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The City just posted on Facebook that "N Daniel Morgan Ave. (sic - actually East DMA) will see road improvements beginning next week that will immediately add on-street parking and a new pedestrian crossing, and will ultimately allow for more pedestrian & cycling space. Please be mindful as you travel the area during construction!" Interesting that it sounds like the bike path will come later? The plan I posted above is mostly just striping (with a few curbs). I hope the crossing isn't the one from the plan, because it's a weird location that would make turning left onto Liberty Street difficult.

On the agenda for the Feb. 26 City Council meeting are executive sessions for "Project Core" and (a new one) "Project Hoist," a potential mixed-use development in the downtown area.

According to the minutes from the Feb. 12 City Council meeting, there are still ongoing issues at Robert Smalls. That development is truly cursed. Also, the Fire Department members and equipment that are currently housed at 145 W. Broad Street will move to the new Fire Facility at Wofford Street in the next couple of weeks.

Nacho Taco announced on socials that they're closing.

Construction aerial from Ken Toney on Facebook

Not sure if it's this, but I found plans for a cycletrack on East DMA on the old City website before it was updated (it had an open file tree, which wasn't very secure). Regardless of whether or not this is what's happening, I'll repeat my complaint that the City/County needs to be more transparent on all these projects. We shouldn't have to rely on rumors and speculation; it should all be posted publicly on their website(s). DMA-Beaumont cycletrack.pdf

The March 5 DRB agenda includes a request for Full and Final Approval for the Spartanburg Ballpark Development located at 300 W. Henry Street.

Fencing is up around City Hall. Saw on socials that the time capsule was removed, and it will be opened publicly at a future date.

This townhome project is on the March 5 DRB agenda requesting full and final approval. Good to see it moving along quickly. Also, 251 East Main (art studio) is on the agenda requesting preliminary approval.

Looks like this project has been named "Hub City Bottleworks". It's now being marketed by Roadstead Real Estate Advisors, and they have a recent YouTube video showing current conditions of the property.

This H-J article says the newly renovated buildings on Magnolia Street will be home to an expansion of The Children's Museum of the Upstate. I assume that will be in the basement / Spring Street portion, since Cara Bella Boutique is immediately adjacent to the current Museum. They also mention a jewelry store, but that might just be a reference to Cara Bella (the wording is unclear). Pic from a few days ago:

A good bit of concrete has been poured for the stadium foundation, primarily the right-field side. Home plate area and left-field side have rebar in place.

Fencing is going up around the old courthouse in preparation for demolition.

Some Downtown Transportation Plan notes: people want better safety at pedestrian street crossings like on Church Street, other areas of concern include trucks on Pine Street, timing the intersections when you press the button for walking, and striping. Early recommendations are signage, sprucing up downtown corridors and cutting some lanes from 4 to 2, making room for wider sidewalks. (great to hear) Councilor Fulmer commented about focusing on safety on Pine Street. Councilor Rain wants to calm traffic on Church Street and make it more pedestrian friendly. Councilor Littlejohn hopes to create a bus route along Union or Pine to the Ingles or Walmart to help with grocery store access. (an excellent idea) Once the full report is out, there will be public input to help City Council decide the prioritization of the various elements. City article Fox Carolina story WSPA story

At the February 19 County Council meeting, there will be a public hearing for "an Ordinance to provide for and authorize the execution and delivery of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Spartanburg, South Carolina regarding the sharing of costs associated with construction, equipping, financing and maintenance of a Minor League Baseball Stadium in the City, and other matters related thereto."

At the February 19 County Council meeting, there will be a public hearing for "an Ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a Special Source Credit Agreement by and between Spartanburg County, South Carolina and Palmetto Operating Company, LLC." This would provide a 20-year escalating FILOT and infrastructure credits for this development.

Looks like a Berkshire Hathaway realtor office has gone into 124 Magnolia Street (former selfie studio above Nacho Taco). Not a huge foot-traffic driver, but a good quality tenant.

Boxcar Apartments aerial views from Concorde Construction's Instagram:

First jobs announcement of the year: Omron Automation, an automation solution provider, will establish its first South Carolina operation at 311 Grenoble Road in Greer. The company will invest $9.2 million, creating 162 new jobs. Operations should be online in April. (Fox Carolina story, UBJ article)

I went to this public meeting. A huge number of people attended, and the vast majority were against this plan. Talking with SCDOT reps, it's clear they aren't thinking of the network as a whole. They're just trying to tackle each problem in isolation, which is a losing proposition. Some people asked, "what if this plan fails?" and the only response was "build a bridge". The "highway mentality" is so pervasive in SCDOT... On another note, City Council will get an update on the Spartanburg Downtown Transportation Plan at Monday's meeting (which will be held at County Council chambers). It says "Recommendations, funding, implementation plan" for February (this meeting?). Draft Report in March, and Final Report in April. It will be interesting to see what their findings / recommendations are.

I parked on Liberty Street between Main and Broad the other day and noticed a large QR code on the window of the building on the Broad side of The Local Hiker that most recently had a salon. Coming in "Spring" is The Club House, another indoor golf simulator / bar. Similar to Streaking Birdies below Rockers, I presume. There's also a similar business coming to the shopping center behind IHOP and the new Popeye's on the Eastside. Definitely a "hot" concept right now. But anyway, I'm glad to see a night time attraction in this part of downtown.

A portion of the slab has finally been poured!

Lots of rebar and some forms for the field level of the stadium structure (where the locker rooms will be, etc). No concrete poured quite yet.

DBH Kinston, LLC--the owner of the Kinston Wood Ducks (future Spartanburg team)--has registered in South Carolina (at the 131 West Main address) as of January 24, 2024. More interestingly, I found that DBH Kinston, LLC has acquired the "Spartanburgers" trademark. This doesn't necessarily mean that the new team will be called that (could just be covering their bases--pun intended), but it's a possibility.

A few more details in this P&C article. Asbestos abatement in the former City Hall will begin this month, with demolition to follow this "spring". A time capsule from 1961 located in a granite stone on the building’s northeast corner will be opened ahead of the demolition. The new city-county municipal building’s proposed design will likely be presented to City Council sometime in March. The first step after the demo is to build a new parking deck centered in the middle of the block that will have new development all around it.