Spartanburg’s resurrected icon and what it has for Wofford

In recent years, Spartanburg has experienced a vast downtown revitalization initiative. We have seen new restaurants, shops and hotels, but no new infrastructure has proven as imposing as The Montgomery Building.  

As Spartanburg boomed through its textile heyday, the owners of Spartan Mills began construction on The Montgomery Building. In 1924, the building was completed and served as office space for everyone from physicians to florists, barbers to brokers. At the end of the 20th century, as the city’s focus strayed away from downtown, the Montgomery Building was left vacant.  

On a business trip in 2010, real estate developer and fellow South Carolinian James Bakker set his sights on the granite and grandeur of the Montgomery Building. Six years later, Bakker and his business partner, Tom Finnegan, announced their plans to completely renovate the building into apartment, office and retail space.  

In order to keep the Montgomery Building historical and offset the multimillion-dollar cost of the project, Bakker and Finnegan enlisted the help of the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program. Support from the FHTC Program allows restorers to claim 20 percent of eligible improvement expenses against their federal tax liability and required the renovators of The Montgomery Building to follow historical preservation guidelines when it came to building details like the facade and plaster-work.  

The exterior of the building underwent a complete restoration, as each piece of concrete paneling was removed and restored. The windows throughout the building, as well as the plaster-work, were also brought back to their golden-age-glory. James Bakker says, “The building is as close to 1924 as it has been in decades.”  

The Montgomery Building now features sixty-two apartments, and more than twenty-thousand square feet of office, restaurant and retail space. For the residents, the building offers amenities such as a dog wash station, a bike fix-it station, and a fitness center. Apartments range in size from 471 to 1465 square feet, each offering unique views of Spartanburg, the Blue Ridge Mountains and even Wofford’s own Old Main.  

When Wofford’s off-campus population was mentioned, Bakker replied, “We are looking forward to having students in the property.” Aside from the residences, there will be much more available in this new hangout. The first floor will be open to the public, featuring an Upstate classic: Sidewall Pizza of Travelers Rest.  

Terrier favorite, Little River Roasting Company will also be moving closer, conveniently located on the corner of the building nearest campus. Little River will also feature an outdoor courtyard with seating and Wi-Fi. Bakker says, “I hope it serves as a meeting place for Wofford students and that they visit Sidewall and Little River. It would be great to see students utilizing the outdoor seating, and the seating in the arcade, on a daily basis.” 

Bakker said of the building’s scheduled opening, “The Montgomery building apartments will be ready to move into next week and the first floor will be open to the general public. We will have tours of the whole building available to the general public from Dec. 7 to Dec. 9.”  

As year three of the project is nearing its end, Bakker and his team are fast approaching the finish line. The restoration of the Montgomery Building has been long anticipated and brings new life to North Church. This fresh rendition of a classic is sure to keep Spartanburg sparkling for years to come.

Written by Jacob Hollifield