Why do most people choose Spartanburg over Greenville? (Columbia, Anderson: public schools, living in)

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by ShabbyChick

...I don't mean to be offensive in any way when I ask this, but is Spartanburg more factory jobs, blue collar, lower income--and Greenville more banking and finance, medical professional, white collar, higher income? I just ask because the difference in pay scale that we found between the two cities was nearly $30,000 a year!...

You are absolutely correct. Greenville is much larger in virtually every respect, especially in the corporate professions. As an executive from my employer based in Richmond recently put it, "it seems that for every single step in the right direction Spartanburg takes, Greenville takes three." I couldn't say it any simpler than that. By the way, our regional office is located in Spartanburg, though our top market in the region is Greenville, so he is fully aware of what is happening in both cities as I can also claim to be.

[Spartanburgh]

Hi ShabbyChic,
Brookgreen is in the Oak Forest Neighborhood off Reidville Rd. on the popular West side. It is with 5 minutes of almost everything. It is an older neighborhood that was once the place to be (1970's). Now it is surrounded by all new development. It is also in a great school district (6).
Friar Tuck is not in a good location. It is not convienent and its far from the growing areas.
I don't know about the pay differances between Greenville and Spartanburg. I do know that a company called Forex just started moving its national headquarters from Chattanooga Tn. to Spartanburg and will hire scores of white colar workers. Maybe you can contact them via the net.
I don't know of any Real Estate market that is really strong right now. Ours seems to be more steady and holding its own, but I wouldn't call it strong.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have other questions.

[Spartanburgh]

ShabbyChic,
I should have told you to visit CityofSpartanburg.org and look at all the awards Spartanburg has received in the last year. You'll be amazed. These are independant professionals in many different fields giving us a big thumbs up and proving we are in a great place to call home.

[junemmt]

My husband and I want to move south but are stuck on where to go! We are in Northern Ohio, right on Lake Erie and its freeeezzinng!! We have a daughter in the 7th grade. My husband does Heating /Air Conditioning and is looking for a wonderful reputable company to work for. I am extremely nervous about moving but very excited at the same time. I've researched a lot of areas for a long time and it all leads me to Greenville, SC area. Any ideas on where would be best for us to look for housing (probably rent for awhile) with at least an acre or two of land, in a great school district, not too far from town? I also have two dogs. They are VERY well behaved, both over 8yrs of age but one is a pitbull mix. She is the gentlest, sweetest girl who was raised right but I am wondering what if any laws there are about her breed there.
Need help with this HUGE decision and GIANT move. I see many have taken the leap and I have not seen any bad remarks about it so thats very encouraging!!!!!

[Skyliner]

Hi junemmt!

I am glad to hear of your interest in the Greenville area and want to encourage you to come visit to check the area out in person. You won't be disappointed! Pitbulls are not illegal in Greenville at this time, and I am unaware of any special laws for them. Looking forward to hearing more as you and your husband check into the possibility of relocating to our region.

P.S. I have been in Buffalo during a blizzard and know firsthand how miserable life is in that kind of extreme cold. I just can't imagine having to live there year after year. It would quickly become depressing for me.

[Carolina_1690]

Spartanburg and Greenville are both "mill towns" for lack of a better term. Both cities have a rich history in being major textile centers in the Carolina Piedmont. They were both market centers for their respective regions, and both are more accurately a collection of mill towns. Spartanburg was actually the larger of the two for many years, even as recently as the 1950s. Obviously things have changed, but Spartanburg is taking significant steps to improve itself. The many awards that our beautiful city has received over the past few years are illustrative of the efforts that the city has been taking to improve its image and increase its already superb quality of life.

I was downtown last weekend and I was amazed by the number of families out enjoying the newly renovated Morgan Square, Main Street, and Imagination Station (a local toy store that recently moved downtown). The crowds were also related to the very popular Jamboread! Festival at the library (a children's reading festival that attracts national writers and illustrators to the city.) Downtown has a steady momentum with new stores and great restaurants opening up. The new Chapman Cultural Center has already started to add a new dynamic to the city with the Arts Center, and the Spartanburg County History Museum, and other performing arts groups now located there. USC Upstate recently announced its new Business College campus downtown, which will add yet another level of dynamics to the area. The geographically constrained 'municipality' (not to be confused with the urban area that never stopped growing) is seeing population increases for the first time in several decades, including new housing downtown and a reinvestment in the neighborhoods around downtown. Spartanburg is on the move in a very positive direction, and I think that many will be surprised at the positive changes that are on the way.

[motonenterprises]

Greenville is more of an engineering and corporate hub than anything. The mill days are long gone and most of Greenville's old mills have been razed or turned into luxury condos. Greenville and Spartanburg are quite different in the way they feel. This is not a slap at Spartanburg. A friend and co worker lives in Spartanburg and feels it will soon be a suburb of Greenville if they don't do something to catch up.

[Skyliner]

Spartanburg's downtown has fortunately changed over the past decade and is changing still, so that is good at least. An interesting thing I must mention is that I often drive directly from one downtown (Greenville/Spartanburg) to the other (I work in Spartanburg and live in Greenville) and the difference in activity and amenities is night and day at this point in time. If anyone disagrees, I challenge you to do the same sometime. Compared with downtown Greenville, virtually every other Upstate downtown will seem to be dead in the evening.

[babigyrl5]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Hi sherri rc,

There are actually a few places near downtown that are beginning to come up with more affordable housing options. First off, are you looking to rent or buy?

Below is a list which includes some of the new additions to the edges of downtown that offer very reasonable prices. Given the fact that these areas are changing into more attractive neighborhoods I would expect their value to increase as the demand for downtown housing continues to grow.

To Rent:

McBee Station Apartments - Brand new high density complex located in the awesome new McBee Station development downtown. You can walk to any place in downtown from here with little effort.

To Buy:

Pendleton West - mixed use neighborhood with affordable homes and condos.

Mulberry at Pinkney - cute new homes made to look like adorable Craftsman era bungalows.

Historic Overbrook Community - cute older homes and cottages

The Edge at North Main - condos

The Brio - condos

Field House at West End - condos over retail/restaurant, also overlooking beautiful West End Field.

Poinsett Corners - excellent condos in the heart of downtown, across the street from the world class Peace Center for the Performing Arts.

The Park Downtown - Condos with an excellent location next to a small old park just off of North Main Street.

There are several other downtown options as well, and if you would like more information about any of these or the ones I left out, please don't hesitate to ask us. I am sure someone will be able to help you.

I am interested in renting downtown but the only website I could find was for McBee Station. Anyone know of other websites for apartments along Main Street and near the Suspension Bridge? Thanks!

[carsmi1]

Skyliner, you are a wealth of information. My husband and I are looking to move to the Greenville area. He wants Travelers' Rest and I'm afraid that will be too small. I'm thinking Spartanburg, but my husband is leary of living too near an international airport.

I would love to live near the lakes & mountains. who wouldn't?