Spartanburg City News

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Northside rising: Laying the groundwork for a community-led neighborhood master plan Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

Nowhere in any community redevelopment expert's notes will you find "bring a medial college to your neighborhood" listed as a strategy to spur a holisic rethinking of an area plagued for decades by depopulation, decaying housing stock, concentraitions of generational poverty, and lack of investment, but on Spartanburg's Northside, that's exactly what happened. On today's second part of our Northside Rising podcast series, we're taking a look back at how public investment, private philanthropy, and sustained community engagement came together to create the most ambitious community-led neighborhood transformation initiative in Spartanburg history. Listen below for more, and be on the lookout for more from our Northside Rising series next week!

Northside Rising: Neighborhood history from origins to construction of VCOM Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

Following on the heels of last week's release of the first part of our new series of articles and podcasts, Northside Rising, where we take a look back at the story of Spartanburg's Northside neighborhood, today on the City Podcast, we're delving deeper into the history of the Northside before the decision by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine to build their Carolinas Campus in the neighborhood became a catalyst to galvanize the largest community redevelopment effort in Spartanburg's history.

Taking a look back at 2020 in Spartanburg Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

It's a year when the word "unprecedented" became commonplace. Beginning with a February tornado that cut a swath through the heart of our city and followed shortly by the COVID-19 global pandemic that still rages as the year comes to a close, 2020 is a year most of us would likely rather forget, though none of us ever will. Through it all, signs of our community's continued strength were abundant, whether in our leadership's and residents' equity-focused response to this summer's protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd or in the continued resiliency and dynamism of our local economy. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story to get his thoughts on 2020 in Spartanburg and how the lessons of this year will serve us going forward.

Win prizes from downtown businesses this holiday season with 'Snowman Scramble' scavenger hunt, social media giveaways Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, we've got details on our "Snowman Scramble" scavenger hunt and downtown business spotlight giveaway, both of which will be kicking off soon!

'Plan Spartanburg' to become nation's first citywide comprehensive plan with racial equity as guiding principle Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

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 data shared from USC-Upstate's Metropolitan Studies Institute in their 2018 Spartanburg Racial Equity Index 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 residents. It was with that in mind that the nation's first citywide comprehensive planning process focused around racial equity was born. Created with the help of those who call Spartanburg home, Plan Spartanburg will ultimately guide the city's growth for the next decade to come, and will have an impact long after that, informing strategies on areas as wide-ranging housing, economics, health and wellness, parks and recreation, public facilities, infrastructure, traffic, and the overall livability of Spartanburg for its residents. Listen below for more, and be sure to visit the Plan Spartanburg website to sign up and attend our virtual Planapalooza events coming up Oct. 22-26, and let us know your ideas for Spartanburg's future!

Explaining how Spartanburg Housing Fund will support affordable housing development Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

At their meeting on September 14, City Council approved the creation of the Spartanburg Housing Fund, a special fund to be used exclusively to fill gaps in development projects that build, preserve, or improve affordable housing units in the city. Initially capitalized with $750,000 as part of the deal to replace Norris Ridge Apartments with the Midtowne Heights Development, the fund will be used to provide loans to for gap financing to developers to help make affordable housing developments more financially feasible and may also be used to provide grants or even a limited number of equity investments. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story to get details on how the new fund will provide another tool to help our community address its supply of affordable housing.

Major Downtown and Northside development projects continue to move forward May 06, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, we're sitting down with City Manager Chris Story to get an update on the impressive list of major projects in the works for Downtown Spartanburg and our city's Northside.

'Lead-safe Spartanburg' program to assist residents in removing dangerous lead paint from older homes Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

Late 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 regularly spend time in the home (over 60 hours per year), or a pregnant woman must reside in the home Household income must be less than 80% of Area Median Income Home must be built prior to 1978 All property tax payments and homeowner's insurance must be current Today on the podcast, we're giving you details on the program and how the process works.

Show us how you're staying #SafeInSpartanburg! Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

As COVID-19 continues to imact our community and we're all doing our part to flatten the curve by staying home when possible, practicing safe social distancing when in public, and wearing a cloth mask in situations where distancing is difficult, we wanted to offer a way to both share our own tips on how you can get through these challenging times and to offer our residents the chance to share their tips with us as well. So today we're kicking off our #SafeInSpartanburg campaign!

Discussing South Carolina's 'Work or Home' order Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about the Governor's "Work or Home" order, requiring all people in South Carolinians to stay at home unless reporting to work, traveling for essentials, visiting relatives, or engaging in individual recreation. We also have an update on current City operations and a look forward at the weeks ahead.

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