News Summary
The City of Spartanburg has initiated its third office move in under two years, relocating to the former Bank of America building on East Main Street due to ongoing downtown development projects. This transition is part of Project Core, which aims to transform downtown with new apartment buildings and governmental facilities. City officials emphasize the importance of maintaining a downtown presence for community accessibility. The new government headquarters, funded by a penny sales tax, will serve as a centralized location for municipal services.
Spartanburg — The City of Spartanburg is undergoing its third office relocation in less than two years as part of a significant downtown development project known as Project Core. The latest move takes city offices from their location on West Broad Street to the former Bank of America building at 295 E. Main St. This relocation is necessitated by new construction planned by the Johnson Group to build apartment buildings, contributing to the rejuvenation of downtown Spartanburg.
Christopher George, the communications manager for the city, has underscored the necessity of remaining in the downtown area to ensure accessibility for residents. The ongoing construction efforts are set to dramatically transform downtown Spartanburg, paving the way for new services and amenities that aim to improve the overall experience for the community.
The relocation comes on the heels of the demolition of the previous city hall located at Broad and Spring streets, conducted earlier in 2024 to clear the site for a new city-county complex. Previously, city offices had moved to 187 W. Broad St. earlier in 2024, which is also a part of the Johnson Group’s development initiative.
Project Core is designed to enhance the urban landscape of Spartanburg, and it will encompass a mix of apartments, a hotel, retail and office spaces, as well as parking garages. City officials anticipate that the city offices will remain in the old bank building for at least the next two years while the new joint city-county complex is constructed.
As part of these changes, the city’s parks and recreation department will temporarily operate from the fire department on Wofford Street, while the municipal court has already been moved to a new county facility. Most city offices, including crucial services like the finance department, which oversees parking tickets and business licenses, will be situated on East Main Street.
The new government headquarters, projected to cost $80 million, is financed by a penny sales tax approved by voters in 2017. This innovative complex will be the first of its kind in South Carolina, designed to serve as a “one-stop shop” for residents, combining services that previously required multiple visits to different offices.
The planned five-story building will occupy the site of the former city hall and will offer shared amenities for both city and county government entities. Features of the facility are expected to include a new clock tower and a public plaza facing South Church Street. The design aims to blend traditional and modern architectural elements to reflect Spartanburg’s historical character while addressing contemporary needs.
While the new complex is anticipated to benefit residents through improved services, concerns have been raised regarding the fate of the iconic Morgan Square clock tower, which holds significant sentimental value for the community. Additionally, the project will necessitate the relocation of two local businesses; notably, the city acquired Nautilus Fitness for over $2 million to facilitate construction efforts.
The overarching intention behind the project is to enhance service delivery for Spartanburg’s residents while streamlining governmental operations. The design and construction of the new facility are being spearheaded by a collaboration between David M. Schwarz Architects and McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture. The estimated timeline for construction is about two years, with building expected to commence in October 2025.
Community members have also expressed desires for additional amenities, including bike lanes, as part of the ongoing transformation of downtown Spartanburg. These developments promise to not only improve access and service but also establish a more vibrant urban environment in the heart of the city.
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Additional Resources
- Go Upstate: City of Spartanburg Staff Relocating
- Wikipedia: Spartanburg
- Post and Courier: Spartanburg City-County Complex
- Google Search: Spartanburg news
- Fox Carolina: Designs Released for Spartanburg Facility
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Spartanburg
- Go Upstate: Construction of Spartanburg’s City-County Building
- Google News: Spartanburg government building
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