UP|Spartanburg

Renaissance Park Projects & Developments

hub-city — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:14:44 +0000

The crane is on site and the walls are going up for the parking garage. Looking at the picture, it looks kind of like they are following the magnolia street garage in the aspect of matching one side to the church and Montgomery building and the other side to the business school and CCC. Still hard to tell at this early stage.

New Feature

Spartan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:03:20 +0000

Urban Planet's newest feature is the Project Database. This will replace the former wiki system that we were trying to develop. This system is editable by members, and we need you to help get it going. I have several in the Spartanburg section if you want to see examples of what this can be over time. You may have already noticed the link at the top of the Spartanburg forum.

Please let me know if you have any questions, thoughts, or comments on it.

Greater Spartanburg Projects & Developments

Spartan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:55:18 +0000

I drove by that area a few weeks ago, not realizing what it was. Not only is it huge, it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere.

Greater Spartanburg Projects & Developments

roads-scholar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:20:44 +0000

Construction on the huge mixed-use development River Run, located on Reidville Road between I-26 and SC-290, has resumed after a nearly two-year hiatus. I drove by it last night and noticed workers and equipment. This morning's business section of the H-J had an article about project.

I was dreading the prospect of this development being abandoned and left for vandals and scavengers. To the developers (or creditors) credit the property has been well-secured since construction ceased.

Downtown Projects & Developments

Spartan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:20:26 +0000

The Social Security Office is relocating. While this may not seem like a big deal, it's good news because it frees up a space for restaurant/retail on Magnolia St.... and hopefully a redesign of that hideous building.

HJ Article

Sparkle City Eateries

Sparkleman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:24:23 +0000

Looks like the Tap Room is ready to roll.

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20091110/ARTICLES/911101016/1112?Title=Tap-Room-at-RJ-Rockers-in-downtown-ready-to-pour

Major Upgrade for Hillcrest Shopping Center

Spartan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:16:44 +0000

The Watchworks was over in Broadwalk. They are the only true watch makers in Spartanburg. The move to Specialty Row makes perfect sense, as they will have more visibility there than Broadwalk. Plus it sort of reaffirms the idea that the Broadwalk will become the new location for government offices.

Spartanburg's Leaders

Spartan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:14:15 +0000

Junie White won the Mayor's seat, and I was pleased to see that Cate Ryba will be filling in his old council seat on District 4. From what I hear, Cate "gets it" and will be good council representation.

HJ Article

Major Upgrade for Hillcrest Shopping Center

spartist — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:48:53 +0000

On the "flipside" of the Specialty Row there is now an art studio/gallery. The Watch Works moved over there as well and just hung out their sign. I think they were downtown in Broadwalk.
H-J article

Sparkle City Eateries

alias007 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:11:57 +0000

I want a Popeye's chicken. I just felt like saying that.

Spartanburg Off-Topic

Spartan — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:18:12 +0000

Good question.

I think it's marketing. It has to be made known that parking is free at night and on the weekends, and that there is ample parking in downtown on the streets. I think people drive down Main Street and if they can't find anything there they assume there is none available when Broad St and Dunbar St usually have plenty (during a weekday). Signage might also help. The garages in Greenville have very large and well marked entrances.

Spartanburg Off-Topic

Sparkleman — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:29:43 +0000

Is there anything else that can be done to get folks more comfortable with using the parking decks? I still hear more folks complain about not being able to park close to where they are going yet when I ask them what they do when they are in Greenville or Asheville, they say park in a deck or city lot. The logic is mind boggling.

Spartanburg Off-Topic

Spartan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:56:17 +0000

Google Maps now has most thoroughfares in Spartanburg available with StreetView. Not every street yet, but we're getting there!

New Annexation

spartanburgh — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:58:53 +0000

Tonights Council agenda will include a request by 7 residences in the Hillbrook area that were excluded from the proposed annexation by the City, but want to be annexed. Some of the 7 even hired a lawyer to make sure they get into the City limits. The article gives the addresses of all the requests. All are in the same general area but not contiguous to the other proposed annexation. Its funny how some have hired a lawyer to stay out of the City and others are hiring lawyers to get in.

Spartanburg's Leaders

Spartan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:02:07 +0000

Skyliner, on 25 October 2009 - 11:09 PM, said:

Don't worry. IF Mr. Fowler is elected (and I seriously doubt he will have enough support to surpass Mr. White), then he will not be able to simply declare the park at Morgan Square needs to go and have it done. I'd wager the potential for opposition of such a notion would be much greater in the end. Speaking of the small park at Morgan Square, what ever happened to the proposal to build a bandstand/gazebo there? I still love that idea and think it is precisely the type of element the park needs to top off its attractiveness to local citizens.

Good points. The advantage of having a weak mayor system is if guys like that get elected.

I haven't heard anything about the bandstand in a long time. Maybe the economy killed it?

Spartanburg's Leaders

roads-scholar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:46:46 +0000

Spartan, on 25 October 2009 - 08:32 PM, said:

Wow, I hope that the Fowler character doesn't get elected ass Mayor. He wants to pave over Morgan Square.

HJ Article

Fortunately Mr. Fowler has little chance of winning this election. Mr. White is well-known and respected and understands that paving over Morgan Square is a dumb idea.

Spartanburg's Leaders

Skyliner — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:09:15 +0000

Spartanburg's Leaders

Spartan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:32:29 +0000

Wow, I hope that the Fowler character doesn't get elected ass Mayor. He wants to pave over Morgan Square.

HJ Article

Sparkle City Eateries

hub-city — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:40:56 +0000

Had lunch at Caviar to Cornbread last week. The food was very good and decent prices. Had chicken breast with with sweet potato fries, and collard greens. Add in the cornbread and sweet tea, all for under $9.00 is a good deal to me. My waiter was a little inexperienced, but that will improve with time. I'll go back soon.

Sparkle City Eateries

Spartan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:16:57 +0000

I ate at Converse Deli this weekend. It was packed even in the middle of the afternoon, and the food was excellent.

I also heard that Cornbread to Caviar is fantastic.

Sparkle City Eateries

Spartan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:29:17 +0000

Please try to post links if they are available. Thanks

HJ Article

Sparkle City Eateries

Spartan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:06:45 +0000

Better than a vacant building!

Sparkle City Eateries

spartanburgh — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:00:50 +0000

A little good news/bad news. Hub City Coffee has reopened downtown in their former location. They were evicted in anticipation of the buildings being demolished so that a new office building could be built to house Bank Merridian. That project became a victim of the economy and so were back to Hub City Coffee again.

Sparkle City Eateries

hub-city — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:19:50 +0000

AS far as new restaurants....

Has anyone noticed or tried the new seafood restaurant across from City Range in the old Chandi's? It is called Blue Fin Grille. I've never heard of it before.

USC Upstate

Spartan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:18:31 +0000

USC Upstate continues to rake in the big donations. This time its a $4million gift to the athletics department to upgrade the Hodge Center, which is Upstate's basketball arena.

HJ Article. If Upstate is to continue to grow and become as large as they say it will, the athletics program will have to grow too. Its good to see the USC Upstate Alumni stepping up. They say the capacity will be reduced but with the renovations it will feel more like Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, and have state-of-the-art facilities.

My guess is that the energy won't quite be at the level of Duke, but I appreciate the attitude that it takes to make that comparison. I hope Upstate can get some good recruits and start winning. I'd like to see another prominent D-1 team in SC some day.

New Annexation

Spartan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:42:54 +0000

I agree that the parcels they chose for annexation are very random. I'm not sure why they didn't go for more contiguous properties. Oh well.

New Annexation

Sparkleman — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:09:21 +0000

Spartan, on Oct 13 2009, 10:14 AM, said:

Some Hillbrook residents are contesting the annexation. I dont think it will go anywhere, because the annexation agreements are tied to the parcel and not the owner. If the realtor didn't make you aware of the agreement then that's their fault.

HJ Article

It was beaten before about 15 years ago in Hillbrook and can be again. As Mr. Carruth says, if they were not informed of something that happened 25 years before why should they have to abide by it? Again, that's not due process.

I got one of these notices a month ago and I have never seen this agreement that was signed by the person who built my house some 30 years ago. It was presented to me by the city via mail about a month ago. I too plan to fight it although right now I am the only person on my street to get one which I find odd.

New Annexation

Spartan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:14:33 +0000

Sparkle City Eateries

Sparkleman — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:49:57 +0000

Not surprising.

Spartanburg Herald Journal
Published: October 13, 2009

Justin's Steakhouse on West Main Street closed Monday.
The owner told the Spartanburg Herald Journal, the restaurant is closing because of poor sales.
The owner says they were no longer able to break even.
The 15 employees will be offered jobs at the Justin's Steakhouse in Greenville.

Sparkle City Eateries

hub-city — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:22:18 +0000

Justin's is closing. I really enjoyed having a great steak downtown. Oh well.......