Spartanburg City News Podcast

Today on the podcast, we're talking with Neighborhood Services Director, Martin Livingston and City Planner, Natalia Rosario to get the technical details and background to help us untangle the Highland master plan process as we embark on a long-term, transformational community development journey with the Highland neighborhood, seeking to improve the lives of some of Spartanburg's neediest residents.

Do you have relatives or friends coming to town this weekend? Looking for a way to show off the coolest unexpected treasures Spartanburg has to offer after everyone awakens from their annual turkey-induced coma? This week's podcast is for you!

As its historic renovation nears completion, we're talking with Montgomery Building developers James Bakker and Tom Finnegan to get some inside info on the renovation process, as well as their take on where the building fits into the Downtown Spartanburg redevelopment story.

A new six-story hotel planned for the southeast corner of N Church and E St John streets got its first overview from the City's Design Review Board (DRB) on Tuesday. The board, citing the developer's plans to use a nonconforming material to clad the exterior of the hotel's upper floors, sent the project back to the developer for revision before preliminary approval will be granted. So what does that mean? Why regulate the form and materials used in downtown construction projects at all?

Spartanburg has been around for a long time (1787, 1789, or 1831...whatever date you choose, it's been a minute) long enough to have its fair share of creepy history and lore, perfect to explore on this Halloween edition of the City Podcast. We're talking with our friend Brad Steinecke, Spartanburg County Public Library Assistant Director of Local History, to hear some terrifying local tales. Happy Halloween!

Today on the podcast, we're diving deep with our new City Manager, getting his take on the role his leadership position plays in the larger Spartanburg community and discussing the biggest challenges he and the rest of our team will be tackling during his tenure.

He's new to the job but definitely not new to Spartanburg and its people's aspirations and challenges. City Manager Chris Story is through his first couple of weeks on the job and today, on part one of our conversation, we're getting to know the person behind the wonk we've all gotten used to hearing break down those complex local issues over the years.

Today on the podcast, we're talking with Sandy Staggs, Proud Mary Theatre Company Artistic Director, about the upcoming season and about the organization's place in Spartanburg's arts scene.

We're talking with Jansen Tidmore of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Development Partnership about the newly created Downtown Business Bouncil and we get an overview on data coming in from downtown pedestrian counters. What do we know about foot traffic along Main Street, and how can we use the data and the patterns they reveal to grow Downtown Spartanburg in a smarter way?

As City Manager, Ed Memmott prepares to retire from his role here at the City of Spartanburg, we've invited former City Communications Manager Will Rothschild to join us to help in the daunting task of trying to encapsulate a career that spans one of the most important periods in our city's story so far.

As outgoing CIty Manager, Ed Memmott prepares to retire from his role here at the City, we've invited former City Communications Manager, Will Rothschild to join us to help in the daunting task of trying to encapsulate a career that spans one of the most important periods in our city's story so far.

f you've spent any significant amount of time in Downtown Spartanburg in the last decade, there's a pretty good chance that you've encountered work created by one of the 33 artists brought to Spartanburg through HUB-BUB's celebrated Artists-in-Residence program. Today on the podcast, we're getting to know the newest AiRs, Marisa Adesman and Ambrin Ling.

At their last meeting, Spartanburg City Council unanimously approved a funding plan for the future T.K. Gregg Community Center to be built on the former site of Oakview Apartments on our city's Northside. Today on the podcast, we're talking with with Assistant City Manager, Chris Story and Community Services Director, Mitch Kennedy about new center and the impact this incredible facility will have on the Northside and Spartanburg as a whole.

It's an arts institution with a storied 90-year history in our community, and for the first time since 2005, there will be a music director at the helm of Spartanburg Philharmonic as they enter a new season. After a two-year search process that brought three guest conductors to Spartanburg, Stefan Sanders was named Music Director in March.

The summer heat is still here but summer for our city's children is about to come to an end as school begins next week, so today on the podcast, we're doing something a bit different. We packed up the recording equipment and set up shop at the Downtown Memorial Airport Park, which opened this spring, looking to get some thoughts from our local children on what they're looking forward too this upcoming school year. What did we learn? Listen to find out.