Spartanburg City News

Following on the heels of last week's release of the first part of our new series of articles and podcasts, Northside Rising, where we take a look back at the story of Spartanburg's Northside neighborhood, today on the City Podcast, we're delving deeper into the history of the Northside before the decision by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine to build their Carolinas Campus in the nei...

It's a year when the word "unprecedented" became commonplace. Beginning with a February tornado that cut a swath through the heart of our city and followed shortly by the COVID-19 global pandemic that still rages as the year comes to a close, 2020 is a year most of us would likely rather forget, though none of us ever will. Through it all, signs of our community's continued strength were abundant,...

Today on the podcast, we've got details on our "Snowman Scramble" scavenger hunt and downtown business spotlight giveaway, both of which will be kicking off soon!

It's not the easiest route to satisfy a state requirement, but here at the City of Spartanburg, we don't shy away from big challenges and we're never afraid to be innovators. That's why when discussions around racial equity in our community were given new urgency on the heels of data shared from USC-Upstate's Metropolitan Studies Institute in their 2018 Spartanburg Racial Equity Index showing larg...

At their meeting on September 14, City Council approved the creation of the Spartanburg Housing Fund, a special fund to be used exclusively to fill gaps in development projects that build, preserve, or improve affordable housing units in the city. Initially capitalized with $750,000 as part of the deal to replace Norris Ridge Apartments with the Midtowne Heights Development, the fund will be used...

Today on the podcast, we're sitting down with City Manager Chris Story to get an update on the impressive list of major projects in the works for Downtown Spartanburg and our city's Northside.

Late last year, the City was awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a new City initiative, "Lead-safe Spartanburg." Funding will be used to remove lead-based paint hazards and reduce other health hazards in the home for families with children under the age of 6 and safely improve the housing stock of pre-1978 homes in our community. Both own...

As COVID-19 continues to imact our community and we're all doing our part to flatten the curve by staying home when possible, practicing safe social distancing when in public, and wearing a cloth mask in situations where distancing is difficult, we wanted to offer a way to both share our own tips on how you can get through these challenging times and to offer our residents the chance to share thei...

Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about the Governor's "Work or Home" order, requiring all people in South Carolinians to stay at home unless reporting to work, traveling for essentials, visiting relatives, or engaging in individual recreation. We also have an update on current City operations and a look forward at the weeks ahead.

One of the most critical ways for our community to ensure that it gets the critical Federal resources it needs depends on all of us, and in 2020, it's never been easier to do your part. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Kathryn Harvey of Neue South Collective and Andy Flynt, Director of Information Services with Spartanburg County Public Libraries about the Census, which you can fill out yo...

Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager, Chris Story about the latest on COVID-19 in Spartanburg and about the City's response to this global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting communities throughout the world and Spartanburg is no different. Today on the podcast, we're offering tips on how you can stay informed and help stop the spread of this virus. What's the short takeaway? Check the CDC's COVID-19 page for the most comprehensive overview of the virus, its spread, and how to protect yourself. Check DHEC's COVID-19 page for informati...

It's one of the most popular outdoor amenities in our city, and like so many other parts of Spartanburg, the Cottonwood Trail was hit hard during the recent tornado that swept across our community. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Clay McDonough and Alix Refshauge of SPACE (Spartanburg Area Conservancy) about recovery on the trail, its place in the Spartanburg community, and about the orga...

It cut right through the heart of our city, and no one can ever remember seeing any weather event in Spartanburg quite like last Thursday's tornado. Carving a path through Spartanburg, from beyond the western edges of the city to our most eastern neighborhoods, the twister sowed chaos in our community and left behind debris and damage that will impact our residents' lives for weeks to come. Today...

For the next installment in our #Spartanburg2020 podcast series, we're taking a slightly different approach, talking with a trio of guests about what it's like to live, work, create, and play in Downtown Spartanburg. Why choose to live here? Why is Downtown Spartanburg the right place to express your creative vision? What amenities are we still lacking? What challenges are we facing, and how are t...

With Spartanburg's explosive growth across every sector over the past decade, it's probably not surprising to anyone paying attention that the number and variety of ways for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and get active has also grown exponentially. Whether it's the City's $2.5 million neighborhood parks improvement plan that touched all corners of our City, or the additi...

Change is seemingly everywhere you look in Spartanburg these days, from the historic levels of growth seen in our downtown, to the transformational community redevelopment seen in some of our city's most underserved areas, the energy that can be felt throughout our community is palpable. The arts are no exception to this incredible journey of change and growth. Today on our next #Spartanburg2020 p...

More than 30 years ago, Spartanburg became the first city in South Carolina to hold an official event celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a simple ceremony around the flagpole outside Spartanburg City Hall, where attendees reflected on the words and purpose of Dr. King's life. From the seeds sown there, Spartanburg's annual celebration has grown to include an annual gathering attended by t...

Can you remember a more transformative decade in Spartanburg than the one we're bidding farewell to in 2019? We certainly can't. In fact, even trying to list the changes seen since 2010 quickly devolves into a spiral of "what did I leave out?" doubt. From the hundreds of millions invested in Downtown Spartanburg, to the combined public, private, and nonprofit efforts on our city's Northside, the c...

It's become an annual holiday tradition on the City Podcast to take a look back at the previous year in Spartanburg, but with the 2010s winding down, this year we decided to dial that up a bit. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager, Chris Story about what we believe has been the most transformative decade in living memory. From the hundreds of millions invested in Downtown Spartanb...

It started as an Instagram account that burst onto the local scene late last year with some stunning aerial photos of Spartanburg. Right from the start though, it was clear that Above Spartanburg wasn't your typical drone photography page. The shots are taken with an artist's eye, with the lighting and the symmetry of each one clearly reflecting the amount of planning and forethought going into ea...

It's the first step in a process that will take at least three years to complete, but at their most recent meeting, Spartanburg City Council took the first steps towards tearing down and replacing Norris Ridge Apartments, a privately owned substandard section 8 apartment complex in the Highland neighborhood that has long been a site targeted for redevelopment by the City and Highland residents. Un...

Walkability. It's one of the keys to future prosperity in every city and has been a crucial lens to help focus downtown development in Spartanburg in recent years, and at a free event next month, area residents will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of walkability from the person who literally wrote the book on the topic. Walkability expert Jeff Speck will share his thoughts on cr...

It's the most important purchase most of us will ever make, and navigating the home buying process can feel overwhelming for folks taking those first steps towards homeownership. Fortunately, help is out there, and on Tuesday, October 15, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at the C.C. Woodson Community Center, future homeowners looking for some guidance will have an opportunity to learn how they can take that next...

It all started with John Green, a man with a vision and passion for educating children about the wonders of science, and today the Spartanburg Science Center continues that mission and is expanding its presense in the community. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Mary Levens and Kathryn Harvey about that expansion, including a new aviation program the organization has spearheaded in partners...