Council Hears Update on Downtown Construction, Morgan Square, Clock Tower

(Logo Courtesy of the City of Spartanburg)

At its meeting 7/14/2025, Spartanburg City Council heard an update on the Morgan Square redevelopment process and nearby downtown developments from City Manager Chris Story.

Referencing developments set to get underway along Broad and West Main streets that will take roughly 275 surface parking spaces out of circulation while the areas are under construction, Story recommended postponing construction on the square’s redevelopment until at least the end of 2025.

Previously planned enhancements included permanently pedestrianizing the sections of West Main and Dunbar streets along the square and raising those streets to curb level, creating an enlarged performance lawn at the square's eastern end with public restrooms and a staffed visitor kiosk, and adaptive seating include lounging terraces, movable furniture and bench swings.

The plan also included a permanent outdoor dining zone for adjacent restaurants.

Story also shared an update on the downtown clock tower, which is to be moved later this year to make way for a streetscaping project accompanying a new hotel and mixed-use development planned for the block bound by West Main, South Spring, West Broad streets, and South Daniel Morgan Avenue.

To move the curbline the needed distance, the clock tower, located within a median between the two lanes of West Main Street, will need to be removed.

While the clock tower itself only dates to the late 1970s, the clock it houses has historical roots dating back to 1881.

Its 1,200 lbs. bell and mechanism were first housed in the Spartanburg Opera House, which then functioned as Spartanburg’s City Hall.

When that building was demolished, the clock was then moved to the nearby Spartanburg County Courthouse until that building was demolished in 1958.

After spending years in storage, city leaders worked with the Spartanburg Bicentennial Committee to refurbish and modernize the clock’s mechanism and place it inside a newly built clock tower.

The tower originally stood near the intersection of Liberty and East Main streets, near the current Denny’s headquarters building.

It was moved to its current location in 1989.

To honor the clock’s history, Story recommended creating an exhibit within the new downtown city-county joint government complex expected to begin construction later this year.

While council members acknowledged the need to remove the clock tower from its current location, several shared that they would prefer to see the clock and tower honored in a more substantial way.

No decision was made regarding the clock or tower on Monday, and council members are expected to take up the issue formally at a later date.

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