburg's current economic postion among peer counties, highlighting some of the challenges and opportunites as our...
2016-04-0418 minSpartanburg City NewsA Conversation with Spartanburg Chamber President, Allen SmithIt's been nearly two years since Allen Smith took the reins as President & CEO of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. A lot has happened at the Chamber since then, including a new marketing push and . A lot has happened in the larger community as well, with downtown Spartanburg's accelerating redevelopment adding a new dimension to our county's economic story. Today, on part one of a two-part conversation, we talk with Smith about first coming to Spartanburg and the evolving role he sees the Chamber playing in our community.
2016-03-3119 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg momentum gets boost with District 7 building planOn Tuesday, voters in that will bring a host of facility improvements, including two new schools, a new elementary school to replace Houston and Chapman elementary schools and a new Spartanburg High School to be built on . The building plan referendum, which passed overwhelmingly with 63 percent of the vote, includes a 10-mill tax increase.
Today on the podcast, we're discussing what this newly approved plan means for the city. What might a new, prominently located high school facility mean both for potential new residents looking for a place within our community to call home, and what could this massive new...
2016-03-1720 minSpartanburg City NewsNew office development promises at least 250 jobs for Downtown SpartanburgAs a dedicated City Podcast listener, you've likely already heard that at their meeting earlier this week. We've already discussed one of those projects, a five-story mixed-use development featuring 30 apartment units and 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail space to be built on the corner of W Main Street and Daniel Morgan Avenue, on a podcast earlier this week. You should , because that development is going to be very cool, and you'll be cooler for knowing more about it.
Today, we're talking about the other portion of the Downtown Spartanburg development two-fer: a new office building, at least three stories ta...
2016-02-2526 minSpartanburg City NewsTaking a look back at 2015 in SpartanburgIt's New Year's Eve, a time to look back and reflect on the year that has been as it slips away forever into the past before thoughts turn to the year ahead. What better way to spend part of the last day of 2015 than to catch up on some of this year's highlights in Spartanburg. With announcements like a new 10-story downtown Marriott AC hotel and streetscaping projects that have increased vibrancy in two important downtown areas, 2015 was a big year for Downtown Spartanburg.
2015 also saw the completion of a that, in addition to upgrading park equipment in neighborhood parks th...
2015-12-3122 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg named winner of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health PrizeThe good news just keeps coming for Spartanburg. Yesterday, the the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health, . Spartanburg County is being recognized for leveraging its unique strengths and rallying community partners around a shared vision of health.
Efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in teen pregnancy rates in the county, a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization that is increasing affordable housing, education opportunities, and access to wellness services and healthy foods, increased access to healthcare and social services for low-income, uninsured residents in the county, and creative strategies to integrate behavioral health services into the c...
2015-10-2817 minSpartanburg City NewsHub City Brew Fest coming to Downtown Spartanburg, Saturday Oct. 24A lot has changed since moved their brewery to its then-new location inside the old Salvation Army building on the corner of W Main Street and Daniel Morgan Avenue in 2009. Not that long ago, watery macrobrews filled seemingly every tap in Downtown Spartanburg, but today the options for those thirsting for something a bit more flavorful have never been more abundant, and with our city's long-overdue second craft brewer, Hub City Tap House opening their doors last month, options for beer brewed right here in Downtown Spartanburg are growing too.
Any way you choose to look at it, the local craf...
2015-10-2117 minSpartanburg City News'Underground Guide to Spartanburg' highlights local hidden gemsFrom craft beer to acupuncture and smoothie stores to Russian groceries, the newly released Volume 2 of “The Underground Guide to Spartanburg” has the lowdown on plenty of unexpected treasures and trips inside Spartanburg County.
There are more than 60 new entries in this 112-page guidebook, published this week by Spartanburg’s . If you’re looking for late-night music, anti-gravity yoga, oddball yard art, LGBT-friendly clubs, bike trails or Patagonia gear, this guidebook is for you. Hub City Bookshop during the 5th anniversary of the businesses in the Masonic Temple.
Today on the podcast, we're talking with the Underground Guide's editor, Joe Mullinax abou...
2015-08-2016 minSpartanburg City NewsSolarize Spartanburg aims to encourage local homeowners to go solarPart of the Solarize South Carolina initiative, Solarize Spartanburg is a new initiative aimed at encouraging more local homeowners to install solar systems by taking advantage of recently approved statewide policy changes that will make the . Through a coordinated partnership with the City of Spartanburg and Upstate Forever, the city will earn a free solar system for one of its municipal buildings for every 60 households who go solar before December 15, 2015.
The group has scheduled an information session on August 27 at 6 p.m. at Upstate Forever's downtown office, . . Today on the pocast we're talking with Solarize South Carolina Community Outreach Coordinator, Ashle...
2015-08-1220 minSpartanburg City NewsPodcast: New hotel to change skyline in Downtown Spartanburg"When will we hear more details about the new hotel?" That's been one of the most frequently asked questions around town since in Downtown Spartanburg. Yesterday, Spartanburg-based OTO Development , and wowed a standing-room-only crowd at Indigo Hall in the process.
Details about the planned AC Hotel by Marriott show a project that is as impressive as it is ambitious. Investing more than $20 million in the project, OTO revealed that the hotel will tower 10 stories over downtown's western end, and will feature 110-120 guest rooms, a rooftop bar with an outdoor terrace, a signature restaurant, around 2000 sq.ft. of meeting space and...
2015-06-1619 minSpartanburg City NewsH & K Gallery set to open in Downtown Spartanburg Another business is set to open its doors in downtown Spartanburg as H & K Gallery is putting the finishing touches on its space at in Downtown Spartanburg for a grand opening on Thursday, May 21. The beautifully renovated space will feature one of the largest selections of Southern fine art pieces you're likely to find anywhere, and figures to be a prominent stop on Downtown Spartanburg's monthly art walk.
Today on the podcast, we're talking with H & K Gallery owner, Susan Kunkler about her business, and what she hopes it will add to the growing vibrancy of Downtown Spartanburg.
2015-05-1815 minSpartanburg City News'The Latest Thing in Spartanburg' celebrates all things localWith new murals adorning the walls of downtown businesses, sold-out performances at venues throughout the city, and seemingly more artists, musicians, and writers than ever before, it's pretty easy to see that Spartanburg's creative energy is on the rise lately. In fact, there's so much happening these days that it can be tough to keep track of it all. Thanks to some of those supremely talented locals, now there's a way to keep up with the latest goings-on around town...provided you can keep from falling out of your chair laughing.
"The Latest Thing in Spartanburg with Tim Giles" is a...
2015-05-0819 minSpartanburg City NewsHub City Hog Fest returns to Downtown Spartanburg, April 17–18The smell of delicious barbecue will be wafting through the air of Downtown Spartanburg again this weekend as returns for its third year. Featuring live music on Friday and Saturday, culminating with a performance from Grammy nominated bluegrass greats, headlining the show on Saturday night, the Hog Fest will also have food trucks on hand Friday, starting at 12 p.m. RJ Rockers will be there to ensure that plenty of local craft beer is available, and with food vendors, a chicken wing contest, and a homebrew contest to go along with the "main event" ribs and pulled pork contests, you can...
2015-04-1415 minSpartanburg City NewsWhat will a new hotel mean for Downtown Spartanburg?If you've been wrapped up in the winter weather madness gripping Spartanburg this week, you might've missed one of the most important downtown development stories to come along in recent memory as City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve an incentive agreement for a new upscale hotel development at the .
Local businessman George Dean Johnson Jr. and his Spartanburg-based hotel development company, OTO Development, plan to build a hotel that will include at least 100 rooms and represent at least an $20 million investment on the western edge of downtown. The announcment comes at a time when demand for lodging downtown is...
2015-02-2521 minSpartanburg City NewsHampton Heights home tour brings 'Spirit of Christmas Past' to SpartanburgIt's one of Spartanburg's most beautiful neighborhoods, a place where Victorian two-story homes mingle with Arts and Crafts bungalows under a canopy of mature trees. Head south for a couple of blocks from Morgan Square for a walk down the wide sidewalks of Spartanburg's first local historic district and it becomes immediately apparent why the people who live in are so passionate about their neighborhood.
This weekend, the rest of us get a chance to share a little of that passion as Hampton Heights hosts its "Spirit of Christmas Past" home tour on Saturday, December 6, 5—9 p.m. and Sunday, December 7, 2—5 p.m...
2014-12-0315 minSpartanburg City NewsHow seven 'Class A' office buildings changed the Downtown Spartanburg skylineIf you've been following our series on the so far, you might recall that our covered jobs, specifically the huge number of people who work in or near Downtown and what those jobs mean for our community. Today, we're going to examine how Spartanburg got a big chunk of those jobs.
Aside from fundamentally changing the skyline of Downtown Spartanburg, the seven "Class A" office buildings built since 2002 in our city have brought thousands of well-paying jobs to our downtown area. Those workers support our restaurants and small businesses. They take advantage of our cultural offerings. Many of them live in one...
2014-09-2420 minSpartanburg City NewsPodcast: Spend your Saturday in Downtown Spartanburg with Live on the Green, Downtown BitesThis Saturday, September 20 in Downtown Spartanburg promises to be one for the books with two fantastic events, and , featuring Bruce Hornsby, scheduled to dovetail nicely together.
First, sample food from 10 local restaurants and hear live music from five local bands at Downtown Bites, satarting at 12 p.m. on Morgan Square. After you've eaten your way around the square and gotten an afternoon sampler platter of live music to go with it, head on over to Barnet Park for Live on the Green, featuring renowned singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby.
Downtown Bites is free, and tickets for Live on the Green are $20 in adv...
2014-09-1617 minSpartanburg City News#1Spark! to bring together Spartanburg artists and entrepreneursWe can always count on our friends at the Chapman Cultural Center to come up with innovative ways to highlight all that Spartanburg's creative community has to offer, and a new event to be held in Downtown Spartanburg on September 6 () offers a new way to do just that. #1Spark! is a festival of ideas, bringing together two of the most important creative forces in our community, business and the arts. The goal is to "spark" innovation bringing local artists together with local entrepreneurs to help connect the dots between ideas and people.
Are you an entrepreneur or inventor looking for a...
2014-08-1214 minSpartanburg City NewsHundreds of new and renovated residential units add to economic power of Downtown Spartanburg
So far in our series on the economic power of Downtown Spartanburg, we've talked about a lot of the great things about our city's core that otherwise might fly a little under the radar at times. From the one block, to the , to the staggering number of people who , it's pretty clear that Downtown Spartanburg is on a historic upswing.
One of the best ways to gauge the truth of that statement is to ask a simple question: how many people choose to live in Downtown Spartanburg? As it turns out, a lot.
Sure, you may be asking, but how many un...
2014-08-0718 minSpartanburg City NewsSpartanburg Medical Center President Phil Feisal on the Northside InitiativeIn part one of our conversation with Spartanburg Medical Center President Phil Feisal, we talked about the hospital recently being named the , earning high performance rankings in nine specialty areas. Aside from the much-deserved notoriety the ranking brings to Spartanburg Regional, the report underscores how crucial Spartanburg Regional's position is in our community, serving not only as the city's largest employer but as an incredibly important resource for residents within our municipal borders and well beyond.
Part of the leadership role Spartanburg Regional plays involves their involvement in the Northside Initiative. Today, on part two of our podcast, we ask Feisal...
2014-08-0412 minSpartanburg City NewsConversation with Spartanburg Medical Center President, Phil FeisalIt's been an incredibly important part of our community for over 90 years, and recently Spartanburg Medical Center was named the , earning high performance rankings in nine specialty areas: cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology.
Not content to rest on those accomplishments, the hospital also , replacing the oldest building of the hospital complex to make the center easier to navigate.
Today on the podcast, we sit down with Spartanburg Medical Center President, Phil Feisal about those topics and crucial SRHC's position in the Spartanburg community.
2014-07-3125 minSpartanburg City News$2.3 Million in planned streetscaping to increase connectivity in Downtown Spartanburg
So far on in our series exploring the economic power of Downtown Spartanburg, we've talked about the economic importance of the area around Morgan Square, and spent some time discussing the large investments that have transformed one section of our city's downtown.
But what about the walk between those sections of Downtown? Isn't there something the City can do to make that experience simpler and more pleasant?
What about the family enjoying a walk down the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail only to get to the corner of Henry and Union streets and find the trail ending, and a daunting c...
2014-07-2324 minSpartanburg City NewsMarriott, Chapman Center, The George represent $110 million investment in Downtown Spartanburg
It's tough to miss the three anchor developments in Downtown Spartanburg's northernmost reaches. , the , and might not have all been built at the same time, but combined, these crucial pieces of Downtown Spartanburg's renewal represent an enormous investment. How enormous? Check out the infographic below:
Aside from being an enormous figure all by itself, the figure above barely scratches the surface. Additionally, the developments along that block provide jobs for educators, artists, hospitality workers, and others, helping to provide a customer base for other downtown businesses, and the success each of these major developments has enjoyed encourages new development, like the kin...
2014-07-1420 minSpartanburg City NewsCity News Podcast: How Downtown Spartanburg leads the way on jobsDo you work in or near Downtown Spartanburg? If you do, you're definitely not alone. It might not make headlines the way our county's industrial titans (justifiably) do when they announce an expansion, but thousands of people spend their workdays in and around Downtown Spartanburg. How many? Check out the infographic below to get a little perspective.
Pretty impressive, right? And it's not just the numbers; it's the economic diversity. Many folks in the private sector such as attorneys, accountants, and executives spend their days working within a stone’s throw of artists, educators, nonprofit, and public sector workers. Employees and b...
2014-07-0722 minSpartanburg City NewsArts Roundup Podcast: Go fly a kite with Spartanburg Soaring!It's perhaps one of the most enduring images of childhood. Mention kite flying to just about any adult and you'll see a nostalgic gleam in the eyes as images straight out of Norman Rockwell painting fill the imagination. For the briefest of moments, we're all just kids again, hoping for a nice breeze. Wouldn't it be great to spend a sunny afternoon just flying a kite again?
Thanks to the Chapman Cultural Center, the City of Spartanburg, and more than 20 other partners and sponsors, you can. is a community-wide initiative being held through April to build civic pride with a...
2014-02-0415 minSpartanburg City NewsCity News Podcast: Discussing the Spartanburg Academic Movement with Executive Director John StockwellThe are pretty clear, and for Spartanburg Academic Movement Executive Director, Dr. John Stockwell, those statistics mean that Spartanburg has work to do.
As of 2008, , a figure that puts our community below both the state and national average. Tackling that problem takes a renewed focus on educational achievement at all levels, "from "cradle to career" as the new Spartanburg Academic Movement puts it. Today on the Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Stockwell to talk about some of the ways our community can tackle that challenge. Listen to our full conversation below.
2013-12-2327 minSpartanburg City NewsCity News Podcast: Spartanburg Community College Downtown Campus exceeds enrollment expectationsIt has been a while since we had Assistant City Manager Chris Story on the podcast, and this week we rectify that situation. On the agenda is news that Spartanburg Community College recently opened their downtown campus and has already exceeded its expected enrollment with around 750 new students taking classes in their freshly renovated historic location. What does it mean to have hundreds of new college students in Downtown Spartanburg? How does that expand on Spartanburg's position as a "college town," with institutions of higher learning seeminly around every corner of our city?
Along the way we talk about the g...
2013-10-1022 minSpartanburg City NewsCity News Podcast: WOLI rolls into Spartanburg, August 14It might just be the coolest thing to ever come completely out of left field in Downtown Spartanburg's history. Yes, the rumors (and the slightly incorrect piece in the local newspaper) are true. Thanks to the generosity of a private donor, for 12 days starting August 14, a 90 ft. ferris wheel named WOLI (Wheel of Lights and Illuminations) will dominate the Morgan Square skyline from its position along Spring Street in front of the clock tower ().
Standing 20 feet taller than the clock tower, and festooned with enough lights to throw off an owl's circadian rhythm, WOLI spends most of the year at s...
2013-08-0813 minSpartanburg City NewsCity News Podcast: Spartanburg Metro Area Trails & Greenways PlanWouldn't it be great if the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail connected to Downtown? It's , and now there may be an answer to that and many other questions Spartanburg residents have about creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation, while expanding on our existing options.
Last week, a broad group of community stakeholders the first draft of an exciting plan to more than double the number of miles in the Spartanburg metro area dedicated to trails and greenways. After studying an area that runs north to south from Boiling Springs to Old Canaan Road, and west to east from Interstate 26 to the...
2012-12-0322 min