Spartanburg Norris Ridge residents want timeline for Robert Smalls completion after delays

Correction: An earlier version of the story misidentified Ralph Settle's current work title and the income range for renters. The earlier version of the story has also been edited for clarity. 

After two years of waiting, the question now being asked is when can Norris Ridge residents start moving into the Robert Smalls at MidTowne Heights. 

Chance Lebron, a Norris Ridge resident and president of the Highland Neighborhood Association, posed the question to Spartanburg City Council on Feb. 14.

Developer EquityPlus, LLC. owns and operates the construction at Robert Smalls and has been in communication with the city government about the project.

The project will cost more than $30 million and will include 190 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units.

"The rental services aren't really giving us any viable information about the move-in time," Lebron said. "[Norris Ridge] residents are tired, ready to move, and ready to see more things move forward with Robert Smalls. But we still have nothing at this point."

Ralph Settle, a partner at EquityPlus, LLC., said there have been delays because of the global pandemic and shortages in building materials such as concrete, plumbing and lumber supplies.

'We have been upfront and forthright about the issues and have talked to our community partners about them," Settle said. "We know the residents want to get there and we want to get them there. We get it that they are frustrated and we are frustrated too." 

Located in the Highland community just behind The Beacon on the Corner of John B. White Sr. Boulevard and S. Daniel Morgan Avenue, Norris Ridge is a privately owned, federally subsidized section 8 apartment complex built in 1950 and has a reputation for poor living conditions and high crime.

The developer has proposed that the apartments be affordable units.  

City council approved the development of Robert Smalls townhomes in October 2019 to relocate Norris Ridge residents into newer apartments with better living conditions. 

After Norris Ridge residents are relocated, the developer plans for the apartments to be torn down and redeveloped according to the Highland neighborhood transformation plan.

The Robert Smalls townhomes were expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a news releasein 2020.

Settle said developers are getting close to making a decision when the first group of residents can move into Robert Smalls. 

"Despite all of that we are very close to being able to move our first 39 families from Norris Ridge to Robert Smalls. But there are two factors that we are waiting on: our two immovable third party utility providers Duke Energy and Spartanburg Water," Settle said.

Settle said the development team is ready to lay out the underground and aboveground work as soon as the third parties move forward. He also said the city is ready to issue the certificate of occupancy as soon as the project is complete. 

"We are close to making a target date for the first 39 homes," Settle said. "We are actively trying to get there. We are working very hard." 

City officials know Norris Ridge residents want to move but realize the developers are dealing with supply issues and other factors that are beyond their control.

"I can't give a certain date as I'm not aware of a date of completion," District 5 Councilwoman Janie Salley said. "Along with COVID-19, where people can't come to work due to sickness, and we have the supply chain issues."