Spartanburg City News Podcast

In 2014, Pastor Nannie Jefferies saw a need in Spartanburg that no other organization was filling. After visiting with and ministering to incarcerated relatives of her parishioners, Pastor Jefferies was struck by the lack of assistance and hope those women had once they were released. Many of the women were often left with no alternative but to return to the same environments that had led them down the path to incarceration in the first place, putting them at much higher risk of recidivism. Recognizing the need to offer a better solution, Pastor Jefferies founded , which has been working to provide that solution for recently incarcerated women in Spartanburg ever since. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Pastor Jefferies about the work Angels Charge does and the impact that work has on the women served and the larger community they call home.

It was a storm unlike any in living memory in Spartanburg, and while the damage our region experienced from Hurricane Helene far exceeded everyone's estimates, the City and the community came together to put us on the road to recovery. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story, Fire Chief Pierre Brewton, and Public Works Director Jay Squires about the City's response to Hurricane Helene and the road ahead for Spartanburg.

It was identified during the Duncan Park Revisioning Plan as a priority by a steering committee of nearby residents and stakeholders, and now for the first time in decades, Duncan Park Lake is open to non-motorized boating and catch and release fishing. The new change comes on the heels of other improvements recently made to the park, including removal of invasive species and trails improvements, also identified in the revisioning plan that was spearheaded by in partnership with the City. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Parks, Recreation, & Special Events Director Kim Brown and PAL Executive Director Laura Ringo about the process to open up the lake and what may be next for Duncan Park.

It's been almost four months since City Fire Chief Pierre Brewton returned home to Spartanburg to lead the department where he first honed his skills as a firefighter. Returning after serving for four years as Fire Chief for the City of Albemarle, NC, Chief Brewton began his career with the City of Spartanburg in 1988, assigned to garbage collection in the Public Works Department. In 1994, he successfully transitioned to the Spartanburg Fire Department, rising through the ranks to eventually serve as Assistant Fire Chief, the highest-ranking minority member in Spartanburg Fire Department history.  Chief Brewton was born and raised in the Highland community in Spartanburg and is a proud graduate of Spartanburg High School, Limestone University, and Spartanburg Community College. He is credentialed through the Center for Public Safety Excellence as a Chief Fire Officer and Chief Training Officer and is a graduate of Texas A&M's Fire Service Chief Executive Fire Officer Program and the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Service Executive Development Institute. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Chief Brewton about his experiences growing up and living in Spartanburg, his plans for the fire department he leads, and his reflections on the future of community he is dedicated to serving.

In a little more than two years, Hello Family—a unique collection of support systems for young children and their families—has gone from an idea to scale up and build capacity for early childhood services utilizing an innovative  funding model to  for the organization's work to improve birth outcomes, increase school readiness, and enhance childhood health and well-being in Spartanburg. In fact, Hello Family's success has been so significant during those first two years, that now the organization is in the process of expanding countywide, having joined Spartanburg Academic Movement in late 2023 to build their organizational capacity. Today on the podcast, we're discussing the remarkable success Hello Family has seen so far and what that means for Spartanburg with Hello Family Director, Kaitlin Watts and Bryan Boroughs with the Institute of Child Success. 

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions many of us will ever make, and getting started in that process can be daunting. So what do you do if you have questions about qualifying for a mortgage, downpayment assistance, where to find a realtor, or any of the other issues that may arise in finding a home for you and your family? Come to the Homebuyer Seminar & Expo at the Dr. T.K. Gregg Community Center (650 Howard St.) on June 29, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.! Local experts in all of these areas and more will be available to walk you through the process and get you on the road to homeownership. Today on the podcast, we're talking with local realtor Lupe Rosales and Carolyn MacIntosh with First Citizens Bank about the event.

Today on the podcast we're discussing MySpartanburg, our new City app allowing residents to easily and conveniently report service requests directly from their smartphones.  Available through the and , the app lets those who live, work, and play in the City of Spartanburg report any non-emergency service requests and receive updates on requests as they are assigned to City staff and completed.  The app enables users to upload photos, pulls location data from photos, and provides a wide variety of request categories that include Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Commercial Property, and more, so City staff can receive detailed information and lessen the need for calls, duplicate requests, and the uncertainty associated with making sure your service requests are received by the right staff.

Community Health Awareness Day returns to Spartanburg on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Carver Middle School (467 S. Church St.). This free community event offers an array of services, resources, entertainment, and activities in one convenient location. The event will kick off with a 5k health awareness walk at 7:45 AM with warm-up exercises. From 8:00 to 11:00 AM, attendees can participate in various health screenings, education sessions, listen to engaging speakers, enjoy line dancing, and access over 55 community resource vendors. There will also be activities designed specifically for kids and seniors. The event is a collaborative effort involving key community partners such as Live Healthy Spartanburg, the Greater Spartanburg Divine Nine, ReGenesis Healthcare, the City of Spartanburg, and the United Way of the Piedmont. Today on the podcast, we're talking with JaLisa Jordan, Program Manager at Live Healthy Spartanburg, and ReGenesis Healthcare Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jami Cokley about what participants can expect at this year's Community Health Awareness Day.

As part of ongoing efforts by the City and partnering organizations throughout the Spartanburg community, the Homeless Engagement and Response Team (H.E.A.R.T) program was launched in partnership with the United Way of the Piedmont in 2022 to provide direct outreach to people experiencing homelessness in Spartanburg and to assist in connecting those residents with available service providers.  Responding to the ongoing challenges related to homelessness in our community and recognizing the increasing need for direct assistance for unsheltered residents, the H.E.A.R.T. provides a direct point-of-contact between those in need and the services that can make a difference in their lives. Today on the podcast, we're talking with members of the H.E.A.R.T. program and the leaders who coordinate their efforts.

Back in 2020, the City was fortunate to receive a Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant from the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of these funds is to remediate lead-based paint hazards and reduce other health hazards in the homes of families with children under the age of six and to safely improve the housing stock of older homes in the City of Spartanburg. Over the last four years, the program has turned out to be a great success story, creating a new pathway for improving the lives and health of vulnerable residents while also improving the city's existing housing stock. To date, 38 homes have either completed the program or are currently in the process of doing so. Today on the podcast, we're talking with the program's manager, David Maher about the program and the work the City's team is doing to create safer home environments for residents throughout our city. Listen below for more, and follow this link to learn more about how your home could potentially qualify for assistance with lead-based paint hazards.

With a redesign plan for Morgan Square poised to be taken up by City Council in the coming months, one question many may have is how the space can attract more visitors on a regular basis. Long a focal point for some of Downtown Spartanburg's most successful large events, the City's focus now turns to ways to increase Morgan Square's use as a daily communal gathering spot for less structured, smaller scale activity. In other words, what can the City do to ensure that the new Morgan Square is more than just a pretty space? Today on the podcast, we're talking with Dan Biederman of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV) about exactly that. Working concurrently with the process that created Morgan Square's new design, the team at BRV recently completed a programing plan for the space focused on establishing a daily hum of activity and ensuring that Spartanburg's most prominent public space can reach its full potential, connecting residents and visitors with the square more routinely and boosting foot traffic for the entire downtown footprint. A renowned expert on programming public spaces, Dan Biederman's work includes the dramatic turnaround of Bryant Park in New York, which in the 70s and 80s was the city's most dangerous park. Today, Bryant Park is an international model of urban revitalization and is among the most actively used parks in the world. Thanks to the work of BRV, the model pioneered there has since become a template for creating successful programming models for public spaces throughout the country. 

First opening its doors in April of 1961, Spartanburg City Hall will soon be no more, making way for the construction of a new joint municipal government facility to be shared by the City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County. As the City says its final farewells to the current City Hall—likely the last building to ever carry the name—Dr. Phillip Stone, Archivist at Wofford College and Brad Steinecke, Assistant Director of Local History at Spartanburg County Public Libraries join us to discuss the history of that building and the various facilities the City of Spartanburg has used to do the local public's business over the years. 

On the heels of the recent Council update on the City's plan to enhance Morgan Square, we recently sat down with representatives from the design firm responsible for creating the square's new design, Brenda Diaz-Flores and Darren Meyer with MKSK, to discuss how the design was created and what residents can expect before construction on the new square begins next year. Development of the Morgan Square plan was guided by a select steering committee of local leaders, downtown stakeholders, and area residents, representing the culmination of nine months of sustained public outreach and engagement. Enhancements envisioned by the plan include permanently pedestrianizing the sections of W Main and Dunbar streets along the square, creating festival streets that will both increase the functional size of Morgan Square and create a cohesive feel across the entire space. Additionally, an enlarged performance lawn at the square's eastern end would have adjacent public restrooms and a staffed visitor center, and a new stage orientation would allow upwards of 800 audience members to enjoy performances.  Other highlights include lounging terraces, bench swings, an outdoor dining zone for adjacent restaurants, a 70 percent increase in Morgan Square's total green space, and potentially a programmable water feature. 

Recently, we . In a move designed to grow the City's leadership capacity, Limehouse's emphasis will be on innovation and operational efficiency, joining City Manager Chris Story and Mitch Kennedy who has been promoted to Deputy City Manager.  Limehouse comes to Spartanburg from Charleston, SC where he has worked in state and local government for 17 years, most recently as Strategic Partnerships Manager for Public Services with Charleston County and Program Administrator for CORE SC. Today on the podcast, we're getting to know our new City teammate and learning more about what motivates his work in local government and why he and his family have chosen Spartanburg. 

It's the most important statement of values for any government, and for the City of Spartanburg, the 2023-2024 annual budget is about investing in our city's future. With the largest outlay of capital expenditures in recent memory and a new compensation system designed to attract and retain talent for Spartanburg's municipal team, the focus on adapting to meet the challenges of our rapidly growing community.  Approved unanimously by City Council in June and having taken effect on July 1, the $51 million operating budget includes no tax increases, but does include an increase to the City's solid waste fee. The $45 increase brings the total households pay for curbside garbage, recycling, and green waste pickup to $153 annually, still well below a number of nearby communities such as the City of Greenville ($204 annually) and the City of Rock Hill ($247 annually). Local residents outside the city limits must contract with a private service for garbage and recycling collection, with a cost of approximately $500 annually. On the expenditure side, the budget includes allocations of federal ARPA funding for renovations for the new Fire Department headquarters at 450 Wofford St. and large investments in affordable rental housing and homeownership support. Additionally, around $2 million is allocated to implement salary adjustments and a new classification system for the City's 425+ employees. The adjustments come after the conclusion of a salary study conducted earlier this year. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager, Chris Story to get more details on the fiscal year budget and its impact on our city. 

Another important piece of  is ready for its official ribbon cutting.  A new segment of the River Birth trail will celebrate its opening on Thursday, June 29 at 4:30 p.m. (Parking for event attendees will be available at Bells Hill, 961 East Main St.). Thanks to a partnership between  and , the recently opened trail extension along Lawson's Fork Creek will also feature the new  public art installation. This week on the podcast, we're talking with Spartanburg Art Museum Executive Director, Elizabeth Goddard and PAL Executive Director, Laura Ringo about the new tree-themed public art installation and the new trail that will house it.

Local baseball fans were so excited last month with the announcement that the Down East Wood Ducks would be moving to Spartanburg from their current home in Kinston, NC that they could practically smell the hot dogs. Once here, the team will play its games in the 3,500-seat centerpiece of a  along S Daniel Morgan Ave., which in addition to the ballpark will feature tens of thousands of square feet of residential, office space, and retail. A lot of work is still yet to be done before the stands are filled for the first pitch of a minor league baseball game in Spartanburg since 1994. The City, County, developer, and team will need to approve agreements to bring the development to fruition, designs for the stadium and nearby developments will need to be approved, and then the largest construction project in Downtown Spartanburg history will get underway, transforming the vast and vacant site that exists today into a hub of entertainment and commerce unlike anything our community has ever seen. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about those next steps and about the impact this transformational investment will have in Spartanburg.

It's never hard to find folks willing too share their opinions about litter, and thankfully for those of us in Spartanburg, it's also not hard to find folks willing to put their time and energy into combatting it. Thanks to the work of , those efforts are more organized than ever throughout Spartanburg County. Founded in 2018, our local Keep America Beautiful affiliate works not only to combat litter in our area. The organization also works to engage residents in recycling, beautification efforts, and environmental education. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful Coordinator, Claire Roussos about the organization and how they're helping to improve our local environment and quality-of-life for our residents.

One of the most overlooked ways a civic-minded Spartanburg resident can choose to get involved in shaping the future of our city is by serving on one of our City Boards and Commissions. Maybe you're a local architect interested in helping to ensure that new downtown developments follow the City's design standards or a local cycling enthusiast who'd like to have a say in expanding opportunities for our citizens to get active. Perhaps you're a member of one of the city's neighborhood watch organizations, and you'd like to help influence crime prevention efforts citywide. Whatever the case, odds are there's a City Board or Commission that could use your input, and with vacancies just announced for the upcoming fiscal year (beginning July 1), now would be a great time to step up and help us continue to improve our great city.  Today on the podcast, we're talking with new City Clerk, Christie Lindsey about our Boards and Commissions vacancies and her other responsibilities assisting City Council and connecting our residents with their government.

If you've had the opportunity to view the , you've likely noticed that all of the proposals include an abundant amount of tree canopy. Owing to feedback from residents and stakeholders throughout the process so far, it's clear that the importance of natural shade and the welcoming feel provided by mature trees will certainly be a major factor in whatever shape the final enhancement design takes. While placing trees in many parks can be as simple as selecting the right tree and the right location to plant it, the challenge is much greater in a bustling city center where the regular thumping of tens of thousands of footsteps compresses soil, where surrounding hardscape limits the amount of rain reaching tree roots, and where well over a century of underground infrastructure creates a tangle of sometimes unknown obstacles and complications.  What does a sustainable canopy for Morgan Square look like when the lifespan of urban trees is often 10-20 years? What do we know about the conditions of the trees currently on and around Morgan Square, and what remains hidden underground? What strategies and new technologies can help extend the lifespan of new trees, and what can be done to improve conditions for existing trees that remain after the redesign? Today on the podcast, we're talking with ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and consultant for Morgan Square enhancement process, Jonathan Simmons about his assessment of the square's trees and what our city can do to create a sustainable canopy for its future.

If you've walked down Wall Street in Downtown Spartanburg lately, you've likely noticed the new tree plantings installed earlier this year. While you may have admired the new trees and considered the shade they'll one day provide for visitors to one of Spartanburg's most picturesque pedestrian gateways, you wouldn't have learned the full story behind those hand-picked Chinese Pistache trees and how they found a home in our community.  Today on the podcast, we're telling that story along with our friends from the  who made it all possible.

It's been over 10 years since the last significant update to our website, which is something close to a century in website years, and while the launch of a new municipal government website isn't going to reach many people's threshold for important breaking news, we're pretty excited about it anyway. That excitement comes from all the new ways our updated site will allow residents throughout Spartanburg to better connect with their local government and find the information they're looking for. From the ability to sign up for automatic email or text alerts when new calendar events or City Council agendas are posted, to the prominent and usable search function, to the important government transparency shortcuts on our homepage, this new site was conceived from the ground up as a tool to make connecting with us and staying involved much easier.  Today on the podcast, we're discussing the new site's features and how we hope you'll find them useful.

It began as a way to bring people in Spartanburg together and removing barriers to health care access, and after a hiatus of several years, Spartanburg's Community Health Awareness day is back this year and coming to the Dr. T.K. Gregg Community Center (650 Howard St.) on Saturday, April 22, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The free community event will offer a wide array of health screenings and health education, and will feature activities for young children, teens, and seniors. This week on the City Podcast, we're talking with JaLisa Jordan, Program Manager for Live Healthy Spartanburg about the return of Community Health Awareness Day and why you should plan to visit. 

It's been a little more than a year since —a unique collection of support systems for young children and their families—began operations in Spartanburg, and the capacity-building approach the initiative has brought to early childhood services in our community is already changing lives according to their . The program is a first-of-its-kind approach aimed at significantly improving child wellbeing, boosting future prosperity, and providing quantifiable financial benefits to the Spartanburg community well in excess of its cost and provides free universal nurse home visiting, free evidence-based parent education and support tools, and significantly enhanced early learning opportunities at a full citywide scale Among the group's first year outcomes, more than 85 percent of mothers served by BirthMatters, a free doula service for young, expectant mothers in the City supported by Hello Family, delivered their babies without a NICU admission, and more than 80 percent had a healthy birth weight and were breastfed at birth. Meanwhile, Family Connects, another program supported by Hello Family, completed 236 nurse home visits to assess needs and offer supportive guidance on infant health-related topics. Supported by , Hello Family is a broad community partnership with additional support coming from Mary Black Foundation, the Duke Endowment, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.  Today on the podcast, we discuss Hello Family's first year and future goals with Hello Family Director, Kaitlin Watts.

If you're at all familiar with complex community redevelopment plans (or you're inclined to listen to podcasts about them) you know that an incredible plan without a strategy for implementation runs the risk of becoming little more than a document of empty promises, a recipe for disappointment and disengagement within a community. However, when a solid plan for sustainable community redevelopment becomes an actionable guide for empowered community leadership and motivated public and private sector partners working together, lasting positive change isn't just possible, it becomes the norm.   The story of Spartanburg's Northside community provides an example for Spartanburg and for the entire nation about how that work is done, and community members in Highland are working with the City's new Highland Project Manager, Jamie Smith to put their own stamp on Spartanburg's community redevelopment model, guiding implementation of the Highland Transformation Plan.   Today on the podcast, we're talking with Smith and longtime Highland neighborhood leader, Leroy Jeter about the work they've undertaken so far and what we can expect to see next. (And if you're looking for a way to help in Highland right now, Mr. Jeter recommends contacting Shahkem Senghor at (864) 266-5325 to volunteer for an excellent youth football program held at Stewart park.)

It's been a number of years since the City Podcast has had a cohost to share the work of keeping our listeners informed on what's going with City government and the broader Spartanburg Community. As we ramp up our podcast production this year though, we're welcoming a new member to the City's Communications and Marketing team who will join us in bringing you conversations with leaders and community members about the work they're doing in Spartanburg.    Jes comes to us from Spartanburg County, where she served as as Recyclying Coordinator for 10 years after serving four years as District Manager for the Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District. Today on the podcast, we're getting to know Jes and learning about how her experences both as a Spartanburg native and in her previous roles will help guide her approach to sharing information and explaining often complicated policies and programs with our audience. 

It's a level of federal funding not seen for many years in Spartanburg, and for City Council and staff, that means the task deciding how to allocate our community's $16.5 million in American Rescue Plan: Coronavirus State & Local Recovery Funds takes on a generational significance, particularly for our low income residents. To give some structure to that discussion, City Manager Chris Story presented a framework to City Council for how those dollars could be spent at their Feb. 27 meeting. While the final figures will almost certainly change somewhat, the proposal currently would allocate $7.25 million to various efforts around housing, targeting increased homeownership in low income census tracts, boosting the supply of affordable rental units, assisting homeowners with fixed incomes in making repairs, and assisting homeless individuals in transitioning to stable living environments. Another $7.75 million would be used for college and career transition readiness, neighborhood enhancements in low income census tracts, implementing portions of the Highland Transformation Plan, funding the City Fire Department's new headquarters renovation at 450 Wofford St., and modernizing technology for the City Police Department.  Today on the podcast, we're talking with Story to get a deeper look at the various ways the City's ARPA funding could be used to benefit our city for decades to come.

If you like to get outdoors to walk, run, or bike in Spartanburg, the coming weeks promise to be an exciting time as two popular local trails are set to see extensions completed soon! First, Spartanburg's most used recreational amenity, the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail, is about to see its long-awaited expansion completed, taking the trail from its current terminus near the intersection of Union and E Henry streets through Downtown Spartanburg and beyond Barnet Park to Daniel Morgan Ave. Not far behind, the River Birch Trail, which currently begins near McCracken Middle School and ends at E Main Street, will soon reach to Drayton, terminating at the Mary Black Campus of Spartanburg Medical Center at one point and at the Beaumont Village neighborhood at another.  Today on the podcast, we're getting an update on these projects and other local trails development with Laura Ringo and Sophi Schwartzbauer of PAL, and along the way we share some details about this year's Turkey Day 8K, Spartanburg's favorite way to offset a few of those extra Thanksgiving calories!

Morgan Square has been the most important public gathering space in Spartanburg almost since its beginnings in 1787. Arguably the birthplace of Spartanburg County after having been selected by four state-commissioned judges as the county seat and site of the the area's first courthouse, the area that would eventually be named for the Revolutionary War general whose statue it houses today formed the core of a new frontier town, stimulating the first wave of Spartanburg's development as taverns, hotels, and general stores filled in the areas nearby. As that frontier town grew and changed, Morgan Square changed as well, with each generation putting its own stamp on the space as the community's needs evolved over time. Even as the square has changed shape and configuration over the years, its position as a focal point for Spartanburg's people has remained constant. For well over two centuries now, Morgan Square has been the most iconic and important piece of public land in Spartanburg County. Today, Morgan Square appears ready for its next generational change, one that will build on its current success and ensure that Spartanburg's public square continues to serve the people who call it home. The  held its first meeting earlier month, beginning its work charting a course for Morgan Square's next act by getting a crash course in the history of the space from Spartanburg County Public Libraries Assistant Director of Local History, Brad Steinecke and Wofford Archivist, Phillip Stone. In a fascinating presentation, the pair led the committee through each of the square's various iterations and shared context around the decisions that led to each change. Today on the podcast, we're bringing that same history to you. So join us as we take you on a journey from Spartanburg's beginnings to its present day, and be sure to to follow along and see how Morgan Square has changed over the years.

Whether you're getting in some steps at the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail or strolling through Morgan Square after dinner, it's fair to say there are more pedestrians moving in and around Downtown Spartanburg than at any point in living memory, and with historic levels of private development and accompanying new infrastructure showing no signs of abating in Spartanburg's urban core, the pedestrian experience in our city is changing rapidly. So how did we get here? What was downtown like back before concepts like "walkability" dominated the urbanist landscape? How did the national trend towards car-centered suburban development in the mid-20th century affect Downtown Spartanburg and what did leaders then try to do about it? And why were those efforts less successful than everyone in Spartanburg had hoped they would be? On today's podcast, we're sharing a conversation about those questions held during our first-ever live podcast recording, held on August 18 at Fretwell. Joining us for the discussion are Brad Steineke, Assistant Director of Local History with Spartanburg County Public Libraries and Grayson Johnson with Fretwell. 

At their last two meetings, Spartanburg City Council took a pair of actions to move discussions of Morgan Square's future forward, and then voting to continue to keep W Main Street along the square closed to traffic for the next 24 months while the committee undertakes its work.  The committee comprises a diverse selection of city residents and stakeholders including downtown restaurant and retail business owners, City planning board members, experts in local development and architecture, and community activists. In presenting the recommended list of committee members to Council, City Manager Chris Story said that in addition to a diversity of experience and background, the committee also includes a diversity of opinions about what should come next for Spartanburg's most prominent piece of public land.  The decision to close W Main Street to traffic was first made in spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically curtailed shopping and dining in Downtown Spartanburg, in an effort to encourage visitors to return and enjoy safer outdoor dining options. The pedestrian-only space proved popular, with pedestrian counter data showing an increase in the number of visitors after most pandemic restrictions were lifted, with 13.1 percent more visits to Downtown Spartanburg coming during May and June of 2021 than during the same time period in 2019. A also showed that of 3,444 respondents, 55.24% favor keeping W Main Street closed to vehicle traffic indefinitely for expanded pedestrian use, 24.28% favor keeping W Main Street closed to vehicle traffic in front of the square on weekends (Friday-Sunday) for expanded pedestrian use and open to vehicle traffic on weekdays (Monday-Thursday), and 18.25% favor opening W Main Street in front of the square to vehicle traffic. After receiving data and feedback demonstrating the fully pedestrianized space's positive effect on downtown visits, Council voted to keep the area closed to vehicles while staff crafted a process to examine potential permanent changes to Morgan Square to make the space more pedestrian-friendly. Now the Morgan Square Redevelopment Committee will work with design professionals and the public to make recommendations to City Council regarding those changes.

At their most recent meeting, . This year's budget includes no significant operational changes and no increases to City taxes or commonly applied fees, but as Spartanburg continues to see record growth and economic development, staff projections account for a relatively modest four percent revenue growth. Meanwhile, increases this year include $1.5 million set aside for increases to City employee compensation, representing most of that projected revenue growth. The budget includes a three percent cost-of-living adjustment for all City staff, with an additional 2 percent allocated for the City's Public Works department. In his presentation to Council, Story said the additional increase is needed to bring department salaries into alignment with the overall job market. Additionally, the budget includes mandatory increases to the state retirement and health care systems covering City employees. Why, at a time of historically unprecedented growth in Downtown Spartanburg, have City coffers not been filled more yet? In an increasingly competitive labor market that sees the City spending a larger percentage of its revenue on employee compensation than it has in the past, what steps are leaders taking to retain talent and ensure that your local government is up to the task of serving a growing, dynamic community? Today on the podcast, we've got City Manager Chris Story with us to help answer those questions and provide an overview of how this year's budget seeks to address those challenges.

If you're a frequent user of the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail, chances are you've seen Fretwell's construction progress over the past year . Recently opened, the new mixed-use gathering space features a new headquarters for Little River Roasting and a concessions trailer selling sandwiches, specialty drinks, wine and beer, and snacks, along with a stage area overlooking the trail, a large grassy area for games and recreation, as well as space for food trucks and events. Redeveloped by a group of local Spartanburg entrepreneurs, the former industrial area is positioned to capitalize on the growth the Rail Trail has seen in recent years and takes its inspiration from similar concepts such as Asheville's Wedge at Foundation. Today on the podcast, we're talking with some of the folks behind Fretwell to get details on the development and what they've got planned for their first summer. Listen below for details, and be sure to check out Fretwell's and accounts to learn more!

In April, both Spartanburg County Council and Spartanburg City Council approved the site of the current City Hall on W Broad Street for construction of a new joint city-county local government complex. Expected to be around 180,000 square-feet and to stand 4-6 stories, the building will serve as a replacement for both City Hall and the Spartanburg County Adminstration Building on N Church St. that also funds construction of the new Spartanburg County Judicial Center, the new facility will also feature an adjacent parking deck with around 500-600 spaces. Located one block from Morgan Square, the W Broad Street site beat out nine other sites in the downtown area and met County and City criteria for the new facility including size (greater than 2 acres), walkability to Morgan Square, and the ability for public use of parking infrastructure during non-operating hours. The current City Hall site was the least expensive of all nine options as well, with a net cost of $600,000-$700,000 to prepare the site for construction, which includes demolition of the current City Hall and a deeper, more secure foundation than would often be required due to poor soil conditions on the site. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story and Spartanburg County Administrator Cole Alverson about the new facility and what it will mean for Spartanburg. Listen below for more.

Last week, Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson and department leadership on the latest report on . Mirroring a similar nationwide uptick in violent crime over the past year, Spartanburg saw an increase of 5.2 percent above our 10 year average, while the overall trend remains on a downward trajectory, dropping 14.5 percent over the past decade. Property crimes have also fallen in our city, dropping more than 19 percent in the past 10 years. Beyond those top-line numbers though is a much more compelling story about a police department doing things differently, pursuing a holistic strategy to not only combat crime in our community, but to serve our most vulnerable populations and address the root causes of crime through mental health interventions. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson and department leadership about those statistics and the innovative approaches they and the other members of our police department are taking to keep Spartanburg safe and serve our residents.

Last month, Spartanburg City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City to pursue $300,000 in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund matching grant for improvements to trails and clearing of invasive species in wooded areas of Duncan Park, an opportunity identified as an early opportunity by a new community steering committee working with the National Park Service, the City, and to create a plan for improvements to the park that will increase its use and provide new recreation opportunities. The City's largest recreational asset at over 100 acres, Duncan Park is home to tennis courts, a playground, two recreational ball fields, historic Duncan Park stadium, a 14-acre lake, large wooded areas, four miles of natural surface trails, and one mile of paved trail. Last year, the City and PAL were selected by the National Park Service to receive expert consultation for a broad reimagining of Duncan Park. Through the process, the City and PAL will engage with stakeholders, surrounding neighborhood residents, and the broader Spartanburg community in creating a vision for the park that include multi-use trails, open spaces, and possible water recreation opportunities, with community gathering spaces linking recreational amenities to Historic Duncan Park Stadium. Today on the podcast, we're talking with PAL Executive Director Laura Ringo about the Duncan Park planning process, and we get an update on the group's latest trails work in Spartanburg.

At their last meeting, Spartanburg City Council gave approval to a property sale that could pave the way for Downtown Spartanburg's first-ever apartment development composed of entirely affordable units.   Located adjacent to the Kennedy Street parking garage on the corner of Kennedy and S Converse streets, the 2.6 acre site will be sold to developer Blue Wall RE LLC for $4,500, well below market value, in the hopes that the developer will be able to secure state Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to construct the project's planned 55 units. If successful, the units would be leased to those making no more than 80 percent of area median income. Specifics on the envisioned unit mix and income levels is as follows.   • 17 studio apartments. Maximum household income for any unit of this type would be approximately $43,520 (equal to a person working full time at $20.92 per hour). The average household income for these 17 units must be at or below approximately $31,500 (equal to a person working full time at $15.14 per hour). •  17 one-bedroom apartments. The maximum household income for any unit of this type would be approximately $43,520 (equal to a person working full time at $20.92 per hour). The average household income for these 17 units must be at or below approximately $31,500 (equal to a person working full time at $15.14 per hour).   • 21 two-bedroom units. The maximum household income for any unit of this type would be approximately $54,200 (equal to a person working full time at $26.06 per hour). The average household income for these 17 units must be at or below approximately $39,870 (equal to a person working full time at $19.17 per hour).   The proposed development is still in its early stages, and its future will hinge largely on the developer's success in applying for the state's LIHTC program. Word on the success of that application should be known later this year, and if successful, the project would break ground in 2023. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about this first-of-its-kind development for Downtown Spartanburg and how it fits into the City's overall vision for affordable housing.

We've been recording podcasts previewing the year ahead for the City and for the Spartanburg community for a long time now, but even a short glance at that list for 2022 would make it clear that this year will be filled with more significant decisions that will have more generational impact than any in recent memory. Whether it's welcoming a new Mayor for the first time in 12 years, a redistricting process that will set local representation for the next decade, decisions around millions of dollars in one-time state and federal funding allocations, finalizing the citywide comprehensive plan, or determining what possible changes Morgan Square could see, the 11 months ahead of us in Spartanburg will be anything but boring. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story about some of the issues ahead for leadership and City Council in 2022.

With its restaurants routinely filled and its sidewalks bustling with activity, it's not hard to see these days that Downtown Spartanburg is on an upswing. Explaining just how large an upswing though takes some contextualizing, especially in a record-breaking year for downtown development that capped off with an announcement of the , a massive redevelopment planned by Greenville's M Peters Group along E main that will transform seven properties and reshape a high-profile portion of our city's downtown core. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story and OneSpartanburg Inc. Chief Economic Development Officer Katherine O'Neil about what this year's seemingly nonstop string of announcements means for our downtown and for the next phase of its growth.

It's been on the City's priority list for years, and in January, an innovative, first-of-its-kind coordinated group of support systems that will seek to improve outcomes for young children and their families in Spartanburg will become a reality as the City and its partners launch the Hello Family program. Designed to significantly improve child wellbeing, boost future prosperity, and provide quantifiable financial benefits to our community well in excess of its cost, Hello Family will provide, at a full citywide scale, free universal nurse home visiting, free evidence-based parent education and support tools, and significantly enhanced early learning opportunities.   Based on the work of James J. Heckman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist who found that investing in programs targeted at the earliest years of life yield the most lasting and cost-effective results, Hello Family seeks to improve birth outcomes, reduce child abuse and neglect, and improve kindergarten readiness throughout the City. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Bryan Boroughs Vice President and General Counsel with the and Keisha Gray Program Director of Early Childhood Development with about how Hello Family will work and when you can expect to see this transformative program launch in Spartanburg.

  Note: Later this year, the Northside Development Group will mark its 10th year since it was founded to be a land bank to guide development and protect the community's interests on the Northside. The NDG partnered with the Northside Voyageurs, Northside residents and the City of Spartanburg to launch the Northside Initiative, the most comprehensive neighborhood revitalization effort in the city's history. To mark this moment, the City has been sharing a series of stories and podcasts about the Northside Initiative. You can check out part one of our podcast series  and part two .   If you've driven down Howard Street lately in Spartanburg's Northside neighborhood, you've undoubtedly seen a lot of construction. How did all of that happen and what does it mean for the neighborhood and the people who live there?   Well, it starts with a plan, takes a detour with a legal tussle with a billionaire NFL owner over control of one of Spartanburg's most challenging substandard apartment complexes, and ends with an inclusive development boom that will see a long-depopulated Northside filling again, this time as a mixed-income model for growth and sustainability that uplifts both those who call the area home and Spartanburg as a whole.   Today on the final installment of our Northside Rising podcast series, we're taking a look at the story of the neighborhood from 2014's master planning process to today's revitalization-in-progress. Listen below for more. 

At their meeting on August 23, , during which time the City will engage in a community-led planning process to consider more permanent physical changes to the space. The move came after Council heard an overview of downtown data collected by city staff, including an increase in City Hospitality Tax revenue, increased pedestrian activity, and cell phone carrier data showing increased downtown visits this spring and summer over the same time period in 2019, signs which point to a Downtown Spartanburg economy resurgent after weathering worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. With the decision being made to continue Morgan Square's expanded outdoor dining and pedestrian space for another year, and with staff tasked with beginning a process to consider a rethinking of the space, today we're talking with City Manager Chris Story to get his perspective on Morgan Square as it fits currently in the Downtown Spartanburg landscape and how residents and stakeholders from all across our community will come together to decide its future.

Nowhere in any community redevelopment expert's notes will you find "bring a medial college to your neighborhood" listed as a strategy to spur a holisic rethinking of an area plagued for decades by depopulation, decaying housing stock, concentraitions of generational poverty, and lack of investment, but on Spartanburg's Northside, that's exactly what happened. On today's second part of our Northside Rising podcast series, we're taking a look back at how public investment, private philanthropy, and sustained community engagement came together to create the most ambitious community-led neighborhood transformation initiative in Spartanburg history. Listen below for more, and be on the lookout for more from our Northside Rising series next week!

Following on the heels of last week's release of the , where we take a look back at the story of Spartanburg's Northside neighborhood, today on the City Podcast, we're delving deeper into the history of the Northside before the decision by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine to build their Carolinas Campus in the neighborhood became a catalyst to galvanize the largest community redevelopment effort in Spartanburg's history.

It's a year when the word "unprecedented" became commonplace. Beginning with a February tornado that cut a swath through the heart of our city and followed shortly by the COVID-19 global pandemic that still rages as the year comes to a close, 2020 is a year most of us would likely rather forget, though none of us ever will. Through it all, signs of our community's continued strength were abundant, whether in our leadership's and residents' equity-focused response to this summer's protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd or in the continued resiliency and dynamism of our local economy.   Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story to get his thoughts on 2020 in Spartanburg and how the lessons of this year will serve us going forward.

Today on the podcast, we've got details on our "Snowman Scramble" scavenger hunt and downtown business spotlight giveaway, both of which will be kicking off soon!

  It's not the easiest route to satisfy a state requirement, but here at the City of Spartanburg, we don't shy away from big challenges and we're never afraid to be innovators. That's why when discussions around racial equity in our community were given new urgency on the heels of  showing large racial disparities in practically every area of our residents' lives, our City Council and City Staff understood that in order to do our part to correct those imbalances, our City's most important guiding development document should reflect our commitment to ending those disparities and increasing racial equity for our residents.   It was with that in mind that the nation's first citywide comprehensive planning process focused around racial equity was born. Created with the help of those who call Spartanburg home,  will ultimately guide the city's growth for the next decade to come, and will have an impact long after that, informing strategies on areas as wide-ranging housing, economics, health and wellness, parks and recreation, public facilities, infrastructure, traffic, and the overall livability of Spartanburg for its residents. Listen below for more, and be sure to visit the to sign up and attend our virtual Planapalooza events coming up Oct. 22-26, and let us know your ideas for Spartanburg's future!

At their , City Council approved the creation of the Spartanburg Housing Fund, a special fund to be used exclusively to fill gaps in development projects that build, preserve, or improve affordable housing units in the city. Initially capitalized with $750,000 as , the fund will be used to provide loans to for gap financing to developers to help make affordable housing developments more financially feasible and may also be used to provide grants or even a limited number of equity investments.    Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Manager Chris Story to get details on how the new fund will provide another tool to help our community address its supply of affordable housing.

Today on the podcast, we're sitting down with City Manager Chris Story to get an update on the impressive list of major projects in the works for Downtown Spartanburg and our city's Northside.

Late last year, the City was awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a new City initiative, "Lead-safe Spartanburg." Funding will be used to remove lead-based paint hazards and reduce other health hazards in the home for families with children under the age of 6 and safely improve the housing stock of pre-1978 homes in our community. Both owner-occupied and rental units in the city are elegible, and all applicants must meet the following requirements: Home must be located within the City of Spartanburg A Child under the age of 6 must reside or regularly spend time in the home (over 60 hours per year), or a pregnant woman must reside in the home Household income must be less than 80% of Area Median Income Home must be built prior to 1978 All property tax payments and homeowner’s insurance must be current   Today on the podcast, we're giving you details on the program and how the process works.

As COVID-19 continues to imact our community and we're all doing our part to flatten the curve by staying home when possible, when in public, and , we wanted to offer a way to both share our own tips on how you can get through these challenging times and to offer our residents the chance to share their tips with us as well. So today we're kicking off our #SafeInSpartanburg campaign!