[{"_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",6588358,"mediaKeyId","5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e","parentId",5671128,"title","Council approves minutes, agenda, board appointments and a property purchase; other business taken as information","audioSeconds",1703,"startMs",277000,"endMs",1980000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e&start=277&end=1980","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e/thumbnail_277000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588358/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/Council-approves-minutes-agenda-board-appointments-and-a-property-purchase-other-business-taken-as-information","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588358-e224e6c2aab75e4ebcd2d3ac3e271e98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190499&Signature=XEvep3yYSnbRRFbF1xfu~loe-c8xUCI257dXQrMDVF6y5CNhTYnoBv59whatnisF0Cg~sN5k-M62Pw4Jxe5j2-bEoaY~4d9S9MOWujYAAHsRZSg6GXpz4bMFMw44C7k42oArRNcZwb2Mle-rI53czaCsYITjY3ZfFGA7LEDgHwdN5ZK6xCJccA7mEZ-fjkrnJUCwqONpwtpIbr4vK0CZxOBgaxlp105IyHOPUsCe-XnQOnFSGRtikvA6JV1vy7hN0rxcGpfGflJmtOnGf2KLmNPoJ1YOIzFHxg0S9ITJRX3HayDbMPuxaGvsfMe4Ofnq9dtGIA4m59Dcuyb5vGi37g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spartanburg","date","2025-08-25T21:01:45Z","article","The Spartanburg City Council on Aug. 25 approved routine meeting business and several resolutions on consent and separate motions.

Minutes and agenda: The council approved the minutes from its Aug. 11 meeting and approved the Aug. 25 agenda by voice votes.

Boards and commissions: City Clerk Christie Lindsay presented two recommended appointments. The council approved the appointment of Guy Harris to the Board of Zoning and Appeals. The council also approved a nominee to the Public Safety Board as recommended by the committee (the public record at the meeting did not specify the appointee’s full name).

Property purchase: The council approved a resolution to purchase the property at 488 Marks Street (tax map number 7-12-13-043.00) for inclusion in the Midtown Heights small-area development planning area. Martin Livingston, the city’s community development director, told the council staff completed an appraisal and that the lot will be combined with adjacent city-owned lots as part of future subdivision and small-area planning. The motion carried on a voice vote.

Staff updates: Staff reported that $861,000 from the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority had been allocated to assist homeowners with disaster recovery after Hurricane Helene, and that 32 households have received assistance to date for roof repairs, tree removal and similar emergency work. Staff said funds remain and residents with unaddressed storm damage should contact the city’s neighborhood services team for assistance; program requirements apply.

Other items: The council took the clock-tower discussion as information, requested follow-up analysis and left no final directive at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: approval of minutes (voice vote; ayes), approval of agenda (voice vote; ayes), board appointments (Guy Harris to Board of Zoning and Appeals; second appointee to Public Safety Board — name not specified in meeting record), resolution to purchase 488 Marks Street (voice vote; ayes).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Spartanburg City Council meeting, August 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 25 meeting the Spartanburg City Council approved routine minutes and agenda items, appointed two board members, and approved a resolution to purchase a Midtown Heights lot; the council took the clock-tower discussion as information and heard staff updates about housing-recovery funds.","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},6588363,"Residents urge council to place hate-crimes ordinance on a future agenda",541,357000,898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e&start=357&end=898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e/thumbnail_357000.jpg","/articles/6588363/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/Residents-urge-council-to-place-hate-crimes-ordinance-on-a-future-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588363-3ded29d5077f17563abf0ea151bff11b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190499&Signature=oudOBbYGO266Kmg7xmZiLOlRcHfrsn2~CRhD1ljFWP5hu-ozd7ykyNxgDGBYgrx9uREnHXW8fpziv2eWiCVn58CQH61HlzLoqB3vQgq8jm8F~0a6ywMwvV55iU4rY5uPZMDK~u7pwEAXNj3cArtpwR1X5uF2fHlgNRaoCTjIAOLw~KE5qEv4PLodBrPaiWzMODYXfPTKtCXadF9q8pW3LfxaZfElJKwhe0DUY9z-Hb7oRWR0ClP0SJwm91Obzo~V5GtfNb27zIhx1w65Cj17B5tmRQ-Mwawgmp2ZHnriXMngIYhW18b8nRnOp3OFAHp70hs83e2JSKDVpjomJOvN2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents used the meeting’s public-comment period on Aug. 25 to ask the Spartanburg City Council to place a hate-crimes ordinance on a future agenda. Commenters said they want the city to consider local protections that would follow up on a “healing resolution” the council passed five years earlier.

Colby King, a city resident, educator and founding board member of the community group Siren, said, “My friends and I and Siren are asking you to pass a hate crimes ordinance.” King noted that 48 states have hate-crimes laws and said municipal ordinances exist in about 21 South Carolina localities, and that Siren has drafted suggested language the council could consider.

Tony Tanner, another resident and organizer, told the council that recent incidents, including attacks he said were connected to the city’s LGBTQIA community and other identity-based incidents, show a need for clarity and protection. He urged council to place “Roy C. Henderson hate crimes ordinance” on an upcoming agenda and said adopting an ordinance would “send a clear message that harming others based on their identity is unacceptable.”

Speakers tied the request to other city efforts, noting Spartanburg’s membership in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), prior proclamations recognizing Juneteenth and LGBTQIA+ month, and recent partnership work on health equity. No formal action or vote occurred on the request at the meeting; the comments were entered into the public record and several council members said they will continue discussions.

What’s next: Council members referred to continuing conversations among council and staff and said they will follow up on whether and how to draft ordinance language for a future meeting.

Noted speakers and affiliations: Colby King (resident, educator; founding board member, Siren) and Tony Tanner (resident/organizer).","Multiple speakers during public comment asked the Spartanburg City Council to consider a local hate-crimes ordinance, citing local incidents, existing municipal models across South Carolina and a desire to follow up on the city’s prior healing resolution.",{"_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},6588368,"City approves $70 million agreement for Beaumont Mill redevelopment including 28 workforce units",579,1971000,2550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e&start=1971&end=2550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e/thumbnail_1971000.jpg","/articles/6588368/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/City-approves-70-million-agreement-for-Beaumont-Mill-redevelopment-including-28-workforce-units","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588368-a930a4b5f8359e9465639f2df48323a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190499&Signature=P1zzrK9ciTYWoLMM7UvU1stAzipWD4UZT~QGjpVYmpaZ74MIRCo349NjPup97ALPVGVdRshyO3tRsp9DzfBEiA7WYgddvqALjakLHB6L3rrwFz3SgLGbRKowi56cyGh5t6dUhXcWqsSwLLAtKt7FY6u51bJv2-xMo87KFlbEs7wq33jpyzaOKZ6zkVd1jgi7arob-aO4FN~zd32SRm6jmMrR9MzhA0fXBAEqYp2AHqRxGhKZ~MsKOBJWsb4heODBD6d4fzDINqZi81AaLYOqKp0sS8jZfs7nbZPRBlSG8V5ImcsqbZ4azQCZ-rrzlq0Y8kr96Or-gAHGKkEztHawkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spartanburg City Council voted Aug. 25 to enter a development agreement with Taft and Gibbs LLC to redevelop the former Beaumont Mill site into a mixed-use rental community that includes 247 market-rate apartments and 28 workforce units for households at or below 80% area median income. The agreement, as presented by City Manager Chris Storey, anticipates a $70,000,000 private investment.

The project includes a full amenity package — pool, fitness center and on-site services — and a design element that would enable a connection of the city’s trail network through the site, a long-standing municipal objective, Storey said. Staff presented an estimated schedule of local governmental revenue: just under $100,000 in additional revenue in year one, more than $500,000 by year five and rising to about $1,800,000 by year 15, as occupancy and assessments grow.

The Beaumont Neighborhood Association, which had been less active since the pandemic, reconvened residents to review the proposal; a council member said the neighborhood’s principal concern is cut-through traffic and asked that staff prioritize traffic-calming measures if the project proceeds. Staff said the development’s full traffic study had been reviewed by city planning staff and by the South Carolina Department of Transportation for North Pine Street and Isom Boulevard, and that signal timing and turn-lane capacity appeared adequate.

The council motion to approve the resolution was made from the dais and carried on a voice vote with no recorded opposition. The agreement will next undergo the city’s development-review and building-code processes, Storey said.

What was approved: a development agreement for a $70 million investment to deliver 247 market-rate apartments and 28 workforce units targeted at households at or below 80% of area median income; the transaction is intended to increase downtown housing supply, enable an extended trail connection and boost local tax revenues over time.

Council members praised the developer’s qualifications and the project’s trail connectivity while urging proactive neighborhood traffic mitigation. Storey said the parcel currently carries little or no taxable improvement value and that the additional revenue projections assume development and phased assessment increases.

The project will return to administrative review for building permits and site plan approval; staff said they will continue coordination with SCDOT and neighborhood representatives as design work progresses.","Council approved a development agreement with Taft and Gibbs LLC for the former Beaumont Mill site to build 247 market-rate apartments and 28 units for households at or below 80% area median income; staff said the project will improve trail connectivity and generate rising local tax revenue over 15 years.",{"_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},6588372,"Spartanburg council hears hours of comment and staff history as clock tower’s future is debated",4472,2488000,6960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e&start=2488&end=6960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671128-5208c116c6a57d76916d75e377383c4e/thumbnail_2488000.jpg","/articles/6588372/Spartanburg-City/Spartanburg-County/South-Carolina/Spartanburg-council-hears-hours-of-comment-and-staff-history-as-clock-towers-future-is-debated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588372-879fa49f63b7278314b920aee3d19369/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190499&Signature=Keq2kzzn5Z5jTOda0YlAfcRl9T54vPSZxJ6cG-bwcmUTsfsAwQL0z53bq2ku~1WWNCSXxEqgXMLJOtCobluW6ueztQ1Lvbdcnbm9C8hQd6wjfnRypXb7gS6Qw6tSx2YaQuTaojEdUJEElYxohgdVc5dQ6Nv6MMG0OA~Bju7xUNjj94DP4JRc93bQkVAtdchcXZPXOzEdQvSYlXKq2vnMS7RtUh6xbn~3rI338EjwgWL0k5BJOfrE24fmgx-5~g8xbsdbdTp3eYHlUP~fEtrom7eTrZZRqI2RavWywe8KbCDvCaj~bcA3q4G30hyCoIUTRKlorzyvPKi7m~QsmPUSlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spartanburg City Council on Aug. 25 heard a detailed history of the Daniel Morgan clock and nearly three hours of public comment as staff described options to move the clock tower to accommodate downtown redevelopment and to make its bell and clockworks publicly accessible in a new city–county building. Council made no final decision and directed staff to return with relocation and display options.

The issue drew dozens of speakers during the public-comment period, many urging the council to keep the tower in its current Morgan Square location and others supporting the staff recommendation. City Manager Chris Storey framed the discussion with a timeline going back to 1881, saying the city has had three primary government buildings with clock elements and arguing the proposed move would “return the clock to its historic position overlooking the seat of local government” while making the clockworks and bell accessible to the public inside the new building.

Why it matters: The clock is a visible downtown landmark, residents said, and the pending downtown projects tied to Project Core would square off the Herald Journal block and change Main Street’s street edge. Staff said the redesign would allow higher-quality frontage, make the new hotel footprint economically viable and put a taller, new clock tower atop the new joint government building; opponents said moving the existing tower would sacrifice green space, on-street parking and a place that is accessible 24/7.

Speakers who urged keeping the tower in place cited community donations and petitions. James A. Jones said the tower “was built by the people of Spartanburg” and called moving it “theft.” Kimberly Branch told the council she and others had submitted a petition and said “we have confirmed 2,422 supporters for the Downtown Spartanburg Clock Tower to remain where it is” (as stated at the meeting). Paul Abbott, a resident and local candidate, said the people he had spoken with were opposed to moving it. Other speakers offered measurements and historical context and suggested compromise locations within downtown.

Supporters of relocation said the change is driven by large concurrent private investments. Storey showed renderings of the new government building with a much taller civic clock and said the staff recommendation would restore and display the historic clockworks indoors, where they could be preserved and interpreted. Storey also said staff do not view the South Carolina Heritage Act as preventing the city from proceeding because, he said, the Bicentennial Committee’s materials do not identify the tower as a Revolutionary War monument; an attorney-general opinion was mentioned by commenters but the city’s legal position, Storey said, is that the statute’s protections do not clearly apply to the tower in its present form.

Council members raised practical questions: how the historic elements would remain accessible if placed inside a government building that is not open 24 hours, what the cost and engineering risks to dismantle and relocate the structure would be, whether moving the tower would leave it visually “overshadowed” by new taller development, and whether there are alternative prominent downtown sites that keep public access and preserve the tower’s character. Several council members said they are open to relocation if a suitable, accessible downtown alternative can be identified.

No formal vote was taken. Storey outlined three possible paths: (1) adopt the staff recommendation to restore the clockworks and bell inside the new government building; (2) analyze alternative downtown relocation sites and return with a definitive plan and cost estimate; or (3) keep the tower in its current position and advise project designers to accommodate it. Council members asked staff to return with more detailed options and cost estimates, and several said the council should act within the coming weeks so related Project Core work can proceed on schedule.

The clock discussion dominated the meeting’s public engagement and produced requests for compromise solutions, legal clarity on the Heritage Act, and engineering estimates for moving or reconstructing the tower. Staff and council said they will continue discussions and bring recommendations back to the council at a future meeting.","After an extended staff presentation and public comment, City Manager Chris Storey recommended relocating the historic clock’s mechanical elements to the new joint city–county government building; council took no final vote and asked staff to return with options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves minutes, agenda, board appointments and a property purchase; other business taken as information

Residents urge council to place hate-crimes ordinance on a future agenda

City approves $70 million agreement for Beaumont Mill redevelopment including 28 workforce units

Spartanburg council hears hours of comment and staff history as clock tower’s future is debated