GSP UPDATES

The Business of Upstate, South Carolina

May 2019 Newsletter

I couldn’t help but notice that GSP development headlines are fewer and farther between these days.  I still see plenty signs of activity (i.e. construction), but I wonder if backlogs are continuing to grow or if we are just working our way though projects already in the pipeline.  I’d be interested in your feedback.


Spartanburg
Glendale Mill site is for sale.  (GoUpstate)  This site has tremendous potential.  I’d like to see a much scaled-down version of the US National Whitewater Center (USNWC) take hold here.  For those needing help visualizing this, watch this video.

Greenville
Work begins on Unity Park.  “On Thursday, May 2, the City of Greenville began what may go down as the most ambitious endeavor in its history–the construction of the 60-acre Unity Park on the city’s west side…” (Greenville Business Magazine)See also, 10 images of Unity Park (Greenville Online)

Upstate
The city of Greer uses VR to show off a downtown streetscape project.   (WSPA) H/T Greenville Business Mag.  On a slightly related note, here’s a fly-over tour of Ancient Rome. (Smart History) H/T Ben Evans

The State
A space in which industrial property and public recreation (think nature trail) are combined.  (Post and Courier)
The tax break for the Panthers nears passage.  (AP News)

The Bigger Picture
The WSJ has an interesting piece on site selectors:  “As communities across America race to win such marquee projects, these middlemen have quietly become some of the most powerful consultants in corporate America.” (WSJ)


Guess what?  When sugary drinks cost more, people buy less sugary drinks.  RE: soda tax.  Evidence that taxation can influence consumer behavior.  (JAMA) H/T Morning Brew


Street lights reduce crime (by 36% in this study).  (National Bureau of Economic Research) H/T The Collaborative Fund


On voting for the least bad option (Seth’s Blog)…And while we’re on the topic, Microsoft released a tool to allow voters to track their ballots. (NPR) H/T TCF


The Great American Rail Trail plans to connect Washington (DC) to Washington (state).  (Rails to Trails)  Think Mary Black Rail Trail, but longer….like 3,700 miles longer.

My Blog
How we spend our lives.  Making every day count.  (jpfaris.com)

April 2019 Newsletter

Spartanburg

Don’t call it a comeback… Spartanburg metro was the 19th-fastest-growing in the nation out of 383 total / 5th fastest-growing in the state. (Post and Courier)

Spartanburg Philharmonic launches a new Youth Orchestra. (Greenville Business Magazine)

The announcement of a new development, Silver Hill, at Barnett Park.  (Coldwell Banker Caine)

An insight into what companies look for in a new home…
“After considering sites in all 50 states, Spartanburg County won out because of its flat terrain, transportation options and the support state and local officials were willing to offer, according to Eric Holland, Kobelco’s Spartanburg human resource manager.” (GoUpstate)

Greenville

A 3D look at the Bohemian Hotel over Falls Park. (Greenville Online)

GVL made the list of ‘The Most Luxurious (and Delicious) Road Trips to Take This Season’ (Bloomberg) H/T GVL Today

Billiam – a new (jeans) brand emerges.  (Upstate Business Journal)

Side effects of a strong local economy, GVL apartment rent rates have risen triple the national average recently. (Greenville Online)

The face behind #YeahThatGreenville (Greenville Journal)

Upstate

GSP airport’s The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck made the list of top 10 winners in the Best Airport Sitdown Dining (USA Today) H/T GVL Today

The State

The 2.59 Billion dollar impact of golf in the state.  (Post and Courier)  On a related note, Augusta National makes a $200M land grab. (WSJ) H/T Greenville Business Magazine

Art festivals bring the money too.  SC “is one of the Top 10 states — 8th actually — in terms of economic growth in the arts and culture sector.” (Greenville Business Magazine)  

DHL announced plans to construct a distribution and warehouse park in Dorchester County, $100 million investment / 450 new jobs. (PR Web)

Meet the South Carolina teachers working 2nd and 3rd jobs to pay the bills (Post and Courier) H/T Greenville Business Magazine

The Bigger Picture

We’re not building enough houses.  (The Collaborative Fund)

UPS is testing drone delivery in NC. (Wired)

The technology used to save and rebuild Notre Dame. (Washington Post)

My Blog

The Work You Don’t See.  What building wealth and building careers have in common. (jpfaris.com)

March 2019 Newsletter

Spartanburg

Video | A first look at the new proposed Courthouse in Spartanburg (WSPA)

Two locals reboot a trash business.  (GoUpstate)

Video | One Spartanburg Report Card shows “significant gains in things like tourism, per capita income, and perhaps most importantly attracting and keeping a skilled workforce”.  (WSPA)  See also, young workers are flocking to Spartanburg (GoUpstate)

The Noble Tree Foundation plants 42 trees on the MBF Rail Trail (PALS Podcast)

A peek inside a new apartment in the Montgomery Building (Facebook) H/T Greenville Business Magazine

Will the Panthers make a move? (The State)  See also, Gov. Henry McMaster and Legislators try to bring the Panthers HQ to SC (Greenville Business Magazine)

The Upstate

Charleston billionaire Ben Navarro has partnered with the Hincapie brothers in Hotel Domestique.  (Upstate Business Journal)

The Cliffs have been acquired by a Charlotte investment firm.  (Greenville Online)


The State

An international megasite (1,500 acres), hoping to lure the next BMW or Volvo to the state, is coming to Interstate 77, just south of Chester County. (The Herald)

International Trade Report | Exports are up 7.5% to a total $34.6 billion, a nine year upward trend for the state. (SC Commerce)

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie become National Parks. (Post and Courier)

Charleston’s Cooper River Bridge Run wins the Governor’s Cup for the top tourism event in South Carolina. (Post and Courier)

Food Hubs Connect Local Farms & Restaurants – “GrowFood, which is part of the Coastal Conservation League, began operations in 2011 and currently works with 85 farms and 300 restaurants across Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, S.C. and Savannah, Ga.” (Greenville Business Magazine)

The S.C. House has passed the Energy Freedom Act, a deal that eliminates caps on solar power for two years.  (Greenville Business Magazine)  See also, A coalition of businesses in SC urge the Senate to pass it. (Solar Power World)

The Bigger Picture

Zillow on housing affordability – the 30% rule is not just an adage.  (Zillow)

The problem with high speed rail in the US.  (WSJ)

Photos | A European city – in China? Worth a look.  (Bloomberg)

My Blog

But what if you didn’t pay cash?  A tribute to a mentor. (jpfaris.com)