The state’s oldest general aviation airport is slated to get a $4.2 million facelift after City Council unanimously passed a redevelopment agreement on Monday. The plan is to be funded by partially by $500,000 in State Aeronautics Commission grant money, $250,000 in private funding, with the remaining $3.45 million coming from a transfer of funds from the construction of the St John Street parking garage which came in $4 million under budget.
Airport Director Darwin Simpson said the project was needed to renovate two hangers, construct a new parking lot, and renovate the airport’s historic terminal built in 1932. Darwin also pointed out that the airport brings in $6 million per year in economic impact, and 43,000 visitors to Spartanburg every year. The airport is the city’s largest owned asset. Improvements are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
Mayor Bill Barnett, in his first council meeting since announcing he would not seek a 3rd term, called the project “another great step forward for our communityâ€.
Council also approved the purchase of roll carts for the plan to streamline the city’s recycling program. Toter Inc. will provide the city with 2,300 garbage roll carts and 4,500 recycling carts costing a total of $291,516. City Solid Waste Manager Bill Thompson said that though the Toter carts cost about 3% more, they have proven more durable than some carts that were previously purchased by the city.
The 4,500 recycling carts will be used in the planned streamlining of the city’s recycling program, which is slated to go into effect sometime after the first of next year. Thompson said the new program will save the city an estimated $100,000 per year, most of that coming from eliminating the jobs of two workers, each making around $30,000 per year.
Also approved was the second reading of a development grant for Calvert K. McCorkle Revocable Trust and Cornbread to Caviar LLC. The grant will provide 10% of redevelopment costs up to $10,000 for the former Abby’s Grill location. Cornbread to Caviar can receive an additional $20,000 if it meets job creation requirements.
Christopher George
We should do a story about the airport some time, just to see what they do. I’ve never been out there.
Whoa- I had no clue that the airport had that kind of traffic or brought in that amount of money. I’ve been out there a few times when my son was younger and thought the facilities were very retro (in a good way) and the people working there were really nice to Zachary by taking around and showing him different planes and such. I wonder how long it will take before people get upset about spending that amount of money on the renovations.
I think I went out there when I was a little boy for some sort of classic plane/air show thing, but I don’t remember it that well. I’d like to go take a look around though. It’s pretty cool that the first commercial airport in the state was right here in Spartanburg.
I’d guess that the majority of the money generated is from the private jet traffic from a handful of very weathly citizens, and the executives of the various corporate headquarters here. (Thinking off the top of my head: QSI, Denny’s, Extended Stay, Advance America, Miliken)
I live relatively close to the airport and I also see a lot of small craft flights on the weekend that I would guess are hobbyists or training flights. I love when I see the Gliders out! I imagine it would be like riding in a giant paper airplane like we all threw in elementary shool!
I’d guess that the majority of the money generated is from the private jet traffic from a handful of very weathly citizens, and the executives of the various corporate headquarters here. (Thinking off the top of my head: QSI, Denny’s, Extended Stay, Advance America, Miliken)
I live relatively close to the airport and I also see a lot of small craft flights on the weekend that I would guess are hobbyists or training flights. I love when I see the Gliders out! I imagine it would be like riding in a giant paper airplane like we all threw in elementary shool!
BTW I love your blog!
Airport Director Darwin Simpson also mentioned that corporate execs fly in from companies like Costco, Wal-Mart, and Target as well. So apparently, it’s not just companies with headquarters in Spartanburg.
I had no idea the airport was that busy either. From my house, I do notice a nice jet flying over getting ready to land every so often, but I’m too far from the airport to really notice it unless I happen to be outside, so I didn’t know how many it was.
Also, thanks for the blog-love.
I have to wonder whether that figure of 43,000 yearly visitors includes non-fliers, such as people who attend the Hangar B charity ball or the car shows that are held out there.
I doubt it.
Actually this is an average of 117 passengers per day.
Given the capacity of the Gulfstreams and Citations I see flying over my home and business every day (even sunday) I find this number very credible.