739 replies to this topic

[hub-city]

Went to Wild Wings for lunch the other day around 1:45 and still had to wait.  They weren't being slow, just crowded.  Loved It!!!  I know it is new, but i feel it also shows how starved the downtown area is for a nightlife.  Hopefully, other developers will see that and invest in downtown.   right now most of them seem to think that they have to "bookend" their developments on the East and West side ommiting the middle of the city.  I'm glad to see two Marble Slabs coming, but I'd spend more money at them if one was downtown.

also, another great picture in Sunday's paper showing another revitilization of a building downtown.  its only a three story building, but at least its not going to be an eyesore.

[Spartan]

I agree about the Marble Slabs. I bet one will locate downtown eventually. They need to have more restaurants than Sonny's outside of Morgan Square. That area on Ezell St and King St (I think that is the name.... very small streets- Java Jive used to be over there) Anyway, that area would be a good location for some mroe restaurants.

My one complaint about Wild Wings is that they removed the grand staircases and all that awsome old woodwork from the interior. I'm sure it was a fire hazard, but the Greenwald building was a beautiful one in its prime Im sure.

I didn't see that one in the paper. Is it the one at Church and St John that they took the stucco facade off of?

[emo]

we do need a coffee shop in our downtown. i heard that the owner of sonny's might open one where jiva jive used to be. and something that would be even better than a marble slab downtown would be gellati maker. it's italian ice cream. ah, so good. Miyako sushi group is slightly outside of morgan square, but it's so close it could probably be included. does anyone know when they're going to begin the work on morgan square? there is also going to be a new bronze statue on the corner of main and pine in the shopping center with Ford's Drugs and Medical. it's going to be a peach tree on top of a box and it will stand around 10-15 feet total. the peaches on the tree will be painted like the apples are painted on that sculpture in front of  blockbuster and converse cinema. they also need to build a nicer theater on the east side out at hillcrest. if i had lots of money, i would tear down the old carmike or better yet the old converse cinema and build a stadium seat theater. i think that spartanburg could support two theaters like that. anderson has two of them.

[Spartan]

emo, on Feb 28 2005, 01:38 AM, said:

we do need a coffee shop in our downtown. i heard that the owner of sonny's might open one where jiva jive used to be. and something that would be even better than a marble slab downtown would be gellati maker. it's italian ice cream. ah, so good. Miyako sushi group is slightly outside of morgan square, but it's so close it could probably be included.

does anyone know when they're going to begin the work on morgan square?

there is also going to be a new bronze statue on the corner of main and pine in the shopping center with Ford's Drugs and Medical. it's going to be a peach tree on top of a box and it will stand around 10-15 feet total. the peaches on the tree will be painted like the apples are painted on that sculpture in front of  blockbuster and converse cinema.

they also need to build a nicer theater on the east side out at hillcrest. if i had lots of money, i would tear down the old carmike or better yet the old converse cinema and build a stadium seat theater. i think that spartanburg could support two theaters like that. anderson has two of them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They should be starting work on Morgan Square in the next couple of weeks, and it will take 6 to 8 months. What is most exciting to me is that when they remove the Broad St connector road, there will be room for a new building downtown. I am interested to see what gets built there. I hope it will fit in with Morgan Square unlike ESA.

I agree with the theater thing. It deosn't even have to be a 16 screen complex. I would be satisfied with 8 screen, just with the arena seating. I believe one will get build eventually. Maybe at the new Easton area? I'd prefer to see it closer to town than that though.

The other thing we need at Hillcrest is an electronics store and a Barnes & Noble type store. Yeah Pic-a-book is there, but its not quite the same. I won't be satisfied until a trip to the westside is unnecessary, with the exception of a mall. We do not need another Hillcrest Mall.

The Petco and Office Depot will be great. I am not a fan of Pestmart.

Also, they should build a road that connects Walmart to Lowes behind the Lowes property so that some traffic can avoid using E. Main. Ideally it would go all the way to the Hillcrest Shopping Center, but that cematary would be a problem.

[hub-city]

Spartan, on Feb 27 2005, 08:26 PM, said:

I agree about the Marble Slabs. I bet one will locate downtown eventually. They need to have more restaurants than Sonny's outside of Morgan Square. That area on Ezell St and King St (I think that is the name.... very small streets- Java Jive used to be over there) Anyway, that area would be a good location for some mroe restaurants.

My one complaint about Wild Wings is that they removed the grand staircases and all that awsome old woodwork from the interior. I'm sure it was a fire hazard, but the Greenwald building was a beautiful one in its prime Im sure.

I didn't see that one in the paper. Is it the one at Church and St John that they took the stucco facade off of?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The building is on Daniel Morgan diagonally across for the QS/1 building.  The article and picture is still in the online business section of the Goupstate site.  i don't know what is happening with the building on St. Johns/Church.  Everythings kind-of stopped.

I can't remember the original layout of the Greenwald building.  The staircase in Wild Wings is pretty awesome though.  It is in the back, but huge.

[Spartan]

There were two old stair cases that curved out and up to the top, like what you might find in an antebellum mansion. They were very attractive, but I suppose they weren't practical.

Is that building on the corner of Daniel Morgan and St John or is it near that matress company? I'm having trouble placing it.

[Spartan]

Ok, there is an article in todays paper about this. These are the key paragraphs. I didn't know that was called the "Warrior Duck" building lol What a great name.



A $2.2 million renovation of an 18,000-square-foot former mattress company will also allow a larger company to lease up to an entire floor and have the opportunity to own the building's naming rights.

Rick Cobden of Cobden Properties Inc., Jeff Smith of Antrim Properties, and attorney Ken Darr are partnering to renovate and move into the Warrior Duck building at 104 N. Daniel Morgan Ave.

The first floor will feature 12 to 15 "executive office suites" averaging 600 square feet.

Cobden said the exposed wood rafters, beams and interior brick will be among the features maintained in the renovation. The exterior will keep the concept of historic downtown and mill architecture.

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I think this will be a great rennovation. I have always disliked seeing boarded up windows there, even though it has been an active business. I am also glad to see Spartanburg catering to small businesses lke this.

[Skyliner]

I'm surprised nobody has already mentioned anything about the article on the front page of the latest issue of GSABusiness Journal.  It's all about the Morgan Square uplift.  I haven't been able to read all of the article yet, but I'm sure it is quite nice.

[Spartan]

I mentioned it, but I haven't done a separate post on it. It is going to be impressive when its done. I also don't read GSA Business very much

Here is the plan:

• There will be 60 total parking spots (loss of 14). But that will be augmented by 16 spots on alternate streets. There are also two parking garages nearby.
  
  
• It will inclue 13-20ft sidewalks for outdoor seating.
  
• A new mixed use building could be built in place of the Broad St bypass
  
• Textured and at-grade brickwork will define much of the area.

The original (and much larger image can be found here.)

Any info you have from GSA Business would be greatly appreciated.

[Skyliner]

That's kinda cheesy the way they used photos of other places instead of drawing what will actually be built and how it will look.  JMO, for what it's worth.

[Spartan]

I agree, but to some extent it is better to have real pictures of what the thing wouldlook like as opposed to renderings.

On a completely separate note, I noteced that the townhomes they were building on S Pine are complete and for sale.

[Spartan]

Someone mentioned a trolley coming to Spartanburg... whoever that was, you were right. SPARTA has introduced a trolley that will run a 15 minute loop through the center city. It iwll pass the Marriot, QS/1, Dennys Tower, ESA, etc. I don't have time now, but later I will scan the route map and post it here.



Article

[johnnyg]

hub-city, on Feb 23 2005, 03:15 PM, said:

Speaking of Johnson - the new  Main street building isn't going on the vacant lot that used to be the Bank of America building.  That lot now belongs to the Catholic church, and I don't think that they are too interested in selling.  Johnson is tearing down all those buildings beside the lot to put the new office building.  Although some tenants had to be relocated the building is an eyesore and I'm glad to see it go.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The new "East Main" Office building has just been put on hold indefintely. Not sure what the issue is there. Funding? Tenant back-out?

[Spartan]

Welcome to the forum johnny!

I am dissapointed about that office building. I bet it will come back sooner or later. If I had to guess I would say it was a tenant backout. Johnson doesn't have funding problems

[Spartan]

I learned that the Johnson building was put om hold because there is an AT&T (or some large phone company) that has some sort of hub beneath that brick building on Alabama and Main. So alot of wires need to be moved out, and that process would take something along the lines of 18 months. So this could still get built, it will just take longer to get done.

On another note, I have the map of the trolley's route:


I was eating downtown recently and I saw it go by. I see them every day in Cola, so the novelty factor is not much, but its just cool to know that Spartanburg now has a functional trolley:)

[hub-city]

Just drove by the 300 East Main office site.  It looks like they are going to go ahead an tear down the existing buildings even if the new building is on hold.

It seems that developers in Greenville do a better job with web-based concepts and proposals.  You read about proposals in Spartanburg, but can't find sites for them.  I can't even get the city to update the minutes of city council meeteings on their web site.

Any news on how the proposed Converse Place condos are being received.  They are also doing a lot of site preperation over at Renaissance Park, but I can't seem to find an updated master plan.  Any insights?

[Spartan]

I havn't heard anything about any of those recently. I don't see how you can market a building in this day and age with out an online site.

It doesn't suprise me that Johnson is going ahead with his plans- though I'd much rather wait until the buildings can be removed at once and the construction can start. I'm not a fan of more empty lots downtown. Renaissance is bad enough. Come to think of it, there are quite a few empty lots (not even parking) in downtown. I wonder why Johnson (or anyone) isn't taking advantage of that?

Its frustrating that Spartanburg has so much potential and nobody is taking advantage of it.

I know that Johnson Development mentioned building some condo's on that empty lot on Main st near Morgan Square.... but I haven't heard anything about that lately.

[Spartan]

I came accross this about the Racing Museum at Beaumont Mill:


http://www.cityofspa.....ng Museum.htm

[Skyliner]

Last time I heard, the proposed museum was removed from that site.  I can't confirm that it is totally out of the question for Spartanburg though.

[Spartan]

I think it was a funding issue. I personally don't want it there. Spartanburg has nothing to do with racing, and I am not a fan of the designs (particularly the smoke stack). It will be a great office building by itself.

However, the Southern Conference is going to move in there soon. Not sure if there are any other tenants. Its been a while since I've read about it.