27 replies to this topic

[Spartan]

More specifically, infill development is used to describe something new in a built up part of town. It can be a vacant lot or sometimes its taking an existing building and tearing it down or radically altering it. So pretty much anything that have done or will do with the Renaissance Park property is considered "infill" development, along with all of the new buildings that they have built downtown in the past few years. You would not consider a new home or business in Boiling Springs or Roebuck to be infill.

Sparkleman, on Aug 21 2008, 07:11 PM, said:

To Spartan- I think we do agree on a lot although we argue in many different ways on how to achieve it. Its actually very healthy and stress relieving.

Hah, good to know Its always good to get as many perspectives as possible on here. Sometimes I get caught up in the vision while not considering the reality.

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Now kind of back on the topic of college towns. Still to Spartan, but everyone feel free to chime in here. Why has no one ever thought to put a cool bar/restaurant very close to Wofford or for that matter between Wofford and Converse? There was a restaurant once that was beside the old Harris Teeter on the east side called Mama Burritto (or something like that) that was going to close and move into bigger diggs down on Daniel Morgan near Pittsburgh Paint but it never happened. I went there a few times and it was pretty good. I think it or something like it would do really well down there especially since the GDJ School of Business is coming. Don't you (all) think Daniel Morgan Ave could house some really cool places down from the Marriot and behind Barnett? I know the car lots are there, but they don't really get in the way that much. Thoughts? If not there, why not put something where the Krispey Kreme Doughnuts used to be? Not only could the Wofford crowd use it, but so would the Auditorium. Specialty coffees and drinks or something like that.

I am surprised there are not more restaurants that cater to them. Wofford and Converse students both use downtown businesses all the time. When I am home I find that Mellow Mushroom and Sonny's are always packed with them. Go figure... college students and pizza. What a concept!

Back when the Spartanburg Journal printed TBA's, they announced that there was some interest in converting one of the buildings on College St immediately across from Wofford into a restaurant of some sort. I want to say it was pizza, but this has been a year or so ago, so I'm not 100% sure on that. Anyway, it would have been targeting Wofford students. I'm not sure what ever came of that. I think that there is a lot of opportunity to build a college bar/restaurant type of district in Spartanburg. I have since hear that there is some interest in using College St and Magnolia as the "pedestrian street" into the heard of downtown. The idea being to connect Wofford to the Square without using Church St since SCDOT will never allow it to be narrowed for more pedestrian friendly uses.

As for East Daniel Morgan towards the old greyhound depot and VicBailey's compound, I am not sure what will happen with that. I think that it's direction in life will be determined by what happens with this proposed "new urban" development on the Renaissance Park site. If that is done correctly, it should theoretically spur additional redevelopment and infill projects over time. Personally I would like to see US29 rerouted from St John using Daniel Morgan as the "downtown bypass" so that St John St can be removed from the SCDOT umbrella. If St John can be narrowed and have on street parking and wider sidewalks I think we'll be able to better connect the area around the Square to the Marriott and the Park with a more pedestrian friendly environment.

[Spartan]

Ok, there have been a few articles about each school over the past week or so, but I didn't think that any other school had a noteworth grwoth plan. Wofford, Converse, and SMC both want to remain more or less the same size... growing by only a few hundred.

Spartanburg Community College, however, appears to have much higher aspirations. They don't specify many numbers other than "10,000", but this article in the HJ today talks about their need for more academic buildings and the recent developments of the Tyger River Campus as well as the Cherokee Campus.

The most interesting part of the entire article is this quote, which speaks for itself:

"...a possible downtown Spartanburg facility sometime in the next five years."

[westsider28]

This thread hasn't seen any activity in a while, but I figured it would be the best place for this.

An article in the Spartanburg Journal states that Wofford College is going to build a 52,000 square foot mixed-use building fronting Evins Street as the final phase of its senior village project.  The building will have career placement offices, classrooms, a deli, and a small grocery store on the ground floor, while the upper 2 floors will contain apartment-style housing for 80 seniors.  The article mentions completion sometime next year, which would be quick, as I don't think construction has even started yet.

Interestingly, the City had to grant Wofford a zoning variance because the building will not meet set-back restrictions.

[spartanburgh]

This weeks Spartanburg Journal has a rendering of the building and it really looks good. Go Wofford!!!

[Spartan]

Interesting. Can anyone post the image? Us ex-pats can't see the paper copy  

[westsider28]

Just noticed a video on Wofford's website that advertises their Village senior housing, but also gives some details and 3D renderings of the new mixed-use building under construction that I mentioned earlier in this thread.  Looks like it will be a great addition to Wofford's campus.

http://www.wofford.edu/village/

[Spartan]

Wow, that is an impressive building. The video is only 3 minutes long, so its definitely worth a look.

[westsider28]

Construction on the Wofford mixed-use building is moving pretty quickly.