Downtown Projects & Developments

[westsider28]

Quick update on 142 Social.  Second additional floor is really coming along.  You can get the feeling of the final scale.  Nothing crazy; just good infill.

[westsider28]

Plywood came off the front of the Leader building (restaurant/bowling/event space) today.  Photo below from the City's FB page.  Those tiles look awesome.  The Broad Street side also has a new sidewalk and landscaping.  Can't wait for this project to finish.  Should be a big draw.

[Spartan]

I highly recommend listening to the Spartanburg City Podcast about downtown foot traffic and data collection. It's super interesting and gives some good insight into the volume of people that are coming to the city.  The numbers are bigger than you think!

 

http://www.cityofspartanburg.org/news/podcast-using-data-to-understand-shape-downtown-spartanburg-growth

[westsider28]

The tile at the Leader building is actually a very dark forest green.  Looks very nice.  It matches the color of the restored tile mosaics on the floor.  Interior work still in-progress.

And another quick update on 142 Social.  The roof parapet makes the addition seem a bit more substantial now.

[roads-scholar]

21 hours ago, Spartan said:

I highly recommend listening to the Spartanburg City Podcast about downtown foot traffic and data collection. It's super interesting and gives some good insight into the volume of people that are coming to the city.  The numbers are bigger than you think!

 

http://www.cityofspartanburg.org/news/podcast-using-data-to-understand-shape-downtown-spartanburg-growth

I haven't viewed the podcast yet but did see the chamber's presentation on this topic at their Downtown Business Council meeting.  Fascinating information!

[westsider28]

Balconies being installed on 142 Social.  Photos from this weekend:

[westsider28]

Clearing/grading for the new playground at Denny's Plaza (for Meeting Street Academy students and the public)

[spartanburgh]

I think this location should be a  mixed use project similar to the Aug on Main.  That would really help shore up that end of Main St.

Then they could make the park on the other side of the Denny's building a park, until the road is redone to allow another building there.

Or, they could just put the park where Andrew Babb was going to build his apartments a few years back in the grassed area beside the

parking garage.

[Spartanburg Dude]

12 hours ago, westsider28 said:

Clearing/grading for the new playground at Denny's Plaza (for Meeting Street Academy students and the public)

Just my opinion and everyone knows opinions are like... well you know. But I think this is a really stupid project. PRIME real estate being used for a play ground rather than an awesome building. Bleh. 

 

[westsider28]

4 hours ago, Spartanburg Dude said:

Just my opinion and everyone knows opinions are like... well you know. But I think this is a really stupid project. PRIME real estate being used for a play ground rather than an awesome building. Bleh. 

I was lukewarm to the idea of a playground here, but have warmed up to it because I think it will attract a lot of families to this part of East Main (which is still quieter than Morgan Square) on weekends.  Plus, playgrounds are temporary in the grand scheme of things.  It can eventually be replaced (though I think it will be a while; still lots of easier-to-develop land).

[goodbye]

A well-designed playground/park certainly will do more to attract and enhance urban vitality than most of the former gimmickry (ferris wheel, water slide, etc.).

[djh1963]

Skyliner,  the ferris wheel was brought my a private individual and Slide the City was brought by Hub-Bub an arts organization.

 

[westsider28]

Preview of the bowling alley in the basement of The Leader (via Dunbar Construction Instagram):

[Sparkleman]

Not sure if posted here or not but Tate Meatworks is moving about 3/4 of a mile east down Main St to the corner of Main and Avant into their own building. Grant has a really good thing going and its about to get better.

 

Edited September 19, 2019 by Sparkleman

[roads-scholar]

3 hours ago, Sparkleman said:

Not sure if posted here or not but Tate Meatworks is moving about 3/4 of a mile east down Main St to the corner of Main and Avant into their own building. Grant has a really good thing going and its about to get better.

 

Agree this is a great move.  The Pine/Main location is somewhat hidden.  

[Historyguy]

On 9/16/2019 at 12:42 PM, westsider28 said:

I was lukewarm to the idea of a playground here, but have warmed up to it because I think it will attract a lot of families to this part of East Main (which is still quieter than Morgan Square) on weekends.  Plus, playgrounds are temporary in the grand scheme of things.  It can eventually be replaced (though I think it will be a while; still lots of easier-to-develop land).

Agreed - my understanding is that Denny's owns the land, and that Meeting Street Academy was already using it as a playground - because they don't really have anywhere else to play.  I believe when finished it'll come under the joint use agreement between D7 and the City that it'll be open for public use when school is not in session.  And agreed, playgrounds are temporary and it's not like it's a huge expenditure in the overall scheme of things - if a better and higher use presents itself, it can still happen, though then you have to find the school a new playground!  

[Spartan]

I like the idea of a playground there - it will definitely attract families if they do a good job with it. But I can't help but observe that its just one block away from Richardson Park. I wouldn't mind seeing Richardson park removed and opened up for development. 

The other thing is that even though parks are temporary, if it becomes popular then people will get attached to it. I think expanding to use all of Denny's Plaza as a park someday would make sense.

[westsider28]

The front facade of The Leader was painted this weekend (you could smell it).  Interior shot of the restaurant (entrance on left).  Bowling alley entrance is on the right, with a reception desk then stairs down.  The recessed entry area has cool ceiling lights.  Can't wait for this to open.

   

[Sparkleman]

Will it be called "The Leader" or some derivative of that?

[roads-scholar]

1 hour ago, Sparkleman said:

Will it be called "The Leader" or some derivative of that?

Interesting that there's been a steady hum of construction there for many months.  The final product should be awesome.

[westsider28]

2 hours ago, Sparkleman said:

Will it be called "The Leader" or some derivative of that?

Not sure.  I saw in the paper several weeks ago that they used "The Leader" or something similar as their LLC name when they applied for an alcohol permit.

[Sparkleman]

I was driving down Kennedy St yesterday and where the old Hardees had been torn down sat a giant excavator. There was a huge pile of asphalt that had been dug up as well as asphalt scattered everywhere.

Could this be the beginnings of a new foundation for something?

[westsider28]

1 hour ago, Sparkleman said:

I was driving down Kennedy St yesterday and where the old Hardees had been torn down sat a giant excavator. There was a huge pile of asphalt that had been dug up as well as asphalt scattered everywhere.

Could this be the beginnings of a new foundation for something?

It's the Robert Hett Chapman III Center for Philanthropy.

[westsider28]

According to a sign up in the window of The Leader, the restaurant will be called "Initial Q" and the bowling alley "UnderPin Lanes & Lounge".  I also found an EventBrite page for a preview event (fundraiser for Emerge) scheduled for October 22.  There's a logo on that page too.

[hub-city]

Not sure about Initial Q, but like the Underpin name.

I also noticed that the owner of the Piedmont Blood bank building presented a plan to the design review board.  Interesting about the short term rental concept for the 2nd floor.  

HERE  is the article from the HJ.