Spartanburg City News

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Taking a look back at 2018 in Spartanburg Dec 19, 2018

Show notes

As 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. Gregg Community Center, the launch of a new master planning process for the Highland neighborhood, and the City's decision to join the Government Alliance on Race and Equity. This week on the podcast, we're taking a look back at all of that and a lot more of what 2018 brought to Spartanburg and offer a peek at some of what the next year will hold for us. Listen below for more!

An overview of the Highland master planning process Dec 13, 2018

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It's one of the most concentrated areas of poverty in our City and has the lowest median income of any neighborhood in Spartanburg County, all of which makes Highland the ideal place for a City intent on improving the lives of its residents to do its most impactful work. On December 7, three finalist firms competing for the opportunity to craft a redevelopment master plan for Highland gave presentations to neighborhood residents gathered at the Thornton Center. The master planning process, still very much in its early stages, will ultimately lead to a holistic blueprint for Highland's future, covering everything from housing and transportation, to education and job training programs. So what is a neighborhood master plan exactly, and how will one be developed for Highland? Moreover, once that plan is developed, what options do the City, Highland, and other community stakeholders have in implementing what will surely be a mammoth undertaking to improve the lives of some of our most needy residents? Today on the podcast, we're talking with our Neighborhood Services Director, Martin Livingston and City Planner, Natalia Rosario to get the technical details and background to help us untangle this complex issue as we embark on this long term, transformational community development journey with Highland's residents.

'Underground Guide to Spartanburg' solves all your holiday weekend planning woes Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

Do 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 Press. 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 copy of the new Underground Guide from Hub City Bookshop (186 W Main St.) and check out their Instagram and Facebook pages to stay updated on the latest from Spartanburg's literary powerhouse.

Montgomery Bulding to host public tours during grand opening weekend, Dec. 7-8 Nov 14, 2018

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It's been nearly 20 months since our first podcast about the Montgomery Building redevelopment, and in the intervening time all of us who spend time in Downtown Spartanburg have watched our city's most iconic historic building slowly return to its 1920's glory. Now, after an incredibly extensive historic renovation, N Church Street is about to see something most of Spartanburg's residents have never seen, a 10-story bustling skyscraper that will serve as a crucial nexus of activity on downtown's northern end. A total of 63 apartments will occupy floors 4-10, with office space on floors two and three, and ground-floor retail space that is already slated to house a second downtown location for Little River Coffee Bar and a first Spartanburg location for the popular Greenville-based Sidewall Pizza. Recognizing the Montgomery Building's enormous importance to the Spartanburg community, developers James Bakker and Tom Finnegan of BF Spartanburg are inviting the public to come see the restored icon for themselves, with public tours planned as part of a grand opening weekend on December 7-8. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Tom and James to get some inside info on the renovation process, as well as their take on where the building fits into the Downtown Spartanburg redevelopment story. Listen below for more.

Downtown Spartanburg's planned six-story Cambria Hotel examined by City Design Review Board Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

A new six-story hotel planned for the southest corner of N Church and E St John streets got its first overview from the City's Design Review Board (DRB) on Tuesday. The proposed 119 room hotel includes a ground-floor restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, an outdoor pool, and a two-level parking deck. The board, citing the developer's plans to use nonconforming EFIS (exterior insulation and finish system) to clad the exterior of the hotel's upper floors, sent the project back to the developer for revision before preliminary approval will be granted. So what does that mean? What is EFIS and why would the DRB care about its use on a downtown building? Why regulate the form and materials used in downtown construction projects at all? Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about the new hotel project, the importance of the DRB process, and the other big downtown projects that were reviewed by the board at its last meeting. Listen below for more.

Spooky Spartanburg Halloween stories Oct 31, 2018

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Spartanburg 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!

City Manager Chris Story discusses his new role, aspirations for Spartanburg's future Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

He'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 larger Spartanburg community and discussing the biggest challenges he and the rest of our team will be tackling during his tenure. Listen below to learn more!

Up close and personal with new Spartanburg City Manager Chris Story Oct 17, 2018

Show notes

He'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 the wonk we've all gotten used to hearing break down those complex local issues over the years. Along the way we learn about Chris's early days in Spartanburg, his college experience at Wofford, and the path that led him to the leadership role he holds today. Listen below for more.

Proud Mary Theatre Company kicking off second season at West Main Artists Co-op, Oct. 26 Oct 11, 2018

Show notes

Whatever your taste in the arts, visual or musical, theatrical or literary, mainstream or alternative, Spartanburg has something for you. Today on the podcast, we're exploring a relatively new piece of the local arts puzzle, the Proud Mary Theatre Company. Based at the West Main Artists Co-op, the group is preparing to launch its second season with The Boys in the Band on Friday, October 26 at 8 p.m. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Sandy Staggs, Proud Mary's Artistic Director, about the upcoming season and about the organization's place in Spartanburg's arts scene. Listen below for more.

New Downtown Business Council set to hold first meeting, Oct. 15 Oct 03, 2018

Show notes

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Development Partnership has announced a new way for downtown business owners, employees, and residents to come together to learn, share information, and stay in the loop about the rapidly changing face of Downtown Spartanburg. The newly created Downtown Business Council is meant to offer a space for businesses and downtown stakeholders to share their perspectives and to hear information on the wide range of issues that impact those who work and live in Downtown Spartanburg. The group's first meeting is scheduled for October 15, 8:30 am–10 am at the SMC Studio space at the Aug Smith on Main building (174 E Main St.). Today on the podcast, we're talking with Jansen Tidmore, Executive Vice President of the Downtown Development Partnership about the new business council and an overview on data coming in from downtown pedestrian counters. What do we know about foot traffic along Main Street, and how can we use the data and the patterns they reveal to grow Downtown Spartanburg in a smarter way? Listen below to find out!

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