Around Downtown Spartanburg, construction is underway on new housing projects, the result of years of planning to expand downtown’s residential footprint.

In the OneSpartanburg Vision Plan – a countywide community and economic development strategy – building a vibrant downtown went hand-in-hand with pursuing development and redevelopment that furthered Downtown Spartanburg as a live-work-play destination.

“A thriving downtown ecosystem becomes ‘everybody’s neighborhood’ – a place that everyone is attracted to eat, play, work and live. So we are not only focusing on residential development. Our team has parallel tracks with developers on work on mixed use developments, gathering places, entertainment venues, office product and encouraging dense retail and restaurant activity downtown,” said OneSpartanburg, Inc. Chief Economic Development Officer Katherine O’Neill.

Inside an apartment before the opening of residential space at The Montgomery Building.

At the end of 2020, there were more than 500 residential units under construction, with the ultimate goal of 1,000 multi-family units downtown. At the start of 2021, the goal of doubling the residential options available in Downtown Spartanburg is coming together.

“We are seeing a high level of interest in multifamily development downtown. And multi-family housing follows job creation,” O’Neill said. “The County’s continuing success with industrial development has set the table for dense development in the municipalities across the County, especially the City of Spartanburg with its growing amenities. Quite frankly, there is a higher level of interest across the sectors – restaurants, infrastructure development such as trails, office space, and so on.”

Liberty Street Apartments

Along Daniel Morgan Avenue just behind the Spartanburg Marriott, concrete foundations were poured, and work was underway on the Liberty Street Apartments, planned to be completed in May 2021.

The project will feature 200 units and eight townhouses, with studio one, two and three-bedroom apartments available.

Kennedy Street Apartments

This project is set to bring 132 apartments downtown at the corner of Kennedy, Union and Advent streets, pending Design Review Board approval in 2021.

Plans showed the building would be four stories with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units in one building. The project is near the Mary Black Rail Trail, Spartanburg’s most-popular outdoor recreational offering.

142 Social

Work was nearly complete at 142 Social at the end of 2020. The building, at 142 Magnolia St., is now leasing both its residential and commercial spaces.

A total of 18 one-bedroom apartments are available on the first floor with two-bedroom apartments being available above those. Second floor apartments have outdoor patios, and third floor apartments have balconies overlooking downtown.

There are one- and two-bedroom apartments available in the floors above the 9,000-square-foot retail space on the building’s first floor. There is also a gated parking lot underground for residents living at the apartment.

Silver Hill at Barnet Park

Adjacent to Barnet Park, Silver Hill, a new downtown Spartanburg residential community, under construction now.

When complete, 10 townhomes and 19 single-family homes – built with a handful of architectural inspirations and designs – will be added to the roster of residential options downtown.

The exterior of the historic Montgomery Building

Existing Downtown Residential Spaces

Several residential options had already sprung up in Downtown Spartanburg, and have become sought-after living destinations, especially for the influx of young people Spartanburg has seen in recent years.

Overlooking Morgan Square inside the Palmetto Building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is the Palmetto Lofts. The Palmetto Lofts have gained popularity for the flats and townhomes available, with original hardwood and marble flooring, and brick walls.

Also in the heart of downtown, the Magnolia Lofts offer studio and one-bedroom apartments with contemporary layouts, high ceilings and exposed brick. Like the Palmetto Lofts, the Magnolia Lofts are located inside a historic downtown building.

A few minutes away, Church Street Lofts, inside the renovated Schuyler building, features 1950s, international style and a selection of studio apartments and one-bedroom lofts. Each of the 88 units feature stained, concrete floors, stainless steel appliances and modern lighting.

At the corner of East Broad and South Liberty streets, Library Commons has an array of one-and two-bedroom apartments available with all of downtown within walking distance. Residents have private, garage parking available and floor plans offer spacious apartments with hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and more.

Built in 1924 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the landmark Montgomery Building is home to Sidewalk Pizza, Pharmacy Coffee, boutiques, office space and 63 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with parking available in the St. John Street garage.

The historic Aug W. Smith Building houses apartments on its upper floors.

Another historic Spartanburg building, the Aug W. Smith Building, was renovated and now holds 45 apartments on its upper floors. Its ground floors, overlooking East Main Street near Denny’s Plaza, are home to Spill the Beans and Spartanburg Methodist College’s SMC Studio.