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I believe the idea for city hall to be in the Montgomery building, was just a Clemson Architecture student's suggestion for a final project. Probably not a whole lot going to happen there. I think it would be ideal for upscale living, and restore the theatre and shops in the bottom. Put all the glass back, and make it more retail. I also think the auditorium would be a great home for the littlde theatre. They're getting some new digs with the Arts Center, but I personally feel that the new facility would have made for a awesome symphony hall. Not as large as the Peace Center, but significant enough to hold concerts. I'm pretty sure that Cleveland still owns the Montgomery, so be prepared for it to sit a while. There is a lot of big players in Spartanburg, but they sometimes don't like to play together. I believe that there are those waiting for Cleveland to go "belly-up" and then get his holdings for a steal. Probably good business sense, but the delays only slows down progress.

I hope it does great. I'll do my part. Fell in love with their ice-cream while visiting New Orleans several years back. I also hope the location serves them well. The way it is orientated (sideways to the road) just doesn't lend itself to a lot of visibility toward the back. I have several friends who live on the Eastside that didn't even know that Gerhards was even there. Also, Brusters ice cream already has a headstart for that Eastside business.

I'm a little concerned about the Marble Slab being in Converse Plaza. Not a whole lot of visibility and walk-by traffic. Put it downtown!!!! (so I can walk)

I agree with you Spartan. Hopefully, if they put parking there it will be temporary, and they'll try to market the space for a building. The city has a couple of great garages. We don't need to litter our city with big asphalt spaces. We need to go higher, not wider.

The final design for Morgan Square is now up on the city's websight, if someone -Spartan - would like to post. I would, but I do good to get this posted. The Renaissance thoughts are just mine and some friends. However, we don't really play a role in the decision making process. My hope would be for someone to read a post and say "We might could make that work" I know I'm dreaming, but it's fun. Also, I don't really post much on the Greenville developments, but it is great to read and hear about all that is going on. I actually played for the grand opening of the Hyatt and can't believe the transformation that has taken place over the past twenty-something years. That gives me great hope for Spartanburg. The media likes to compare and put Greenvilee and Spartanburg as rivals, but I hope the citizens don't. They are both special and unique. Ok off my soapbox.

If the museum doesn't happen at the mill, then I believe that the parking won't be so huge. They have finished the current parking, and unless some new structures move in, I think they're done. Its a little deceiving, because the main entrance/facade doesn't face Pine Street. You have to drive around to what I would think of as the back to see the entrances to the offices and mill. Also, now that the empty K-mart is being addressed, I hope to hear some redefined vision for the Renaissance Park project. They are moving and grading for the new fine arts center and road, but that's about all. Some have mentioned wanting a large water feature (lake whatever) that would have shops and condos surrounding. Could be cool to be able to walk out of the Marriott and down to some shops or over to the green space and ampitheater at Barnet park, but I don't have the millions to make it happen. Any other ideas? right now it seems to be a clean slate.

The Southern Conference has already moved in and seem to be quite happy. i hope other offices join them. I believe that the SC althetic hall of Fame died due to lack of support from Columbia. The racing museum of the south didn't meet Jimmy Gibbs timetable on gathering enough funds for phase 1. He was going to donate the building to the museum, but they couldn't come up with the cash. I don't know if it is completely dead, but its close. I think that Gibbs is starting to put out feelers for others tenants. The renovation is very nice. Spartanburg was more involved in racing than you may think. Some of the early pioneers such as David Pearson, Cotton Owens, Bud Moore, James Hylton were all located in Spartanburg. There is a Busch team still in town. Spartanburg was also one of the 1st choices to build the speedway that is now in Talladega,but the people fought it. However, even with that said, it would still be a stretch for the museum.

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?

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.

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.

Just the garage in back of Floyd's. The city is going to build another garage for the them. The promenade road beside the hotel is headed right at it.

Thanks for moving the thread over here spartan. I was out at If Its Paper today and there is a lot of surveying going on. they have a sign letting people know that they are moving because of the Renaissance park project - namely the arts center. Hopefully, we'll see some more dirt moving soon. As far as the office buildings in Renaissance Park, Turner Construction was going to be located in one of them, but since they have had the financial problems with Arthur Cleveland, I think that has fallen through. I don't know what the policy is for putting up websights, but there is an arhitect's websight that has a photo of the digital model of Renaissance park. it shows the office buildings, promenade road, parking, and the hotel in the background. The city is supposedly waiting to finalize the site for the arts center before they continue work on the road. I thought that the garage at Floyd's morturary was supposed to already be down, but its still standing.

Oops.......sorry emo (not eme) Welcome to the forum. Typing is not my strong point.

Wow! I've been out of town and I come back to all kinds of Spartanburg discussion. Welcome to the forum eme. this probably belongs in the Spartanburg development forum, but you guys have a great discussion going so I'll just stay here. The theatre in the montgomery building is actually the Carolina Theatre. It was originally called the Montgomery Theatre. I believe it does have around 1300 seats. It was built back in the days of segregation so it has a double balcony. The Palmetto Theatre facade was torn down about a year or so ago to build the new Johnson development building between Main and Dunbar street across from the downtown passenger station. 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. By the way, the New Wild Wings cafe is open. haven't eaten there yet, but drove by and it is awesome to see people up on the second balcony eating and looking down on Morgan Square. If you go to eat, you should go up toward 1st Baptist and check out their new student center called "The Hangar" they have a real Nave plane hanging from the ceiling in a building designed to look like a hangar. Not many people realize that there is a building with a plane in it in downtown Spartanburg. Cool