News Summary
The Design Review Board has approved Project Core, a massive $425 million development in downtown Spartanburg. This transformative initiative includes a new hotel, offices, and apartments, aiming to create a vibrant live-work-play district. Local leaders are optimistic about potential investments and community growth, although concerns about parking and design aesthetics remain. The project seeks to rejuvenate downtown and attract new residents, enhancing Spartanburg’s appeal.
Spartanburg’s Downtown Transformation: Project Core Gets a Green Light
Exciting times are on the horizon for the friendly city of Spartanburg as the Design Review Board has just given the thumbs-up for the ambitious Project Core. This $425 million development is set to reshape several blocks in the heart of downtown, bringing in a wealth of new opportunities, living spaces, and vibrant activity.
A Glimpse Into the Future
So, what exactly is Project Core? Well, think of it as a multi-structure extravaganza that includes a shiny new hotel, state-of-the-art offices, and cozy apartments. It’ll be sprouting up on the bustling corners of West Main Street and Broad Street, conveniently located near the soon-to-be-opened Fifth Third Park baseball stadium. It’s a public-private partnership spearheaded by The Johnson Group in collaboration with the City of Spartanburg, marking this as one of the largest development initiatives in the city’s history.
A Hefty Investment
The Johnson Group is sinking over $300 million into this project, while an additional $120 million will be gathered from local city, county, and state funding. They clearly see the potential in Spartanburg, and that’s exciting news for everyone!
What’s On the Drawing Board?
During the recent session, architect Michael Swartz presented all the juicy details of the development to the review board. One standout feature is a stunning one-story ballroom wedged between the hotel and office building. This feature needed a variance because the city code normally requires buildings to be at least two stories tall. But hey, sometimes you break the rules for a fabulous party space, right?
In terms of aesthetics, the use of synthetic stucco on upper floors of the hotel has been approved, which is certainly a relief for those focused on modern design. Initially, there were plans for six parking spaces along Spring Street, but after some discussion, a compromise was reached: three parking spaces instead, allowing for more breathing room on the sidewalk by West Main Street.
Room for Improvement
Their next step includes unveiling vibrant, full-color drawings, as the initial designs were shown in plain black-and-white. This enhancement is expected to make a big difference, and there is eagerness across the board for these updated visual representations.
The Big Picture
The goal of Project Core is straightforward: to cultivate a lively “live, work, play” district that revitalizes downtown Spartanburg and makes it an even more inviting place. A total of around 1,200 office spaces will be created, along with 180 apartments to welcome roughly 300 new residents. Imagine the bustle of downtown filled with new faces and opportunities!
Buzzing with Potential
Local leaders are buzzing with optimism, firmly believing that this ambitious development will catalyze further investments. The conjoining of Project Core with the upcoming Fifth Third Park stadium is poised to draw even more visitors to the area.
Parking Concerns
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The removal of free public parking, with the former Herald-Journal parking lot set to become the hotel’s foundation, has raised eyebrows among locals. But don’t worry just yet; the downtown area has four existing parking garages offering over 2,700 spots, and new garages are being discussed to meet the demand driven by the new developments.
With such a massive transformation on the cards, the future looks bright for Spartanburg’s downtown! This is a thrilling chapter for a community ready to embrace change and foster growth. Keep your eyes peeled as the city unfolds this fascinating new chapter of development and engagement!
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Additional Resources
- GoUpstate: Hotel, Office, Apartment Development in Spartanburg Clears Review Step
- Wikipedia: Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Post and Courier: Spartanburg Businessowners Morgan Square Booms
- Google Search: Spartanburg development projects
- GoUpstate: Spartanburg Hotel, Apartments, Offices Planned Near Fifth Third Park
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Spartanburg
- Fox Carolina: What’s the Status of New Development Projects Downtown Spartanburg
- Google News: Spartanburg Project Core development
