drexel
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Posts posted by drexel
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Still do not think we should spend tax dollars to move the clock tower. I guess that would be phase 2. As I said before I like it just fine where it is and the millions for phase 2 could go elsewhere. Like an East Main road diet/enhancement west of Pine Street or making Barnett Park a better venue.
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10 hours ago, mainonmain said:
So improvements in Barnet Park will pay for themselves but improvements to Morgan Square won't? You actually ever looked at the financials on concerts?
Also, a 1979 clock tower improves a sunset the same way stilt houses improve a beach or a mountain.About 10 years ago Brad Paisley did not play at Barnett Park because the stage is too small. More concerts would bring more out of towners staying in our hotels and eating at our restaurants. A $15 million redo of Morgan Square gets rid of the fountain and a lot of trees that are less than 20 years old. Yes the new stadium may be used for concerts. Of course that involves temp seating and erecting a temp stage. I personally do not care if the clock tower is 1979 (or 1879) . Get rid of it and widen the road coming into downtown?
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5 hours ago, westsider28 said:
I know they replaced the clock faces (which were wooden and deteriorating), but I thought the bells were still original.
While I'm not a fan of the tower either, this is a bit of a callous statement that ignores the attachment that many people have to it (particularly if they donated toward its construction many years ago). I think moving it is a good compromise.
Can you explain why you think it looks great where it is? Is it just because you're used to it? Would it not look out of place with a potential 4-story+ development (taller than the clock tower) right next door on the H-J lot? What value does it have in its current location? People rarely spend time at the base of the tower, as it's in the middle of the road. If it were in a more park-like setting in front of the Courthouse, people could hang out there, more easily read the plaque, and appreciate the history better, IMO.
The clock tower gives downtown a welcoming feel especially driving or walking west to east. Have seen a lot of pretty sunsets looking toward the clock tower from Morgan Square. The clock enhances that view. Maybe a new building on the H-J site would dwarf it; but wait until that happens. Also, I believe we should make minimal changes to the square and spend part of the $15 million on adding permanent seating and a larger stage to Barnett Park. Still leaving a good portion of the grassy hill. More concerts would bring in money and the improvements should pay back many times over. The park is so under utilized.
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6 hours ago, Sparkleman said:
Feels like a clown show downtown when it comes to Morgan Square.
Just leave it alone.
I agree. There are better projects to spend our TAX DOLLAR on. Just expand brick pavers across Main Street and construct a permanent covered stage. The clock tower looks great where it is.
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Why not repave all of DMA behind the courthouse? As much money as we taxpayers have spent for the new courthouse. SC road conditions pretty much suck.
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23 hours ago, Sparkleman said:
This project has to be one of the bigger screwups in the city/county's history and that's saying something.trailith
Respectfully disagree. I ride my bike a lot and to be able to ride from downtown to Glendale Shoals is huge. I guess you are against connecting the River Birch Trail with Drayton Mills Trail along Heywood.. It will be a 'Trail' along a busy road. I believe that the county's biggest screw up is allowing sprawl in Boiling Springs. At least CC does not have truck traffic like Pine Street. People do walk on the SIDEWALKS of those very dangerous roads. Evidently a lot of SC has not planned for bypasses like other states. Much safer, moves traffic and helps control sprawl.
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I have brought this up several times to a number of city council representatives. I believe we need a stricter city sign ordinance. Last week spent a few days around Red Rock Colorado on the outskirts of Denver. NEVER saw a billboard and almost all the commercial signs were low monument style. Evidently Clemson has a similar restriction as well as some other towns in SC. It is so much more attractive than what we have now. The county is the absolute worst and does not care how big signs are or where they are located. Also saw less litter in a hundred miles than in one mile in Spartanburg/Upstate and the Co. pot tax pays for some damn good roads.
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Had dinner st Smoking Butts BBQ for the first time tonight and it was really good. Food and service. The old Wild Wings is such a cool building. The upstairs was not open, but looked ready for live music.
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17 hours ago, hub-city said:
Cliff notes? I know you can’t quote the article, but I don’t subscribe to the HJ anymore so I can’t see the main idea.
Basically that the Auditorium new management is bringing in more entertainment than in the past few years. Also more variety and using the Hall as much as possible. The Hall/lower arena can hold up to 2,000 people.
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HJ article on the Auditorium. Even compares the size of the Hall/lower arena to the Orange Peel (Asheville) that I brought in an earlier post.
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2 hours ago, westsider28 said:
Billy Idol is coming to the Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, April 29. The new director has been doing a great job attracting shows, IMO. We've had more and better shows in 6 months than the last several years combined. Air Supply, Grace Potter, Alice Cooper, and 38 Special are coming. We've already had Sister Hazel and Cravin' Melon, Buddy Guy, Zach Williams, and Shen Yun. They've also been utilizing "The Hall" (basement) for smaller shows with a more flexible setup (like standing room). Hopefully we continue to get more shows.
Saw Judah and the Lion (adult alternative) last night at the Orange Peel in Asheville. That venue is about the size of 'The Hall' at our Auditorium. Agree that the new management is doing a much better job. But having so many young/college kids living here the Auditorium could have more current/newer music. Love the old stuff, but we should be able to support both. Sister Hazel was great a couple of months ago in Hall/lower arena.
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A while back I took the train from Charlotte to High Point, NC. This Amtrak train subsidized by NC runs multiple times a day between Charlotte and Raleigh. The train was relatively crowded. I did not need it but a shuttle bus was at the High Point station going to Winston Salem. Charlotte to Atlanta several times a day with bus service from GSP to Spartanburg and Greenville makes sense and would be well received. IMHO
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Saturday for lunch eat at Sully's Steamers in The Hub for the first time. Thought it was really good. They were busy as well Moe's Barbecue. Was also impressed with the new Wofford Book Store. Nice Northside addition.
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My wife shops at Target a good bit and we live on the east side. I have said for years that redeveloping the Pinewood Shopping center (Wades) with a Target as an anchor should be a success. Especially as a mixed use development attracting folks from the eastside/Drayton/Berkley as well as Boiling Springs. No clear cutting (already done) and not adding to the nightmare traffic and ugly Boiling Springs out of control sprawl.
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First time in a good while drove past the Startex mill on the way to Cowpens. The amount of litter between Spartanburg City limits and Cowpens is appalling. I have lived in two other states and visited about twenty or so more. Spartanburg County has the worst litter problem that I have encountered. The county and city needs to do a better job of cleaning our roads. We have had some statewide ant-litter campaigns, but need to do more. It is embarrassing, stupid and costly.
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I am surprised that East Main from Pine to the Denny's Building has not been repaved. I thought that was going to happen some years ago. Goes along with the East Main diet conversation. Those couple of blocks are really rough. Also hope all the streets that the Rail Trail extension follows will be repaved and not just patched.
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On 9/12/2021 at 5:27 PM, Spartan said:
Meanwhile, Delaney's, Initial Q, and WildWing get free expanded seating capacity on publicly owned land.
IMHO The compromise should be to open that one block of Main Monday through Thursday. But then close it on weekends. Went by there at lunch today and counted SEVEN eating/drinking establishments in that one block. Then you have the Peddler and Sophia's 20 feet down the street to also benefit from foot traffic. Looked like the new burger joint was doing well. (old Crepe factory) .
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According to today's newspaper Red, White and Boom will be held this year. Music on Main is also on tap starting July 8.
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Bronco's has opened at Pine and Main Shopping Center. Looks nice inside, bright and modern. Will try it next time in mood for Mexican.
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The YMCA of Greater Spartanburg is opening up the Willis Road Family YMCA. This is the old Westside Club. It is a lease agreement with the current owners of the facility. According to email I received tours of the facility begin tomorrow.
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Old news, but have not seen it mentioned. Converse is officially going co-ed fall of 2022 and will become a university. Although, they have had male graduate students for decades. Only a small percentage of high school females apply to a single gender college.
Spartanburg Methodist College will start offering more 4 year BA degree majors next fall. I believe they will add six more.
Obviously our colleges are a great asset.
C
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1 hour ago, roads-scholar said:
Jump-starting a new decade with a wish list that is more ambitious than in previous years.
- A new downtown hotel announcement. (Maybe we'll see movement on the Cambria project?)
- A solid tenant (or tenants) for the Coca Cola building on West Main Street.
- A development announced for the Grain District on Daniel Morgan Avenue south of the AC Marriott Hotel.
- Another downtown apartment / condo project. Perhaps one that will enhance the skyline.
- A promising new tenant for the empty Wild Ace building on West Main Street.
- More development at the Pine / Main intersection.
- Finally, a quality tenant for the proposed Gibbs office building project at Renaissance Park.
- An announcement regarding Milliken Village (tenants, construction timetable, etc.).
- A redevelopment plan for Westgate Mall.
- More housing, affordable and market rate, in the city.
- Ground broken for Midtown Heights on Wofford Street.
Great list!
I would add:
Extension of the Rail Trail to Barnett Park.
Repave East Main with bike lane s from First Baptist to Pine Street.
More restrictive sign ordinance (similar to Clemson).
LESS LITTER!!!!!
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The Standard has closed at Drayton Mills and will be replaced by Dray Bar and Grill. Reported in today's H-J: https://www.goupstate.com/news/20191126/dray-bar--grill-to-replace-standard-at-drayton-mills
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6 hours ago, sptgguy said:
No soft opening yesterday...they were still building in the dining room. They have been practicing in the kitchen though as they burnt a pizza on Saturday that you could smell in the eleator all the way up to the 3rd floor.
Sorry about the misinformation. Evidently the original plan changed.
Sparkle City Eateries
in Spartanburg
Posted
According to an article in today's H-J online news. Main Street Pub re-opens today after a three month renovation. Looks pretty cool.
https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2024/04/11/spartanburgs-main-street-pub-is-back-with-more-space-bigger-menu/73255871007/