NotNotSanti

According to their brochure, which was updated four days ago, the total number of parking spaces is planned to be about 350. Westsider, I’m actually amazed you counted up to 280. I would have given up after ten.

I attended the meeting tonight, and, as it turns out, the only thing that was presented to the DRB for approval was the parking lot situation. Everything else, it seems, needs to go through the board handling historical sites as the warehouse counts as one. It was actually funny for even the DRB members to realize halfway into the presentation that they were only granting approval for the parking lot. To be fair though, it wasn’t really brought up at the beginning of the presentation. I’m glad though they explained the other aspects of the project until they got to that point, as it helped me to have a better understanding of what the project entails.

Makes sense. Thanks!

Ah! I'm going to miss that Barnes & Nobles. It showed it's age, sure, but for many years, before things picked up in Spartanburg, it was one of the few places in Spartanburg I could go to and enjoy myself for a while. All good things must come to an end, I guess!

Is there a completion date goal in mind for the project?

That's awesome! Now if only they would go back to adding that proposed trail that would have connected Heywood to main street by means of the creek that runs besides Converse University, I'd be a stupidly happy panda.

I never imagined it'd be anything like THAT! It looks like they are conserving the "alley" street that's now made of gravel. I hope so. If I love walking my dog through there now...!

I'm with you, Spartanburg Dude. To me, that would have been the best case scenario. The work they did with the two properties facing Converse University on Main Street is marvelous! Yet between having three homes looking dejected with a hint of haunted for years on end and having instead a clean, new neighborhood free of overgrown vegetation, fallen trees, and collapsed roofs... yeah, I simply can't wait! There used to be a good number of homes that were abandoned/boarded up in that area. Those three were the last ones holding out. Some pics of the work so far. IMG_0776.HEICIMG_0777.HEICIMG_0778.HEIC

I see. Something like that would be a great use of space. I'm not into baseball, but I would actually go here and there if it was smack in the downtown area. And if that could bring with it eventually more restaurants and perhaps even a food court, well, I'm game - pun intended!

Yes, that's the one I meant. The crew that took down the old houses to make way for the new townhomes over at the next block will be handling this project as well. My understanding was that they needed a certain number of lots to go into contract before starting the project. Guess they reached that goal.

Accidental double post. Delete, please!

I was at Fr8 Yard yesterday for the first time in a while, and I seriously wondered how the noise situation will work out with those new apartments/towers coming in. I guess it will be a "you know what you are getting into!" situation, because I don't see how you could create apartments that close to the action without having it all bleed through. I imagine it's a similar issue with the other apartments in the area. I'm wondering more about the ones that will be -directly- next to Fr8 Yard.

I've heard from one more source the possibility of a new baseball stadium. Where in the Grain District though would be a good location for it? I'm not very familiar with professional baseball stadiums (or any other, for that matter), and how much land is needed to accommodate such an undertaking.

It's amazing what not driving down a certain road for two weeks can do. Those structures sure are notable now! I hope further growth happens along Drayton Avenue down towards Pine Street. I know there is -something- that may be coming next to the Spartanburg Regional location by Beaumont Village, but that still leaves a lot of land along these new apartments and that point that could be developed.

Pre-demolition work is happening on the old homes located at the East Main Street/North Fairview corner. Demolition will begin a week and a half from now. Can't wait to have that place cleared out, and the new neighborhood constructed. It's another game changer for North Converse Heights!

I don't think the areas I addressed fall within the geographical parameters looked for in the survey, but be that as it may: 1. Add pedestrian bridges at the Pine Street/Main Street intersection. 2. Add a stoplight and pedestrian cross walk at the Drayton Avenue/North Pine Street intersection. 3. Add better lighting in the areas surrounding Converse University, especially Drayton Avenue/Converse Circle. 4. Add dedicated electric charging stations. 5. Increase options for public transportation (i.e., more routes/stops for public busses)

That’s unfortunate considering what an eye sore that area is with all the kudzu all over the place. It’d be cool if the creek could at least become a feature in the feature with that area turned into green space, but with how it’s owned by different owners, I bet that is simply not feasible. In terms of those parcels, perhaps the home on that corner is a sign of things to come. There’s some remodeling taking place in the neighborhood between that one and Pine Street as well. I can’t imagine that park being left as is for much longer. Thanks for the quick reply and for keeping us here so we’ll informed, Westsider!

It’s exciting to see how all of this is turning out. However, it’s made me wonder, what is going to happen in the area between the apartments and N Dean Street? Have there been any proposed projects for that lately? If I remember correctly, that was going to be developed into a wet area initially; if so, I imagine there must be some big topological barrier to overcome. Still, it’d be awesome to see some development happen. Maybe finally a downtown grocery store? I imagine the new homes/apartments would make it a more viable possibility. As an aside, I wonder if any of you know of any activity planned for the park area between Vic Bailey and Cribbs catering. Seems like a great spot for further residential construction to take place as I have never seen that area used anytime I drive to the area.

So it did pass, and here is an article from GoUpstate: https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/local/2021/03/16/spartanburg-county-oks-mixed-use-development-sought-developers/6943594002/ I'd still like to check into it if this hadn't been published. Excited to see where this will take us! Edit: a final approval is still needed, likely in May. Still a step forward!

Any updates on whether this passed? And how would one go about checking? Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome, westsider, and for the info! Glad that the project is still on the table. And it's true - the trail could still happen. When I inquired about the decision to have it end on Adam's Patk instead, I believe that the bridge on Fairview also proved to be a challenge. Still hoping though! Maybe a nice Converse College alumnus will come along and through a bunch of money that way. And maybe I'll win the lottery on that same day also... That reminds me, thank God daydreaming is free, or I'd be broke! I also drove by the townhomes in the neighborhood. Looks like they are getting ready to pave the new street. Can't wait!

Greetings, everyone! I'm Santi - a new member. Does anyone know if this project has been scrapped? It's been about a year since the rezoning was approved, and there hasn't been any visible movement. It'd be a major upgrade to North Converse Heights if this project were to finally happen! It's a shame though that the trail that was proposed to go behind Converse College along the Chiquapin Creek up to Pine Street was changed to end up in Adam's park of Beaumont Village instead. It would have been an awesome feauture for the neighborhood. Though perhaps it will help spark some renovations within the Village, which would be good for the area overall as well.