Spartanburg City News

As you , last night's City Council meeting was an importantant one, as Council gave approval to a plan that calls for $2.58 million in new parks and recreation investment throughout the city. Plans include improving and up to a number of City facilities such as an overflow parking lot and athletic field for the CC Woodson Community Center, a new activity center for Stewart Park, and a new neighborhood park on the westside. Other items include $750,000 for bicycle and pedestrian trails, and a slew of neighborhood park improvements.   Today on the podcast, we have the first of a two-part conversation with Council member Sterling Anderson to talk about this historic quality of life investment by the City, focusing on the first ever neighborhood park to be built in his westside district, and some of the tough, fiscally responsible decisions that allowed Council to move forward with this bold new step in improving our community's parks and recreation facilities. So give a listen, and be sure to look for part two o

It has been a while since we had Assistant City Manager Chris Story on the podcast, and this week we rectify that situation. On the agenda is news that Spartanburg Community College recently opened their downtown campus and has already exceeded its expected enrollment with around 750 new students taking classes in their freshly renovated historic location. What does it mean to have hundreds of new college students in Downtown Spartanburg? How does that expand on Spartanburg's position as a "college town," with institutions of higher learning seeminly around every corner of our city?  Along the way we talk about the groundswell of recent small business investment in the downtown area, with unique new businesses like Olive and Then Some opening their doors and winners of the Main Street Challenge getting their spaces ready to go. What does that new small business investment bring to our community, and how might it help set the table for further growth? Listen to the podcast as we try to sort it out.

A new series of six community walks, led by City Council members and planned for various neighborhoods throughout the City, will kick off on Tuesday, October 15. The series of walks, which have been organized by the City of Spartanburg’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, are open to all citizens. The walks, which will take place in each of the six City Council districts, will start from various locations and will cover between 1 and 3 miles. The walks will include landmarks such as the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail, Hatcher Garden, and Duncan Park. Three of the six planned walks have been set: District 1 (represented by Councilmember W. Sterling Anderson II) Tuesday, October 15, 6 p.m. Meet at Hatcher Garden, 820 John B. White Sr. Blvd.   District 4 (represented by Councilmember Cate Brandt Ryba) Saturday, October 19, 9 a.m. Meet at Bull Hawg’s BBQ, 840 South Pine St.   District 3 (represented by Councilmember Robert Reeder) Saturday, November 9, 10 a.m. Meet at Henry Street trailhead of the Mary Black Fo

A couple of weeks ago,  starting in the fall of 2014, making huge waves in the education community. On this week's podcast, we sit down with Converse President Betsy Fleming to get an in-depth look at what prompted the decision to cut tuiton and how Converse plans to maintain its  while positioning itself as an even more attractive option for prospective students.

October is nearly upon us, and as the mercury falls down into that autumnal sweet spot, our local arts organizations here in Spartanburg are gearing up for the season with some excellent offerings.  On this podcast special, we sit down with folks from , the , and the  to get the rundown on some of the excellent arts and cultural events they have planned for the coming weeks.   So if you're looking for an answer that familiar "what is there to do?" in Spartanburg, this is the podcast for you.  Listen and enjoy.

As you've probably  (informed citizen that you are), Converse College announced yesterday a huge 43 percent cut to its tuition,  in the process.    Also this week, , following a decision made in April to put laptops in the hands of all middle and high school students, and provide iPads for students in grades 3-5.     What does all that big and bold thinking about education mean for our City? Listen to the podcast to find out.

Earlier this year, we had  to talk about the , a truly massive effort on the part of both public and private entities to redevelop of one of our city's most impoverished areas.  Today on the podcast, we're focusing in on one element of that effort, the Healthy Food Hub. With construction set to begin shortly on the project, the Healthy Food Hub will serve as home to the , and will house a garden, a community kitchen, and a cafe selling nutritious, ready-made meals and fresh produce to members of the Northside community and beyond.   Where does the food hub fit in to the overall Northside Initiative picture, and what could it mean for the community when the hub opens next year? This week, we've brought Kennedy back on the podcast to talk about it.

Spartanburg is a bicycle friendly community,  according to the League of American Bicyclists. Why does that matter for our community, and why does it matter that we continue to improve bicycle access throughout our city? This week on the podcast, we sit down with Ned Barrett and Anne Piacentino of  to hash it out. Listen below and enjoy!

 If you've lived in Spartanburg for anything longer than a few years, you don't need anyone to tell you how different our city's downtown looks now compared with its not-so-distant past. Decisions made years ago, from the renovation of Morgan Square, to the construction of new parking garages to accommodate new class A office space downtown, have influenced the shape of everything that has come since, and with announcements of , , and  coming at an impressive pace, it's tough not to like the shape our city center is taking.   This week on the podcast, we're talking about that downtown momentum, how we got to where we are today, and how we can keep it going into the future. Listen and enjoy.

It might just be the coolest thing to ever come completely out of left field in Downtown Spartanburg's history. Yes, the rumors (and the slightly incorrect piece in the local newspaper) are true. Thanks to the generosity of a private donor, for 12 days starting August 14, a 90 ft. ferris wheel named WOLI (Wheel of Lights and Illuminations) will dominate the Morgan Square skyline from its position along Spring Street in front of the clock tower ().   Standing 20 feet taller than the clock tower, and festooned with enough lights to throw off an owl's circadian rhythm, WOLI spends most of the year at some of the nation's biggest outdoor festivals, including a stint at Bonnaroo earlier this summer. In our humble opinion, there's no better way to bring a little of that festival spirit to Spartanburg as summer winds down. Want the full details? Listen to the podcast below, and get ready to be taken to new heights in Downtown Spartanburg!

As another July gets ready to pass by in Spartanburg, and another August is set to plow into us with all its usual brow-wiping, humidity-cursing charm, it's important to remember that autumn isn't as far away as it may seem.  To help you get in that sweater weather spirit, the City's dynamic podcasting duo wholeheartedly recommends a trip to Wofford College's  to visit the Carolina Panthers Training Camp. Practices run nearly every day until August 13 (), and are free and open to the public. Need a little more convincing? Listen to the podcast.

Back in February when we first sat down with Kate McCarthy, Program Director for The Iron Yard in the Spartanburg, renovation had just started on their future space beside Hub Bub's Showroom in the Grain District. Even then, the idea of a business accelerator and coworking space in Downtown Spartanburg was enough to make local boosters like us giddy at the potential. Fast-forward a few months, and we're not talking about potential anymore. Last week, The Iron Yard welcomed its first class of ten tech startups, all focused in the healthcare industry. We sit down with Kate to get her take on the potential impact these businesses could have beyond their three-month stay in the Grain District, along the way learning useful alliterative phrases like "surfaces of serendipity."  Afterward we take a few minutes to talk with Max Gillespie, Jim Ness, and Mike Roberts of MyDocTime, one of the startups taking part in this year's accelerator program.

 Sunday afternoon generally isn't the busiest time in Downtown Spartanburg. Sure you can grab a little lunch, take a little walk, and enjoy the sunshine (assuming we still get sunshine in the afternoon anymore). But what if you wanted a little more? What if you'd like to hear a little live music, or maybe take in a few cultural offerings, or what if you're looking to take home a cool piece of local art? Up until now, you might have been out of luck.   The  has plans to change all that. This week on the podcast we sit down with Jennifer Evins, President and CEO of the Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg to talk about "" at the Chapman Cultural Center (). With a Sunday Art Market featuring the work of local artists, live music from local singer-songwriters, and free admission to the center's history and art museums, the question of "what to do on a Sunday in Downtown Spartanburg" just got a great new answer. So give a listen, and be sure to come out this Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a little m

Earlier this week,  of options for downtown streetscaping projects that could be undertaken over the next year. Enough funding exists to allow the City to take on one of three possible "big" streetscaping projects (with a couple of the smaller projects possibly in the mix as well) over the next 18 months. Always looking for ways to better engage with our city's residents, yesterday we posted some photos of these streets with a brief explanation of how each streetscaping project would work, and asking you to give your take on which one deserves to move forward first. Today on the podcast, we're hoping to continue that conversation. So give a listen, , and join in on the conversation. 

Impossible to miss on the drive up South Church Street into Downtown, the 13-story  has been a fixture in the Spartanburg skyline since 1950. Now, thanks to a , a building that was originally constructed to provide housing for a post-World War II boom will get another chance to serve the same purpose for a rapidly redeveloping Downtown Spartanburg.   Where does the Schuyler building renovation fit into the big picture? With new businesses opening and new announcements coming seemingly every week at times, how far are we from that "tipping point" Downtown Spartanburg boosters have talked about for so long? Today on the podcast, we sit down with  Executive Director and City Council member Cate Ryba and Hub-Bub Showroom Director Stephen Long to have a little discussion on everyone's favorite topic. Listen and enjoy!

June. Temperatures soar. Vacations are taken. Children roam free and unencumbered by school, books, and teacher's dirty looks.   And of course, no June would be complete without....   Today on the podcast, we break down that most wonkish of all City documents, the fiscal year 2014 budget. You'll learn what fancy terms like property reassessment actually mean, and how that process (which takes place every five years in our state) affects your tax rate. You'll also learn what a property tax millage rate is, and how it's calculated.    Most importantly, if we've done our job with this podcast, you'll learn a little about the budget itself, and about the "why" behind what your City Government does with your tax dollars. If you have any questions regarding the budget, or points you'd like to have clarified, please feel free to contact City Communications Manager Will Rothschild by phone at (864) 596-2491 or by email at .

As many of you have heard, the  earlier this week to continue the transfer payment to the City through 2028.    The agreement, which is expected to be approved by both bodies based on staff recommendation, will:    ° Provide for the transfer of $1.2 million to City Council in FY 2014, $1.1 million in FY 2015, and $1 million in FYs 2016-2018. Starting in FY 2019 and continuing through the end of the agreement in FY 2028, the $1 million transfer payment will be adjusted annually by the , up to a maximum of 4.5 percent over any 2-year period. ° Require new or redeveloped commercial properties located within one mile of the City’s corporate limits and that receive new or expanded water lines to sign an annexation agreement.   Today on the podcast, we sit down with Assistant City Manager Chris Story to get his take on the new agreement. What does all of this mean for you as a city resident? Listen to find out?

Last week,  of our  to a packed house at . The Local Hiker, Haute Mama, and Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. will all be coming to Downtown Spartanburg later this year. Thanks to their amazing business plans and unique concepts, and no small measure of hard work to win over the judges, each of these great new businesses will be receiving $12,000 in rent assistance for their first year of operation, as well as thousands of dollars of in-kind services from other businesses in the area. Today on the podcast, we sit down with members of the Motte family to talk about the family-owned micro-distillery they plan to bring to Downtown Spartanburg. When will you be able to pick up some delicious libations distilled right in here in our City? Listen to the podcast to find out.

Last week,  of our  to a packed house at . The Local Hiker, Haute Mama, and Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. will all be coming to Downtown Spartanburg later this year. Thanks to their amazing business plans and unique concepts, and no small measure of hard work to win over the judges, each of these great new businesses will be receiving $12,000 in rent assistance for their first year of operation, as well as thousands of dollars of in-kind services from other businesses in the area.   On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Sara McLean Riddle, owner of maternity specialty store,  to learn about this great soon-to-be addition to East Main Street. What will Haute Mama offer for expectant mothers in Spartanburg that the big boxes just can't match? Listen to the podcast to find out.

In case you , the three winners of our  were announced last night to a packed house at . The Local Hiker, Haute Mama, and Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co. will all be coming to Downtown Spartanburg later this year. Thanks to their amazing business plans, and no small measure of hard work to win over the judges, each of these great new businesses will be receiving $12,000 in rent assistance for their first year of operation, as well as thousands of dollars of in-kind services from other businesses in the area. On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Michael & Kathy Silverman, owners of  to get the skinny on their plans to bring a new specialty hiking and backpacking store to East Main Street. When might you be able to walk inside and buy yourself that new backpack you've been wanting? Listen below and find out.