A reconfigured Morgan square with state and dining comes with a hefty price and inconvenience

But if Morgan Square and the city-county complex are under construction at the same time, “it could look like a war zone,” Brian Greene said.

City Council members are slated to receive an update July 14 on a project that has been several years in the making – and still awaits a start date:

The renovation of Morgan Square.

City spokesman Christopher George declined to give specifics on the update planned for the upcoming council meeting, but said, “(W)e’re planning for an open discussion. The outcome of that discussion will set our course moving forward.”

Mayor Jerome Rice said he looked forward to a robust discussion about the project.

The council reviewed design options in late 2024 but decided not to move forward with construction.

Several issues still seem to be unresolved.             

“It’s not an insignificant investment,” council member Jamie Fulmer remarked.

City leaders expect the project to cost at least $15 million.

Fulmer said he would like “a clearer picture” of all the costs involved and to make sure the city’s funding sources are in place.

The proposed redesign includes a larger stage and event space for performances, outdoor seating, a small building with bathrooms, and a dedicated outdoor dining space for adjacent restaurants.

Plans were approved in 2023 by a committee that included local business owners, elected officials, and other community leaders.

The “reimagining” of Morgan Square began in 2020, when the city closed a section of West Main Street to allow for outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic. The road closure proved popular with business owners and residents, so local leaders began exploring ways to enhance the entire block to maximize its potential as a community gathering place.

One of the challenges city officials have grappled with is the timing of construction. Work on the project will inevitably cause some disruption, but area restaurants hoped to limit the impact on their business, especially during the busy spring and fall months.

“Our previously discussed potential timeline called for us to begin construction in late spring, and we’re past that point now, which is part of the reason for the update,” George said.

Construction of the new city-county government complex at the corner of South Church Street and West Broad Street – just behind many of the Morgan Square restaurants and shops – is set to begin this October.

That could complicate things, said Brian Greene, a partner in the Morgan Square Hospitality Group, which owns Delaney’s Irish Pub.  

Delaney’s has taken advantage of the space on now-closed West Main Street to serve patrons and, when the weather cooperates, host live music.

“There’s never going to be a perfect time, because development is going to continue to evolve around Morgan Square,” Fulmer said. “But we need to try to find the optimal timing.”

Overall, Greene is optimistic about the future of Morgan Square.

“It’s going to be a little rough getting through (the redevelopment work),” he said. “But it’s going to be great on the other side of it.”

Down the now-closed street from Delaney’s, Bond Street Wines was close to full on a recent Wednesday evening.

Owner Jeff House said he was taking the Morgan Square situation in stride.

“I’ve lived in a lot of different places and seen these kind of projects, so I’m going with the flow,” he said.

“But I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Spartanburg City Council will meet on Monday, July 14, at 5:30 p.m. in the County Council chambers at 366 N. Church St.