Probate Lawyer in Reidville, SC

bob.montgomery@shj.com

Ground is expected to be broken this week on a new substation for the Reidville Fire Department to serve the growing areas south and west of the main fire station on Reidville Road.

“I’m excited,” said Reidville Fire Chief Patrick Evatt. “I’ve been on this 10 years - half of that time to get this done. This is a big win for the people to get a fire department and EMS closer to where they live.”

The new 11,000-square-foot station is being built at the northeast corner of Highways 101 and 417, closer to Michelin America’s 3.3 million-square foot distribution center and Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ 432,000 square-foot distribution facility.

It’s also closer to Red Rock Development’s 475-acre Smith Farms Industrial Park at Highways 101 and 296 where there will be 11 buildings and nearly 6 million square feet of space.

And it brings fire protection closer to many of the nearly 20 new subdivisions that are planned or have opened in that part of southwestern Spartanburg County, Evatt said.

The fire department serves a 47-square-mile area from Woodruff to Greer that is simply too large to handle from its current 11,000-square-foot station on Reidville Road that was built in 1993, Evatt said.

The district covers five Zip codes including Reidville, Moore, Duncan, Woodruff and Greer. It has grown from nearly 10,000 people nine years ago to around 18,000 today, he said.

Fire call volume has increased as well. While some rural departments still handle one or two calls every few days, Reidville now gets four calls a day, or about 1,100 calls a year, he said.

The fire department has gone from two members to six per shift over the past 10 years, with three full-timers working each day shift. There are about 35 volunteers.

Even though a referendum to raise taxes for the new substation failed in 2016, Evatt said the department was able to get a low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the $3 million project.

The fire district’s millage rate is 16, and the department is able to meet the loan repayment requirements, Evatt said.

However, area residents someday may be asked again to support a tax increase through a referendum if growth continues, he said.

The new substation will have two fire trucks manned by two full-time firefighters, with space for more if growth continues.

The large apparatus bay area can be cleared and used by the public for meetings and events, similar to that of the current main station, he said.

As a bonus, the substation will also house an ambulance, which fulfills a goal of Spartanburg County EMS to provide closer ambulance coverage to that part of the county.

The county will lease space from the fire department at $150 a month for 30 years and pay all utilities and maintenance expenses associated with the EMS.

The county also agreed to convey the property it bought in 2010 for a future EMS station to the Reidville Fire Department for its new substation.

Evatt and County Administrator Cole Alverson said it is a win-win because it saves the county from having to build a new EMS station in that area.

The new substation is also near the fire districts of five other departments, where mutual aid agreements are in place. In case of a major fire, the departments can pool together their resources, he said.

Roebuck Builders is the general contractor for the project, and Evatt said the station should be finished by early next fall.

Four new economic projects totaling $175.2 million in investment and 98 jobs were announced by Spartanburg County Council Monday.

The investment and job numbers are based on the fee in lieu of tax agreements between the project developers and the county.

County council approved the first of three readings required for the tax breaks to take effect.

The projects are code-named Wild Turkey, $67.9 million investment, 74 jobs; Chestnut, $37 million at least four jobs; Apple, $50.3 million, unknown number of jobs; and Hawkeye, $20 million, unknown jobs number.

With 78 jobs between projects Wild Turkey and Chestnut, Britt estimated 20 new jobs to be created between Apple and Hawkeye bringing the total to 98 new jobs.

$1.39 billion invested this year

Britt said the new projects bring the total investment in Spartanburg County this year to $1.39 billion. The 98 new jobs bring the yearly announced total to 3,198 new jobs this year.

He said the total continues to build on a record amount for any one year in Spartanburg County.

"Many thanks to all our partners for making this possible, especially Katherine O'Neill and Carter Smith with OneSpartanburg, Inc.," Britt said.

3 new projects:3 new development projects, $62.7M investment, 332 jobs announced in Spartanburg County

Project Hawkeye is the planned 136-room Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel at St. John Street in Spartanburg.

Earlier this month, Spartanburg City Council approved tax breaks with Hawkeye Hotels for the Marriott-brand hotel, which will be built on St. John Street between the Montgomery Building and the University of South Carolina Upstate's George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics.

Hotel tax breaks:City council OKs tax breaks for Spartanburg's new Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel project

The agreement requires the developer to invest $20 million and make payments in lieu of taxes for 10 years, starting with $70,955 the first year (2025) and ending the 10th year at $221,760.

After that, the hotel owner will be responsible for paying the standard property tax rate.

The names and locations of Projects Chestnut, Wild Turkey and Apple will be revealed by the third reading, according to Britt.

Record year:$368 million in new projects planned in Spartanburg County, adding to record-setting year

Besides allowing for a fee in lieu of taxes, the agreements allow companies to pay a property tax rate of 6%, which is less than the standard 10.5% rate.

Project Chestnut was first discussed by council last month when council approved countywide mixed-use development. Mixed-use allows a developer to combine residential, commercial, office and light industrial uses on a single parcel.

Council members Britt and Chairman Manning Lynch said the ordinance change was timely because Project Chestnut is a multi-use project that couldn't go forward without the change.

Previously, multi-use projects had to be on separate parcels, requiring multiple plans. Now one plan can be submitted for the entire project.

Meanwhile, the names behind several other previously announced projects were revealed Monday during approvals of second and third readings for tax breaks.

Auria plans $12.5M project

Auria Spartanburg of 1 Austrian Way and 500 Herald-Journal Boulevard, Spartanburg, which was code-named Project Carpet, is planning a $12.5 million investment with 103 new jobs.

Auria is a global automotive supplier that makes flooring, acoustic systems and other fiber-based interior products, including package trays, trunk trim and wheel arch liners.

Its North American headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan, operating 25 manufacturing plants and 10 engineering and testing facilities in 10 countries and has nearly 5,000 employees worldwide, according to Auria's website.

An estimated 150 people work at the Spartanburg facility, according to AutomotiveOEM Inc., which publishes a database of North American suppliers.

? AFL Telecommunications of 112 Hidden Lake Circle, Duncan, formerly called Project Spider, is a planned $40.5 million investment with 197 new jobs.

? The Cubes at Fort Prince, Fort Prince Boulevard, was code-named Project Next Wave. It involves a projected investment of $167 million, with no jobs projected, according to the tax break agreement.

Mixed use OK'd:Spartanburg County OKs mixed-use developAGA TAG Solar II ment amid Campobello RV park concerns

? at 325 Battleground Road and 4936 Cannons Campground Road and 276 Foster St., Cowpens, was code-named Project Sunrise. The project is a planned investment of $5.14 million.

? Spartanburg SF RRL was code-named Project Silver and is a projected investment of $110.2 million at S.C. 195 and Reidville Road. No jobs are projected, according to the tax break agreement.

? Fort Prince Logistics at Fort Prince Boulevard, formerly named Project Prince, is a $15.16 million investment with no jobs projected.

? JSD Flatwood PV-1 at Bryant Road and 415 Davis Road, Spartanburg, formerly called Project Green-Spa 2, is a planned $11 million project with no jobs projected, according to the agreement. The company's registered agent is Johnson Development Associates of Spartanburg, according to the Secretary of State's website.

? SC Global Logistics of 2004 Moore Duncan Highway, formerly called Project Anderson, is a planned $60 million investment with no jobs listed, according to the tax break agreement.

Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com

REIDVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — A Greenville developer said plans to build a town center in Reidville are moving forward.

“It gives a place for families to gather, young people to gather, a lot of restaurants and retail,” said Bill Cureton, owner and president of Triad Development.

Cureton said they’re in the process of finalizing design plans for the project. He said soon this vision will start coming to life.

In the next few weeks, people in Reidville can expect to see progress at the former elementary school site.

“The town council has decided, due to the cost of up fitting and bringing the school to today’s ADA standards that they want to have it demoed, so we’re getting the permits in place for that,” said Cureton.

After the building is torn down, Cureton said it could be just weeks before crews begin work on the town center.

“We should be starting construction this year. We’ve told the town council that we hope to have Main Street in before Christmas,” said Cureton.

He estimated, in total, this is an $18 to $20 million project. Cureton hopes people are excited to experience and visit the new town center.

“There’s going to be a lot of open space, a lot of walking trails, about 100,000 to 120,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and some second story townhouse apartments downtown,” said Cureton.

He said this project is a long time coming, after several delays over the years. 7News previously covered a meeting about the town center project in August 2018.

“2016, I believe, is when we first started working on this project. So, you know, it’s a great thing and sometimes great things take a little bit of time,” said Cureton.

He’s looking forward to work finally starting and said the town center will have a positive impact on people in the area.

“I always say to people, you know, ‘meet me downtown.’ It will be the first time you can say that, when that’s finally finished, you can meet me in downtown Reidville, with stuff to do,” said Cureton.

He said parts of the Reidville town center could be open by early next summer.

Kathy Fowler Costello remembers growing up on a farm surrounded by peach orchards in Reidville when most of the nearest stores were in Spartanburg.

“There weren’t that many places around,” she said. “We used to run out when we saw a car coming. Now there’s barely a second between cars. There’s housing developments going up everywhere now.”

One store that was a short walk for her was W.W. “Doc” Lowe’s, which was built in 1948 by her uncle Wilbur Wardlaw Lowe and served as the local filling station, general store and a meeting place for locals.

That business no longer exists, and after being used as a wrecker service, a restaurant and hot dog stand, the concrete storefront and garage has a new tenant — Sweet Tea Station Farmhouse Market.

The country store is a dream come true for longtime Reidville resident Sabrina Hodges.

“Back in the fall when we saw this space was open, I decided to open the shop,” said Hodges, who this weekend is celebrating her six-month anniversary.

Hodges grew up in Tabor City in Eastern North Carolina, where her grandmother ran a country store. She and her husband moved to Reidville 22 years ago.

“It brought back a lot of memories of how I grew up,” Hodges said. “I just felt Reidville needed something for the community. I wanted to bring something that many people could be proud of.”

With help from her daughters Blake, 21, and Kassidy, 18, Hodges has filled the store with a variety of items — some made locally — such as soaps, candles, signs, pillows, jewelry, T-shirts and other gifts. She also sells personalized gift cards and primitives she picks up at flea markets.

There are old photos of the store from its early days hung on the walls. And of course, she sells sweet tea.

“If you’re looking for something in particular, I’ll write it down in the notebook and look for it,” she said. “People like personal service, a personal touch. They know they’ll get personal service and a fair price.”

She said business has been good the first six months, but what’s more rewarding are the comments she gets from longtime residents who visit and tell of their childhood memories.

“There was ice cream, drinks and penny candy,” she said.

Some have donated things like an old trunk, a farmhouse door and other items they wanted to share with others. There is also an original Zenith electric clock on a shelf that was owned by Doc Lowe.

Costello said she and her cousin would go to her grandmother’s house across the road from the store after school at Reidville Elementary, waiting for their parents to pick them up later. To kill time, they’d often visit the store.

“There was a long bar with a cash register, a Coca-Cola cooler next to that ice cream with Popsicles. I liked banana Popsicles," Costello said. "There was a candy counter, bread and milk — the necessities to keep you from having to go into Spartanburg. And there was a nickel pinball machine."

Costello no longer lives in Reidville. She moved to Spartanburg after she and her brother sold the old family homestead.

But she enjoys stopping at Sweet Tea Station and chatting with Hodges when she gets the chance.

“She’s one of my best friends,” Costello said. “She has a knack for putting things together.”

Reidville Road, Moore-Duncan Highway and East Main Street in Spartanburg are among several major roads that would be repaved with funding from a new six-year penny sales tax if voters approve in November.

In all, 34 major asphalt pavement projects would be completed by the sixth year the tax is collected, according to a list the Spartanburg County Council forwarded to a six-member commission. The commission will draft the language of a referendum to appear on the November ballot.

In addition, there are numerous countywide stormwater and intersection improvement projects and hundreds of neighborhood street repaving projects that would be paid for by the penny tax, which is estimated to generate $478 million over six years.

If approved, the sales tax would continue to be applied to items purchased in the county when the current penny tax – which was raised from 6 cents to 7 cents in 2018 – expires April 30, 2024.

"It is imperative that we fix our roads and intersections now because every day that goes by without them being repaired they fall further into a state of disrepair. The cost then goes up exponentially," County Councilman David Britt said.

The county maintains more than 1,700 miles of roads and 150 bridges. An estimated 45% of them are classified as in poor condition, and the S.C. Department of Transportation estimates that 60% of the state's secondary roads in the county are also in poor condition.

Spartanburg County Council: 'How are we going to pay to fix the roads?'

Britt said many roads were built more than 50 years ago and not designed to handle the weight of vehicles of today, such as SUVs and large trucks that deliver goods to distribution centers and grocery stores.

All County Council and several City Council members have stated support for a new penny tax, saying it is the least painful way to fix what is the number one local issue for many residents.

"I think its the best thing to do," said County Councilman Bob Walker. "It's the fairest way and the best way, and it's spread out. I'm elected by the citizens, and that's who I work for. If they want to discuss the penny tax with me, I'm available."

County Councilman Justin McCorkle said the penny tax is "the best option … to get the best bang for the buck, so to speak.

"This option provides the least burden on citizens and the greatest impact on roadway improvements," McCorkle said.

Britt said he was recently asked why the county doesn't simply use tax revenues from new companies coming to Spartanburg County to pay for road improvements.

"I told the resident it would take over 125 years to just generate the money that the penny sales tax will generate in six years," Britt said. "Today the question is how are we going to pay to fix the roads?

"Either have an astronomical property tax increase that no one wants or use the penny sales," Britt said. "Thirty-five percent or more of the revenues generated by the penny sales tax will be paid for by people who do not live in Spartanburg that use our roads. Why not let them help us pave our roads."

County Councilman Jack Mabry said, "As long as we wait till the current penny sales tax for the courthouse is sunset and we put it to a vote, I feel the penny sales tax is the best way to address our roads. I am not a big fan of back-to-back penny tax, but if we want better roads this is the bet way to address it."

Public Works Director Travis Brown estimated a backlog of $500 million in roads that are in need of repair.

Brown, who compiled the list of road projects spread over six years, told council members the projects will be "concentrated in areas of higher growth" and take into account pavement condition, traffic counts, crash data and functionality.

Spartanburg County road, bridge projects spread out over six years

The project list is divided into six tiers, with the first tier being the highest priority to start in the first year, and the sixth tier the lowest priority in the final year of the penny tax.

Planned Spartanburg area projects

Here is a look at major projects planned under Tier 1 if the penny tax referendum commission approves the list to appear on the November ballot:

Tier 1, asphalt pavement improvement:

Moore-Duncan Highway (SC 290), from Reidville Road to Rogers Bridge Road, 2.75 miles, $6.6 million; Moore-Duncan Highway (SC 290) from Meauly Road to N. Danzler Road, 1.4 miles, $3.6 million; Reidville Road (SC 296), from SC 290 to SC 295, 5.5 miles, $14 million; E. Main Street in Spartanburg, from US 29 to Converse Street, 2.9 miles, $1.4 million.

Tier 1, intersection improvement:

Zion Hill Road at Sloan's Grove Road, a roundabout, $3 million.

Tier 2, asphalt pavement improvement:

Main St./E. St. John St./W. St. John St., from SC 296 to Cherokee County line, 11 miles, $22 million; Cherry Hill Road, from US 29 to River Street, 3.2 miles, $2 million; Foster Street, from Cannons Campground Road to US 29, 2.8 miles, $1.1 million.

Tier 2, bridge replacement:

Alverson Road bridge, Campobello, $4.5 million; Freys Drive bridge, Spartanburg westside, $2.75 million.

Tier 2, intersection improvement:

US 176 at Dogwood Club Road, $2.5 million; Floyd Road at Cannons Campground Road, $1.5 million.

Tier 3, asphalt pavement improvement:

Rutherford Street, from I-26 to US 176, 2 miles, $2.8 million; Redland Road, from SC 14 to Red Hill Lane, 1.3 miles, $1.1 million; Brockman/McClimon Road, from I-85 to SC 101, 1.5 miles, $3.4 million; Abner Creek Road, from SC 101 to Westmoreland Road, 4.6 miles, $3.9 million; Cavins Road, from E. Hayne St. to E. Georgia Road, 1.6 miles, $1.4 million; Peanut Road, from East Georgia Road to US 221, 1.8 miles, 1.5 million; Edwards Road, from Fountain Inn Road to SC 101, 2.5 miles, $2.1 million; Fernwood/Glendale Road, from SC 29 to Clifton/Glendale Road, 3.1 miles, $6.6 million.

Tier 3, bridge replacement:

Grand Canyon Road bridge, Inman, $1.75 million; Calvary Road bridge, Inman, $1.75 million.

Tier 3, intersection improvement:

Gossett Road at Cannons Campground Road, $3 million; SC 129 at Carver/Bobo, $3 million; SC 292 at Bishop Road, $3 million.

Tier 4, asphalt pavement improvement:

Southport Road from SC 215 to US 176, 12.6 miles, $24.6 million; Old Canaan Road, from SC 295 to Canaan Road, 2.9 miles, $2.5 million.

Tier 4, bridge replacement:

Settle Road bridge, Inman, $2 million; Landrum Mill Road bridge, Landrum, $2 million.

Tier 4, intersection improvement:

SC 357 at SC 358, $3.5 million; Old Converse Road at Cannons Campground Road, $2 million; Double Bridge Road at Hanging Rock Road, $3 million; Hammett Store Road at SC 357, $3 million.

Tier 5, asphalt pavement improvement:

Reidville Road from SC 295 to W. Main St., 2.4 miles, $4.5 million; US 221, from Southport Road to Barnwell Road, 6.2 miles, $29.5 million; Camelot Drive from US 29 to SC 296, 1 mile, $2 million; N. Daniel Morgan Ave., from US 29 to N. Church St., 0.4 miles, $722,975; Powell Mill Road, from SC 29 to Front St., 1.3 miles, $1.1 million; Powell Mill/Textile Road, from Front St. to Vanderbilt Road, 1 mile, $851,840; Powell Mill Road, from Powell Mill to Textile St., 0.6 miles, $477,030; Oak Grove Road, from S. Blackstock Road to Reidville Road, 0.67 miles, $856,099; Oak Grove Road, Reidville Road to South Blackstock Road, 1.1 miles, $1.4 million.

Tier 5, bridge replacement:

Stewart Road bridge, Pauline, $2.5 million; Rock Hill Church Road bridge, Inman, $2.5 million.

Tier 5, intersection improvement:

Battleground Road at US 29, $4.5 million; Old Furnace Road at Sugar Ridge Road, $3.5 million; Mt. Zion Road at John Dodd Road, $3 million; W. Henry St. at S. Forest St., $3.5 million.

Tier 5, county road corridor reconstruction:

Plainview Drive, from US 29 to Cannons Campground Road, 1.1 miles, $3.5 million; Blalock Road, from SC 9 to Old Furnace Road, 0.9 miles, $3.5 million.

Tier 6, asphalt pavement improvement:

SC 101, from Arnold Road to Rogers Bridge Road, 11.3 miles, $27 million.

Tier 6, bridge replacement:

RC Thompson Road bridge, Chesnee, $1.75 million; Bearden Road bridge, Roebuck, $2.25 million.

Tier 6, county road corridor reconstruction:

Upper Valley Falls Road from Valley Falls Road to US 176, 1.2 miles, $4.75 million; Hammett Store Road, from Hampton Road to SC 357, 2.2 miles, $6 million; Floyd Road, from Cannons Campground Road to US 221, 1.7 miles, $4.75 million; Genoble Road, from Victor Hill Road to Robinson Road, 0.9 miles,, $3.75 million; Foster Road, from SC 11 to Compton Bridge Road, 4.1 miles, $14 million.