16 min listen
Oakview Apartments purchase marks major milestone for Northside Initiative
Oakview Apartments purchase marks major milestone for Northside Initiative
ratings:
Length:
27 minutes
Released:
Jul 13, 2016
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
It has been a problematic area within the city's north side for years, and after City Council voted unanimously to approve $1.9 million to purchase Oakview Apartments for the future construction of a new Dr. T.K. Gregg Community Center. The purchase marks the end of a long struggle to acquire the property from its owner, Related Companies, a New York-based real estate firm owned by multibillionaire and Miami Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross. The city condemned Oakview after attempts to purchase the property failed, and took possession in December, utilizing eminent domain. The purchase comes ahead of a civil trial that had been scheduled to begin July 18 to determine the property's value. Related had previously indicated it would not accept any offer below $2.4 million, the amount owed on its outstanding mortgage. The county assessor lists the property's value at $1.3 million. The City has already begun working with Spartanburg Housing Authority to relocate residents from the substandard units and will continue to do so until the apartments are empty. Once completed the apartments will be demolished to make way for the new community center. Today on the podcast, we're talking with City Community Services Director, Mitch Kennedy about the end of Oakview, what it means in the larger context of the Northside Initiative, and what next steps we can expect.
Released:
Jul 13, 2016
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
City News Podcast: Assistant City Manager Chris Story on Spartanburg's Redevelopment Momentum: What do the former Oakman Glass building, Evans Building, and DuPre House all have in common? All three are major redevelopment projects going on in Downtown Spartanburg right now. Assistant City Manager Chris Story joins us again... by Spartanburg City News