45 replies to this topic

[hub-city]

I'd like to see another company move into the building intead of city services.  I feel it just would be a better fit.  I do wish/wonder if there is any way to open up the center ground floor section to connect Morgan Square to the garage. With the square on one side and the fountain on the other, it would be a beautiful "entrance" to the square.

[Spartan]

mallguy, on 01 April 2011 - 05:54 PM, said:

That "better air travel" reason isn't the best.

The commute from Ballentyne to the Charlotte airport can be 30 minutes or so.  The commute from Spartanburg is what- an hour?  If the company were moving to an office park on Billy Graham Parkway I could see a big difference in trip times to the airport, but not Ballantyne.

The drive from the airport to Ballantyne is 20 minutes tops unless its rush hour. The idea of being in a place like that does not surprise me considering the type of corporation it is (being owned by an even larger firm). It's very tough when your management doesn't live in the same place as the HQ. Everyone in Charlotte was worried that Bank of America would relocate its HQ to Boston when they hired their new CEO (since he lives there)

Sparkleman, on 02 April 2011 - 03:59 PM, said:

What do you plan on doing with the fire trucks and equipment that are down at city hall? You can hardly put that into a parking deck.

Plus Wofford has tons of space closer to campus for more apartments should the need arise.

Good thought though.

I like the concept being discussed here. One other thing to consider is that the City's offices are spread all over town, and many without good reason. A consolidated location would help. A lot. That said, the ESA building is Class A office space, so it would make more sense to get another company to move in there.

[westsider28]

The 100,000 sq ft. Extended Stay HQ building is now on the market for sale or lease.  We need to get another good company to fill all or some of that space, hopefully soon.  Any ideas?

GSA Business article

[Sparkleman]

westsider28, on 19 July 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

The 100,000 sq ft. Extended Stay HQ building is now on the market for sale or lease.  We need to get another good company to fill all or some of that space, hopefully soon.  Any ideas?

GSA Business article

As I have said before Lockwood Greene (called something else now) out on I-26 across from old Waccamaw would be an ideal tenant. How you approach them is beyond me.

[westsider28]

By "we", I meant the City of Spartanburg.  But Lockwood Greene would be a great company to move in there.

[Spartan]

They would be perfect. They'd probably fill the entire building. What it takes is the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce, and probably some other big wigs to go up there and make them an offer they can't refuse. Or at least one that is so appealing that they want to move downtown.

[roads-scholar]

Spartan, on 26 July 2011 - 05:50 PM, said:

They would be perfect. They'd probably fill the entire building. What it takes is the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce, and probably some other big wigs to go up there and make them an offer they can't refuse. Or at least one that is so appealing that they want to move downtown.

Many years ago Lockwood Greene was headquartered downtown, in the Montgomery Building.  Sure, I'd love seeing them come back but keep in mind that (1) Lockwood Greene is no longer a stand alone company like it was then.  Today it's a subsidiary of the much larger CH2M Hill. (2) The construction industry is in the doldrums,  and (3) their I-26 campus is only 30 years old and probably more than adequate for their present needs.

Edited by roads-scholar, 27 July 2011 - 06:34 AM.

[Spartan]

^ True, but if they can make a business case for it, I bet they could move. Plus 30 years can be ancient if they haven't kept their facility up with the times. I don't know if they have or not, but the ESA building offers modern, Class-A office space in the heart of the city. PLUS they would have windows for most employees. The biggest question, IMO, is space. If not, then maybe one of GDJ's spec buildings at 300 East Main could hold them.

[roads-scholar]

Spartan, on 27 July 2011 - 02:10 PM, said:

^ True, but if they can make a business case for it, I bet they could move. Plus 30 years can be ancient if they haven't kept their facility up with the times. I don't know if they have or not, but the ESA building offers modern, Class-A office space in the heart of the city. PLUS they would have windows for most employees. The biggest question, IMO, is space. If not, then maybe one of GDJ's spec buildings at 300 East Main could hold them.

I'm just hoping, Spartan, that CH2M HILL doesn't yank Lockwood Greene away from Spartanburg like so many others have done recently.

Edited by roads-scholar, 27 July 2011 - 02:57 PM.

[hub-city]

If so then I'm afraid that Spartanburg's loss will be Greenville's gain.  City/County leaders really need to step up and try to keep them here.  I'm sure some of the older Lockwood Green guys have a love for Spartanburg, but the Ch2 guys don't really have a connection.  Either way, in the end it is all up to $$$.

[Sparkleman]

ESH is scheduled to make the move to Charlotte this weekend and for many of the upper management Friday will be their last day in Spartanburg. Its really a shame as most have not sold their houses and are just going to have to rent somewhere in Charlotte for who knows how long. This really could have been averted except for the greedy CEO, but it seems thats always the case.

[roads-scholar]

Get used to it.  Private equity companies are destroying American businesses and jobs.

[drexel]

What about American Credit Acceptance buying the building? Maybe George Dean could buy it back at a bargain price. I believe ACA has about 300 employees and growing. It is my understanding that The Bell Hill location is getting cramped. Although Johnson Development owns cheaper office space such as the Boardwalk Building across from Denny's Tower. Just a thought....

[spartanburgh]

The Extended Stay America has been sold to GDJ. The deal was for 9 million dollars, we'll see what happens with the occupance!!! Likely the new space for the finance Co?

[Spartan]

I'm confused, I thought ESA moved to Charlotte? GDJ bought the company back?

[hub-city]

I believe they bought the building back, but I'm not sure.

[spartanburgh]

Sorry, George Dean Johnson's Company has bought the building that Extended Stay used to own on Morgan Square. The two office buildings on E. Main are now full and I anticipate that additional workers for the new American Credit Acceptance Company will go there.
The good news is a mostly empty building will fill up, the bad news is, building another office building downtown will not be necessary because this one was available.

Edited by spartanburgh, 22 January 2012 - 08:56 AM.

[drexel]

I guessed this could happen (see my August post above) Weird that have not seen this in the media.

[Spartan]

Ah, thanks for the clarification!

[spartanburgh]

Sparkleman, I'm curious why ESA left Spartanburg. You posted last year that the real truth would come out and "it wouldn't be Pretty". Are we far enough out in April of 2012 for you to reveal the real reason they left? I think its important to know even if we don't like the answer.