Spartanburg City News

Latest Episodes:

Spartanburg Soaring returns to Barnet Park, April 13 Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

It's an event that grows in popuarity each year, and on April 13, Spartanburg Soairing 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 Coordinator with Chapman Cultural Center, about the festival. Along the way we also talk about the return of the organization's Downtown Programming series, which brings musicians and performers to the streets of Downtown Spartanburg every Wednesday–Saturday during the warmer months.

Discussing 142 Social and the downtown development landscape with Andrew Babb Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

It's the latest and by far the largest development along Magnolia Street, creating new residential and commercial space from the bones of a long-vacant former Social Security building and adding two floors in the process. 142 Social is the latest renovation project to add to Downtown Spartanburg's residential and commercial boom, bringing an additional 18 apartments and more than 7,500 square feet of retail space to our downtown core. Today on the podcast, we're talking with developer Andrew Babb about the project, and we're getting his perspective on this historic period of growth and development in Downtown Spartanburg.

FoodShare Spartanburg providing new affordable produce option on Spartanburg's Northside Mar 13, 2019

Show notes

A 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 says that all of its boxes include no markup for the customer and the cost is $15 per box, or only $5 if using SNAP benefits. FoodShare Spartanburg sources produce locally as harvest season allows, helping both the local farmer and the local economy. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Tonja Smith, Executive Director of Spartanburg Urban Mission about FoodShare Spartanburg.

CycleBar set to open Downtown Spartanburg location this spring Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

One 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. Listen below and be sure to check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for more information.

Highland community leaders share hopes for neighborhood's future Feb 27, 2019

Show notes

Plenty of people in Spartanburg believe they know the story of our city's Highland community. Long one of the most challenging areas of intergenerational poverty Spartanburg County, the struggles of Highland and its residents are seemingly well-known by locals but most often completely misunderstood. Lost in the decades-old local narrative of crime and poverty are the stories of the people who call Highland home, who love their community and work every day to see it thrive. The story of Highland that we don't often hear is one of community cohesion, of neighbors coming together in fellowship and in support of each other in times of need, and of a fiercely proud neighborhood that rightly views itself as vital to Spartanburg's future. The fuller picture of what really happened in Highland during the 20th century is also lost in that well-worn local narrative, a story of longterm, systemic racism, the thoughtlessness of paternalistic local government officials, and the heavy-handedness of misguided federal Urban Renewal programs working in tandem to cut the neighborhood off at the knees for generations. It is a story not uncommon in cities all over America, and one that our city must reckon with. Today on part two of our podcast with community leaders in Highland, we're delving into that background as the City and the community begin to move forward on a master planning process to create a holistic blueprint for Highland's future, covering everything from housing and transportation, to education and job training programs. Highland Neighborhood Association President Leroy Jeter, Community Outreach Advocate Wilma Moore, and Bethlehem Center Director Patrena Mims join us to share the real story of a resilient community poised to see its next chapter unfold.

Highland leaders reflect on neighborhood history, community resiliency Feb 22, 2019

Show notes

Plenty of people in Spartanburg's believe they know the story of our city's Highland community. Long one of the most challenging areas of intergenerational poverty Spartanburg County, the struggles of Highland and its residents are seemingly well-known by locals but most often completely misunderstood. Lost in the decades-old local narrative of crime and poverty are the stories of the people who call Highland home, who love their community and work every day to see it thrive. The story of Highland that we don't often hear is one of community cohesion, of neighbors coming together in fellowship and in support of each other in times of need, and of a fiercely proud neighborhood that rightly views itself as vital to Spartanburg's future. Also lost in that well-worn local narrative is the fuller picture of what really happened in Highland during the 20th century, how systemic, multi-generational racism, the thoughtlessness of paternalistic local government officials, and the heavy-handedness of misguided federal Urban Renewal programs cut Highland off at the knees for generations. It is a story not uncommon in cities all over America, and one that our city must reckon with. Today on part one of our podcast with community leaders in Highland we're delving into that background as the City and the community begin to move forward on a master planning process to create aholistic blueprint for Highland's future, covering everything from housing and transportation, to education and job training programs. Highland Neighborhood Association President Leroy Jeter, Community Outreach Advocate Wilma Moore, and Bethlehem Center Director Patrena Mims join us to share the real story of a resilient community poised and ready to see its next chapter unfold.

City streetscaping projects fuel Downtown Spartanburg growth Jan 30, 2019

Show notes

Back in 2013, Spartanburg City Council passed a plan to improve key streets in Downtown Spartanburg, widening sidewalks and enhancing the pedestrian experience in some of the areas that City Staff then believed would be keys to driving future growth and development in our urban core. So now, four-plus years after the plan was passed and after nearly all the proposed streetscaping projects have been completed, how did we do? With downtown's boom showing no signs of slowing down and with developments like the Aug Smith building renovation, Fr8yard, the Children's Museum of the Upstate, 142 Social, the Peddler, Farmer's Table, Miyako's/Bar 1884, and a slew of other openings and investment, we'd say the whole thing has been a pretty amazing success. Today on the podcast, we've got City Manager Chris Story on to tell us why the City believes in the idea of downtown streetscaping as both a way to improve the experience for downtown visitors but also as a means of fertilizing the soil for private investment.

Silver Hill neighborhood to bring new townhome, single-family construction to Downtown Spartanburg Jan 23, 2019

Show notes

Among 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 looking to call Downtown Spartanburg home.

HUB-BUB launches project to see 'home' through Spartanburg residents' eyes Jan 09, 2019

Show notes

Last 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 citizens in our area. From January to July, they will engage residents of Spartanburg county with an evolving series of prompts distributed through a diverse range of platforms—from social media to the Creative Placemaking Studios to a potential walking tour of Spartanburg—that focus on encouraging residents to envision the individual's notions of home as a space for defining their lived-experience in Spartanburg. In other words, this project seeks to answer to the question: How does one see home through your eyes? "A Mosaic Portrait of Spartanburg" will result in a gallery exhibition where all of the paintings will be on display and during which Ambrin and Marisa will give a talk about the project, their process, and the outcomes. By interweaving multiple narratives, this project will not only help foster empathy between community members, it will both refine and complicate our shared understanding of Spartanburg as home.

City Social Media contests to spotlight Downtown Spartanburg businesses in January & February Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

Are 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 bites all the way up to a staycation package that will completely blow away all your notions about how fancy a night in Downtown Spartanburg can be. Then in February we've got the first ever "Sparkies" Downtown Awards, which will give you the chance to weigh in on your favorites in 20 categories, featuring everything from best "grab & go" lunch spot to best piece of public art. How about that for a way to kick off 2019 in Downtown Spartanburg? Looking for more details on what to expect? Listen to our podcast below for more!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Spartanburg City News

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6