22 replies to this topic

[roads-scholar]

1.  Announcement regarding a NEW city hall
2.  Completion of the renovations to the terminal building at the downtown airport
3.  Wayfaring signs downtown
4.  Hope VI grant for westside / Midtown Heights housing and redevelopment
5.  Mast General Store downtown
6.  A big jobs announcement
7.  Finally, redevelopment of the Montgomery Building
8.  Census numbers that reflect a positive increase in the city's population
9.  A decrease in the county's unemployment numbers by year's end
10. A replacement for Justin's downtown

[drexel]

roads-scholar, on 31 December 2009 - 08:01 AM, said:

1.  Announcement regarding a NEW city hall
2.  Completion of the renovations to the terminal building at the downtown airport
3.  Wayfaring signs downtown
4.  Hope VI grant for westside / Midtown Heights housing and redevelopment
5.  Mast General Store downtown
6.  A big jobs announcement
7.  Finally, redevelopment of the Montgomery Building
8.  Census numbers that reflect a positive increase in the city's population
9.  A decrease in the county's unemployment numbers by year's end
10. A replacement for Justin's downtown

All good. Do not believe 1, 5, and 7 will happen this year (or next). Ground breaking for a new Pine Street YMCA is suppose to happen in the next few months. Happy New Year!

[roads-scholar]

drexel, on 04 January 2010 - 08:44 AM, said:

All good. Do not believe 1, 5, and 7 will happen this year (or next). Ground breaking for a new Pine Street YMCA is suppose to happen in the next few months. Happy New Year!

I know its just a wish list but can you tell my why #'s 1,5, and 7 won't happen.  You seem pretty certain about it.

[Sparkleman]

roads-scholar, on 31 December 2009 - 08:01 AM, said:

1.  Announcement regarding a NEW city hall
2.  Completion of the renovations to the terminal building at the downtown airport
3.  Wayfaring signs downtown
4.  Hope VI grant for westside / Midtown Heights housing and redevelopment
5.  Mast General Store downtown
6.  A big jobs announcement
7.  Finally, redevelopment of the Montgomery Building
8.  Census numbers that reflect a positive increase in the city's population
9.  A decrease in the county's unemployment numbers by year's end
10. A replacement for Justin's downtown

My wife and I were talking yesterday that maybe we should not try to replace Justin's with another restaurant, but maybe see if Mast General Store or some other retail operation would be interested in coming to that downtown location. The building (old C&S bank) just seems too big to house a restaurant. If not Mast, perhaps something like a Talbots would be interested as long as the overhead was not anything ridiculous.

[Spartan]

I think that the city hall situation has been delayed. I seem to recall a budget allocation for it in the next couple of years though.

I think Kimbrells would be a good location for Mast General. The C&S Bank building is a good location for a restaurant. I went to it between Ellis's Bistro and Justins. Whatever that one was had a good ambiance about it. They never seem to utilize the outdoor seating though. I maintain that if a restaurant will open up downtown that has offers something unique and tastey that it will be a mainstay (eg: Abbeys).

• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
  
• Funding allocations from SCDOT for the East Main St road diet.
  
• 1 or 2 big economic development/redevelopment announcements for downtown (be it jobs or a building redevelopment).
  
• 1 or 2 new restaurants/bars/shops

[drexel]

roads-scholar, on 04 January 2010 - 02:46 PM, said:

I know its just a wish list but can you tell my why #'s 1,5, and 7 won't happen.  You seem pretty certain about it.

Concerning a new city hall, I agree with Spartan's previous post. As I am sure you know Hendersonville and Greenville both have a Mast General Store. I do not believe another one in Spartanburg will happen until the economy gets better and our downtown draws a lot more people. The Montgomery Building just seems like such a costly and risky investment.

My top ten would include a true coffee house and good Mexican restuarant downtown.

GREAT wish list Roads-Scholar!

[hub-city]

Love about all of the suggestions so it is tough to come up with a few "different" ones:

1) change the unrealistic leed certification for taller buildings
2) then adopt the master plan
3) bring Justin's back or something close
4) get the co-op grocery store going at hub-bub
5) tenants and reatil spcaces filled at the new condos on Broad
6) create a nickname for Brassiere Eccosse (sp)because with my accent it's hard to suggest for someone to meet me there, but I love the atmosphere
7) Retail/restaurant buildings announced for Renaissance park
8) straighten out Main street and make it to where main doesn't have to merge/yield with itself in front of 1st baptist
9) finally do something with the signage for downtown
10)something to happen at Easton Marketplace

Edited by hub-city, 05 January 2010 - 08:53 PM.

[Sparkleman]

Spartan, on 05 January 2010 - 11:50 AM, said:

I think that the city hall situation has been delayed. I seem to recall a budget allocation for it in the next couple of years though.

I think Kimbrells would be a good location for Mast General. The C&S Bank building is a good location for a restaurant. I went to it between Ellis's Bistro and Justins. Whatever that one was had a good ambiance about it. They never seem to utilize the outdoor seating though. I maintain that if a restaurant will open up downtown that has offers something unique and tastey that it will be a mainstay (eg: Abbeys).

• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Adopt Downtown Master Plan & Urban Code
• Funding allocations from SCDOT for the East Main St road diet.
• 1 or 2 big economic development/redevelopment announcements for downtown (be it jobs or a building redevelopment).
• 1 or 2 new restaurants/bars/shops

Justins was good and had it all. A GREAT bar, plenty of downstairs seating, good food, great wine, & outdoor seating that they did use. The problem was the recession and not enough patronage by Spartans to keep it open despite the recession. I still think it is too big a joint for Spartanburg for a restaurant, but I guess time will tell.

[Spartan]

No offense, but I hope you're wrong

I think once downtown becomes enough of a destination, these types of restaurants will endure.

[roads-scholar]

Spartan, on 08 January 2010 - 08:10 AM, said:

No offense, but I hope you're wrong

I think once downtown becomes enough of a destination, these types of restaurants will endure.

It seems that most folks think any restaurant located in this particular building MUST be expensive.  Justin's wasn't like the Golden Corral but it certainly wasn't expensive.

[spartanburgh]

Top Ten List for 2010!!!
1-Master plan adopted with height restrictions removed.
2-Mast General moves into the old Kimbrells or 111 E. Main
3-All proposed annexations are approved and Census has Spartanburg over 40K
4-Small grocery store with deli opens near Morgan Square
5-Montgomery Building renovation begins
6-No rest/retail closings
7-Large white colar employer moves downtown
8-Ice cream shop opens downtown
9-A limited service hotel is announced as the major tenant of a mixed use building on the corner of Spring St and Main
10-Floyds mortuary moves from N Church St The building is razed and site is put up for sale

Edited by spartanburgh, 08 January 2010 - 06:12 PM.

[roads-scholar]

spartanburgh, on 08 January 2010 - 06:09 PM, said:

Top Ten List for 2010!!!
1-Master plan adopted with height restrictions removed.
2-Mast General moves into the old Kimbrells or 111 E. Main
3-All proposed annexations are approved and Census has Spartanburg over 40K
4-Small grocery store with deli opens near Morgan Square
5-Montgomery Building renovation begins
6-No rest/retail closings
7-Large white colar employer moves downtown
8-Ice cream shop opens downtown
9-A limited service hotel is announced as the major tenant of a mixed use building on the corner of Spring St and Main
10-Floyds mortuary moves from N Church St The building is razed and site is put up for sale

I really like your wish list.  I do have a question, however, about # 9.  Can you describe this location?  Is it the Herald-Journal parking lot?

[spartanburgh]

Item #9 is actually a lot owned by the City. When the Square was redone the curve was taken out that used to divert traffic onto Broad St. There is a wonderful development opportunity there on what may be the best piece of dirt left downtown. This is one thing that really gripes me about Spartanburg leadership. Instead of offering the lot for development, they irrigate the grass and the site is used for a dump for the canine population. The lot goes from Main St. all the way back to Broad and from Spring St. West for about 80'. The Herald's parking lot is still curved as the road used to be constructed and I would suppose it would be even better if a land swap was done to make the commom property line between the Herald's Journal and the City owned lot straight. I envision someone building an open air market with canopies ovehanging the street on the first floor, offices on the second level with a mezzanine overlooking the center court, much like the Grove Arcade in Asheville. Then add a limited service hotel like Hampton Inn or Holiday express etc on floors 3-6, then possibly a couple of floors of condos or maybe even a restaurant with rooftop seating on top of that.

[roads-scholar]

spartanburgh, on 11 January 2010 - 07:56 PM, said:

Item #9 is actually a lot owned by the City. When the Square was redone the curve was taken out that used to divert traffic onto Broad St. There is a wonderful development opportunity there on what may be the best piece of dirt left downtown. This is one thing that really gripes me about Spartanburg leadership. Instead of offering the lot for development, they irrigate the grass and the site is used for a dump for the canine population. The lot goes from Main St. all the way back to Broad and from Spring St. West for about 80'. The Herald's parking lot is still curved as the road used to be constructed and I would suppose it would be even better if a land swap was done to make the commom property line between the Herald's Journal and the City owned lot straight. I envision someone building an open air market with canopies ovehanging the street on the first floor, offices on the second level with a mezzanine overlooking the center court, much like the Grove Arcade in Asheville. Then add a limited service hotel like Hampton Inn or Holiday express etc on floors 3-6, then possibly a couple of floors of condos or maybe even a restaurant with rooftop seating on top of that.

Okay thanks for describing it and your vision.

[Spartan]

spartanburgh, on 11 January 2010 - 07:56 PM, said:

Item #9 is actually a lot owned by the City. When the Square was redone the curve was taken out that used to divert traffic onto Broad St. There is a wonderful development opportunity there on what may be the best piece of dirt left downtown. This is one thing that really gripes me about Spartanburg leadership. Instead of offering the lot for development, they irrigate the grass and the site is used for a dump for the canine population. The lot goes from Main St. all the way back to Broad and from Spring St. West for about 80'. The Herald's parking lot is still curved as the road used to be constructed and I would suppose it would be even better if a land swap was done to make the commom property line between the Herald's Journal and the City owned lot straight. I envision someone building an open air market with canopies ovehanging the street on the first floor, offices on the second level with a mezzanine overlooking the center court, much like the Grove Arcade in Asheville. Then add a limited service hotel like Hampton Inn or Holiday express etc on floors 3-6, then possibly a couple of floors of condos or maybe even a restaurant with rooftop seating on top of that.

That is a great concept. It would certainly contribute a lot for pedestrian activity between the burgeoning W Main "Grain District" area and the eastern portion of the Square.

[drexel]

spartanburgh, on 11 January 2010 - 07:56 PM, said:

Item #9 is actually a lot owned by the City. When the Square was redone the curve was taken out that used to divert traffic onto Broad St. There is a wonderful development opportunity there on what may be the best piece of dirt left downtown. This is one thing that really gripes me about Spartanburg leadership. Instead of offering the lot for development, they irrigate the grass and the site is used for a dump for the canine population. The lot goes from Main St. all the way back to Broad and from Spring St. West for about 80'. The Herald's parking lot is still curved as the road used to be constructed and I would suppose it would be even better if a land swap was done to make the commom property line between the Herald's Journal and the City owned lot straight. I envision someone building an open air market with canopies ovehanging the street on the first floor, offices on the second level with a mezzanine overlooking the center court, much like the Grove Arcade in Asheville. Then add a limited service hotel like Hampton Inn or Holiday express etc on floors 3-6, then possibly a couple of floors of condos or maybe even a restaurant with rooftop seating on top of that.

Great idea! I would be happy if someone would bulldoze the Church Street Days Inn or/and any of the motels at Pine and Main Street. A Hampton Inn type of hotel should do OK at either location.

[Spartan]

The Economy Inn and the Main & Pine shopping center had a proposal for a large scale redevelopment to create an "eastern gateway" into the city.

[lifeisajourney]

Spartan, on 14 January 2010 - 02:44 PM, said:

The Economy Inn and the Main & Pine shopping center had a proposal for a large scale redevelopment to create an "eastern gateway" into the city.

"Had" as in not on the table anymore? That's a shame if so because their is so much potential for improvement at that intersection.

[Spartan]

Perhaps someone more informed than I can elaborate on it, but as I understood the situation, it was just a proposal so there was never a guarantee. There would be some property assembly and relocating some businesses so it wouldn't be easy. I'd rather see them tear down the motel on the NE corner of that intersection or the Travel Inn. Doing that would create an opportunity for more retail type businesses along that portion of Main St.

[roads-scholar]

Spartan, on 15 January 2010 - 02:36 PM, said:

Perhaps someone more informed than I can elaborate on it, but as I understood the situation, it was just a proposal so there was never a guarantee. There would be some property assembly and relocating some businesses so it wouldn't be easy. I'd rather see them tear down the motel on the NE corner of that intersection or the Travel Inn. Doing that would create an opportunity for more retail type businesses along that portion of Main St.

"It" will happen sometime in the future.  With the demand for commercial real real estate the way it is I don't see nuth'n happening at this location anytime soon.