[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6645290,"mediaKeyId","3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b","parentId",3796415,"title","Student survey finds low awareness of bike lanes and trails; presenter asks council to promote walkability","audioSeconds",194,"startMs",193000,"endMs",387000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b&start=193&end=387","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b/thumbnail_193000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6645290/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/Student-survey-finds-low-awareness-of-bike-lanes-and-trails-presenter-asks-council-to-promote-walkability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645290-f92f705ed84db063236dcce3ce2bedbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156694&Signature=CA5c0dTQwjbUr0erygc9f5vBGb00d0l-CvXbU4Ywcg2rYbHeEw32hEaWuQLQjFZTR7xknb5izg5-HlcJdaThcEvrdItu9jO2Bs8uDAO1MN0qEbsO-o-1XiLXqPNw~4rBm0O9IeCBxe2pr2dpH-fvAejlnndubE9veRfVJsF~tDrID6iLRZqPAXWv2DIwLSJ5eLWsivdEZQeqSgGe~WmxhVNB~OY9Fme2zn2WK2gky1PJ9iz3XRlpSZcoksNbuHvRcZ5fYiONkt0hsaxjkIFf8HhlGU2SRyo5kECfyHXYcLWSX5myGfvdAbDkM4Q3jeNvExsQ6P9YXDBZNQy51LSW9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spartanburg","date","2025-06-10T09:50:07.507Z","article","Liv Hawkins, a master’s student and resident at 230 College Street, presented public comments at the June 9, 2025, City of Spartanburg City Council meeting summarizing a survey on walkability among college students.

Hawkins said many students were unaware of existing bike lanes and trail connections, and that “I maybe I had 1 or 2 students that knew anything about the River Birch. I think it's kinda hidden over there where it is.” She reported survey respondents asked for more robust public-transportation options, more visible trail connections and community features such as art or history exhibits along trails.

Hawkins said students told her that seeing more people walking and biking would make them feel more comfortable using those modes themselves, and she invited council members and staff to review a fuller summary of findings on her Substack (thewalkingspartan.substack.com) and Instagram (@thewalkingspartan).

Ending: Hawkins offered to speak further with council members or staff and provided her contact information for follow-up; several council members said they expected to be in touch.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Spartanburg City Council meeting, June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A graduate student shared findings from a master’s project surveying college students in Spartanburg: many students reported low awareness of bike lanes and trail connections, and respondents expressed interest in more transit options, visible trails, and art along routes.","taxTitle","Spartanburg City, Spartanburg County, South Carolina","taxId",12676,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645295,"City staff: former Pepsi site sold, Norris Ridge redevelopment and FEMA reimbursement discussions ongoing",286,1952000,2238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b&start=1952&end=2238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b/thumbnail_1952000.jpg","/articles/6645295/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/City-staff-former-Pepsi-site-sold-Norris-Ridge-redevelopment-and-FEMA-reimbursement-discussions-ongoing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645295-4041c83bad3cc886402058ea217e8a7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156694&Signature=f-FAMfxnUqrCH2N8CLDvUIuKo4Vou79G1MrxofI9yydMb~WqBuY6bjO8IYxnMq1dujZ8soTLwyxnbcxJihrtUKmKOlLSaLSXU4kl~FMFYwZCWKAi4PaSKLvgA4WN1zCU7OAF4AiWcseKxwaLXnHKaiugC~7~rdPBOslQ3GNZIvkdJ0OHm6kKajo4XLU9jzCQ4t7YeR8N9k6g~Rn6S1OUnge4ncZHddGtZkxOlYL1XGO3nL89EPqTlFElcU8jM6nlOy~YvX7Jkgh~N7zDoMhfXMxHYNR6o~tyR6j~jJSa6VRzXCPXE-fIix70-qnTf-RutauXOP70xgSf4BRt5IsfRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the City of Spartanburg City Council on several development and recovery matters during the June 9, 2025 meeting: the former Pepsi facility on South Church Street has been sold and the previously negotiated development agreement with the former owner is not advancing; the Norris Ridge site remains privately owned but city staff said they are pursuing redevelopment; and city staff reported continued coordination with FEMA on reimbursement for qualifying costs.

Chris Storey (city staff) told council that a three-year-old development agreement with the then-owner of the former Pepsi facility — which had contemplated demolition and construction of a light-manufacturing operation — is not moving forward because the property has been sold. “There is a new owner of that property,” Storey said, and any future project would require a new conversation and compliance with land-use regulations and building codes. He added that rights and privileges tied to the prior development agreement do not transfer automatically to a new owner.

On the Norris Ridge site, Storey said the city is pursuing a redevelopment strategy and hopes to see vacant structures demolished and the site redeveloped with residential uses that align with future proposals; he described the outlook as more optimistic than in recent months but gave no timetable or specific project proposal.

Storey also addressed questions about FEMA reimbursement for disaster-related costs, saying the city has worked with state and county partners and with outside professionals to package claims. He reported regular interaction with FEMA staff and said “all signs point to all qualifying costs being reimbursed,” and that a face-to-face meeting with FEMA was planned. Councilmember Ray asked about timing and noted national issues with FEMA eligibility decisions; Storey said the city has provided rigorous documentation and has seen no red flags so far.

Council members asked whether development conversations would involve new partners; Storey said new partners are likely in discussions about downtown concepts formerly tied to the previous owner.

Ending: Staff indicated redevelopment conversations will continue and that any new proposals for the former Pepsi site or downtown properties will require fresh review by the city and council; FEMA reimbursement discussions are ongoing with no payment date specified in the meeting record.","City staff told council the former Pepsi facility has a new owner and the previously agreed development deal is not advancing; staff also reported active work to seek redevelopment of the privately owned Norris Ridge site and ongoing coordination with FEMA on reimbursement for disaster-related costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645299,"Spartanburg City Council adopts fiscal 2025–26 budget, council clarifies 'no tax increase'",703,1293000,1996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b&start=1293&end=1996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b/thumbnail_1293000.jpg","/articles/6645299/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/Spartanburg-City-Council-adopts-fiscal-202526-budget-council-clarifies-no-tax-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645299-8955e7b89025f9ab80d2b9544f2110f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156694&Signature=oAj0pZX-hXncdSJRUS8Z0eFn1~qD3tc4sPTixJ-pO5MS7537dz3eVjN0yU3cgDpNAyyN6aQBbhEWNAmHjEkKe~NpH2R-jqeNu3KUgn9pxkAjiX3RF5xqwTF6bDI8DAT3V-wu0C2Z5GvEho-SLKyjhONiGO11jzBNpKBpn3DBzR6Gj4rMZWU-N0uYBZiVbbkEtYVdjkFD-xBhcsHrQrq1MuRAWa6oxrNEDTZj3rhAjCy8htL4POKVXLAcJe58x1trOI0icjfwX0Rv3mUd6GC7L-qlkZ6hfEuz0tg6CP2yB4upW-kBUOtRiOqTUPzKRqI-CE3hBvDWb31TE-f9C3Je8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Spartanburg City Council approved the city operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and adopted a companion ordinance to levy taxes for the fiscal year during its June 9, 2025 meeting. Council members voted in favor of both items on final reading.

City staff (Mr. Storey) told council members there is no proposed tax increase in the budget and that the phrase “to raise revenues for the city” appears in the ordinance title because it is taken directly from state code; it does not mean the tax rate is increasing. “There is no proposed tax increase, reflected in this budget,” Mr. Storey said, adding that uniform household fees are not being increased.

Mr. Storey said staff added schedule details for individual hospitality-tax discretionary grant recipients and updated wording related to previously approved stadium financing; he said those changes do not alter the overall numbers from first reading. He recommended approval on final reading.

Council members asked clarifying questions about reassessment, the millage rollback applied during the last reappraisal cycle and whether the budget was largely status quo. Mr. Storey confirmed the city had applied a rollback in previous years following state formulas tied to reappraisals and described most service levels as continuing with modest operating-cost increases related to inflation and higher activity.

A motion to approve ordinance A, adopting the city operating budget for fiscal 2025–26, passed on final reading with the assembly verbally indicating “Aye.” A subsequent motion to approve ordinance B, to levy taxes for the fiscal year (described in the ordinance as “to raise revenues” but clarified by staff as not increasing the rate), also passed with the same verbal vote.

The budget would take effect July 1, 2025. No roll-call vote or named vote tallies were recorded in the transcript of the public meeting.

Ending: Council approved the budget package without a tax-rate increase and asked staff to continue briefings on larger projects tied to the budget, including stadium financing language and related implementation details.","City Council gave final approval to the FY2025–26 operating budget and a companion ordinance to levy taxes for the fiscal year, with staff and council emphasizing the package does not raise the tax rate or household fees.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645304,"Spartanburg leaders unveil $40 million plan to address behavioral and mental health",515,378000,893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b&start=378&end=893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796415-fb38517a831bbbf48f26876e0ca83b7b/thumbnail_378000.jpg","/articles/6645304/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/Spartanburg-leaders-unveil-40-million-plan-to-address-behavioral-and-mental-health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645304-622e33243f0f5fcca48ecf9a720f229b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156694&Signature=nq~xzem71EhwySLINE4ritUMHO0v1NpBfHIpa4~mxZaknlGjEJbEa-HvpyXs1tlioPpHntLOV7PHkeiYPVOot-aiLdIog2DuysaO~4z6WtHxvMqgbK9WsfX46pXkO0Ncam75WyP~YrvBYcLfVX9Gk3vjud-M4VpHOkRVVur65AFkiIggt7tMGRbdWWbkWSaDHmTb0na~hxh6Fywh8fj5XYHWwvkP5Gl-PsX2nfeKfzeJQl7SxOxM18DztPCuDEwN5BMmNSs0yoIkQfLsFeL~d02XFB~8XO8Gd9zAGdh~COz9gb6nNgICDb85uX31UWN7nYv-wL6-V~~YyJayWXDJWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lucy Willems, with the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, presented the Spartanburg Collective Plan for behavioral and mental health at the City of Spartanburg City Council meeting on June 9, 2025, outlining a five-year, $40,000,000 effort to expand prevention, treatment and crisis response across the county.

Willems said the plan reflects input from more than 75 community leaders and aims to “measurably change the mental behavior health outcomes of residents in Spartanburg.” She told council members the plan emphasizes prevention and upstream interventions, cross-sector coordination and data-driven population health strategies.

The plan highlights three priority areas: supporting thriving youth and families with stronger connections to supports; serving people with serious mental illness, especially vulnerable populations; and supporting individuals and families affected by substance use disorder. Willems identified local data she said motivated the effort, including “far too high rates of overdose incidents, overdose deaths, and approximately 5,000 mental and behavioral health–related visits to the emergency center every year.”

Willems described existing community assets that the plan will build on: a strong health system, more than 70 community-based providers, the Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center, the Forster Center and an established mental and behavioral health task force. She said funding streams available include the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund and alignment with the South Carolina Master Mental Behavioral Health Plan.

The presentation set out a financing target of $40 million over five years, with a catalytic ask of $25 million raised upfront and an additional $15 million for longer-term support. Willems said the plan is at the start of implementation: launching communications, securing catalytic funding, establishing a steering committee and creating three implementation groups that will manage pilots and evaluation. She listed planned projects including “a crisis stabilization study for serious mental illness” and efforts to secure commitments from school districts for a youth mental health survey and universal screeners.

Council members and presenters said they expect the plan to connect to law enforcement, emergency medical services and school systems. Councilwoman Smith, who said she was one of the community members involved in developing the plan, described local examples she said the plan could address, including an overdose in a retail dressing room and a missing mother who needed supportive services. “There are real people in our city that are hurting that need support,” Councilwoman Smith said.

When asked about the budget target and confidence in raising the money, Willems said the plan’s authors have advisers with experience securing catalytic funding and that “we do feel like it is an attainable number.”

The presentation included implementation milestones: pilots and governance set-up in year one, pilot evaluation in year three and assessment of long-term outcomes by year five. Willems said the initiative will “launch a community-facing plan” and is still selecting a public name for the effort.

Willems requested council support and invited further engagement from city staff and council members.

Ending: The plan will proceed to a formal implementation phase where organizers will seek funding commitments, set governance structures and roll out pilots; council members and staff said they expected further briefings as funding and pilot commitments develop.","Spartanburg-area leaders presented a five-year, $40 million collective plan focused on prevention, services for serious mental illness and substance use disorder, and cross-sector data and governance to reduce avoidable emergency visits and overdoses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Student survey finds low awareness of bike lanes and trails; presenter asks council to promote walkability

City staff: former Pepsi site sold, Norris Ridge redevelopment and FEMA reimbursement discussions ongoing

Spartanburg City Council adopts fiscal 2025–26 budget, council clarifies 'no tax increase'

Spartanburg leaders unveil $40 million plan to address behavioral and mental health