Spartanburg City News

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City Roundtable Podcast: Schuyler building renovation adds to Downtown momentum Jun 20, 2013

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Impossible to miss on the drive up South Church Street into Downtown, the 13-story Schuyler Apartment builidng has been a fixture in the Spartanburg skyline since 1950. Now, thanks to a massive renovation effort, a building that was originally constructed to provide housing for a post-World War II boom will get another chance to serve the same purpose for a rapidly redeveloping Downtown Spartanburg. Where does the Schuyler building renovation fit into the big picture? With new businesses opening and new announcements coming seemingly every week at times, how far are we from that "tipping point" Downtown Spartanburg boosters have talked about for so long? Today on the podcast, we sit down with Hub-Bub Executive Director and City Council member Cate Ryba and Hub-Bub Showroom Director Stephen Long to have a little discussion on everyone's favorite topic. Listen and enjoy!

City News Podcast: The 2014 City Budget Explained Jun 12, 2013

Show notes

June. Temperatures soar. Vacations are taken. Children roam free and unencumbered by school, books, and teacher's dirty looks. And of course, no June would be complete without...a new City budget. Today on the podcast, we break down that most wonkish of all City documents, the fiscal year 2014 budget. You'll learn what fancy terms like property reassessment actually mean, and how that process (which takes place every five years in our state) affects your tax rate. You'll also learn what a property tax millage rate is, and how it's calculated. Most importantly, if we've done our job with this podcast, you'll learn a little about the budget itself, and about the "why" behind what your City Government does with your tax dollars. If you have any questions regarding the budget, or points you'd like to have clarified, please feel free to contact City Communications Manager Will Rothschild by phone at (864) 596-2491 or by email at wrothschild@cityofspartanburg.org.

City News Podcast: Breaking down the City's new 15-year agreement with Spartanburg Water Jun 05, 2013

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As many of you have heard, the City and the Commission of Public Works reached an agreement earlier this week to continue the transfer payment to the City through 2028. The agreement, which is expected to be approved by both bodies based on staff recommendation, will: ° Provide for the transfer of $1.2 million to City Council in FY 2014, $1.1 million in FY 2015, and $1 million in FYs 2016-2018. Starting in FY 2019 and continuing through the end of the agreement in FY 2028, the $1 million transfer payment will be adjusted annually by the consumer price index, up to a maximum of 4.5 percent over any 2-year period. ° Require new or redeveloped commercial properties located within one mile of the City’s corporate limits and that receive new or expanded water lines to sign an annexation agreement. Today on the podcast, we sit down with Assistant City Manager Chris Story to get his take on the new agreement. What does all of this mean for you as a city resident? Listen to find out?

City News Podcast: Main Street Challenge Winner, Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. May 30, 2013

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Last week, we announced the three winners of our Main Street Challenge to a packed house at The Showroom. The Local Hiker, Haute Mama, and Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. will all be coming to Downtown Spartanburg later this year. Thanks to their amazing business plans and unique concepts, and no small measure of hard work to win over the judges, each of these great new businesses will be receiving $12,000 in rent assistance for their first year of operation, as well as thousands of dollars of in-kind services from other businesses in the area. Today on the podcast, we sit down with members of the Motte family to talk about the family-owned micro-distillery they plan to bring to Downtown Spartanburg. When will you be able to pick up some delicious libations distilled right in here in our City? Listen to the podcast to find out.

City News Podcast: Main Street Challenge Winner, Haute Mama May 28, 2013

Show notes

Last week, we announced the three winners of our Main Street Challenge to a packed house at The Showroom. The Local Hiker, Haute Mama, and Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. will all be coming to Downtown Spartanburg later this year. Thanks to their amazing business plans and unique concepts, and no small measure of hard work to win over the judges, each of these great new businesses will be receiving $12,000 in rent assistance for their first year of operation, as well as thousands of dollars of in-kind services from other businesses in the area. On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Sara McLean Riddle, owner of maternity specialty store, Haute Mama to learn about this great soon-to-be addition to East Main Street. What will Haute Mama offer for expectant mothers in Spartanburg that the big boxes just can't match? Listen to the podcast to find out.

City News Podcast: Main Street Challenge Winner, The Local Hiker May 23, 2013

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In case you missed the news, the three winners of our Main Street Challenge were announced last night to a packed house at The Showroom. The Local Hiker, Haute Mama, and Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. will all be coming to Downtown Spartanburg later this year. Thanks to their amazing business plans, and no small measure of hard work to win over the judges, each of these great new businesses will be receiving $12,000 in rent assistance for their first year of operation, as well as thousands of dollars of in-kind services from other businesses in the area. On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Michael & Kathy Silverman, owners of The Local Hiker to get the skinny on their plans to bring a new specialty hiking and backpacking store to East Main Street. When might you be able to walk inside and buy yourself that new backpack you've been wanting? Listen below and find out.

City News Podcast: Main Street Challenge Finalists bring the buzz to Downtown May 13, 2013

Show notes

This week on the podcast, we're talking about what most everybody in Downtown Spartanburg is talking about these days: the Main Street Challenge. Last week, after our selection committee had whittled down the original pool of nearly 60 applicants, we announced the seven finalists for this unique competition to bring three new businesses to Main Street. To put it plainly, we (being Spartanburg-boosting dorks) are giddy about the great concepts these potential entrepreneurs have brought to the table, and if there's one disappointment, it's that in the end, there can be only three winners. And that's where things get even more exciting, with the seven finalists set to make their final pitches to the judges at a public event being held at The Showroom on May 22 at 6:30 p.m., after which the final winners will be announced. Tickets for the "Main Event" are $5 and are on sale now. You can buy them online by following this link, or at The Showroom on the night of the event (click here for directions). Proceeds from the sale will go to the crowd favorite to be picked at the event.

City News Podcast: An in-depth discussion on the City's dispute with Spartanburg Water May 06, 2013

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If you've been staying up to date on Spartanburg city news lately, you've probably heard at least something about the the dispute between Spartanburg Water and the City over the $1.4 million annual dividend payment made by the city resident-owned utility (if not, follow this link to learn more). Discussions have continued, and while progress has been made, a resolution to the dispute still hasn't been reached. Ahead of public forums being held this Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Academy of Leadership, and Thursday at 7 p.m. at Woodland Heights Elementary, we sat down with Assistant City Manager Chris Story to get the latest on this very important issue, and how it affects you. At the forums, City Council members and staff will be on hand to answer questions and hear residents' concerns. So give a listen to the podcast, and come out to one of the public forums and let your voice be heard.

City Roundtable Podcast: "NASCAR on two wheels" coming to Downtown Spartanburg, May 3 Apr 25, 2013

Show notes

There are cycling races, and then there's "The Crit." On Friday, May 3 cyclists will race around a half-mile loop of Downtown at speeds fast enough to literally make your head spin as you try to keep up with the action in the Spartanburg Regional Classic. If you've never seen this exciting event, you've been missing out. This week on the podcast our special guest Anne Piacentino from Partners for Active Living joins us to talk a little about what you might've been missing, and to give us the rundown on what else is going on in Spartanburg on the pedal-powered front for May, which is National Bike Month.

City Roundtable Podcast: New Active Living Options in Spartanburg for Kids and Adults Apr 18, 2013

Show notes

New B-Cycle Stations at Wofford and Converse Colleges. Joint agreements allowing the public to use school playgrounds in the City. Spring is here, and the options for getting outside just keep growing. This week on the roundtable with Hub-Bub Executive Director Cate Ryba and Showroom Director Stephen Long, we talk active living in Spartanburg, and look forward to some great events coming up for Bike Month in May. Listen and enjoy!

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