Revitalization of Downtown Winnsboro Springs to Life

Winnsboro

Winnsboro’s downtown restoration efforts embarked on a significant step last week as work began on the iconic Douglas Building. With approximately $2 million in state earmarks flowing over the past couple of years, the revitalization of the municipality’s heart has begun in earnest.

Restoring Douglas Building to its Former Glory

Observers witnessed workers on scaffolding removing decayed sections from the façade of the Douglas Building located at 126 N. Congress Street. “The aim of this initiative is to fully restore the façade, and then shift our attention to the interior to bring it up to a move-in ready state which can then be put up for lease or sale,” Town Manager Jason Taylor explains.

The windowed façade of the 6,654 square foot, two-story building requires specialty work. The town has therefore enlisted the services of a Raleigh-based contractor with expertise in storefront restorations. The projected timeline for the restoration is approximately two to three months for the front windows and an estimated six months for the entire building.

Acquisition of Significant Properties

In addition to the Douglas Building, the town is purchasing a handful of other significant properties, including the former Chamber of Commerce building, a former Gulf service station and two vacant commercial lots, in a real estate package deal worth $275,000. A further investment includes the acquisition of a building that previously housed a dry cleaning business at 201 N. Congress.

Even though the revitalization work has just started, it’s important to note that the earmarked $2 million can only be used for downtown revitalization. Many of the downtown buildings are in such poor condition that it would be cost prohibitive for prospective business owners to invest in restorations. Thus, the Town has taken the responsibility of purchasing and restoring these buildings to attract more businesses to the area.

The Bigger Picture

“We believe that by demonstrating the availability of quality buildings in downtown Winnsboro, we can make it more financially feasible for potential business owners to invest in the town. This model has proven successful in other towns that have undergone similar revitalization efforts,” said Taylor. He points to the success story of Rock Hill which managed to restore its community identity that was once undermined by ubiquitous strip malls.

Once restored, these buildings will make an immediate impact on the overall appearance of downtown Winnsboro. Furthermore, the town’s commitment to the revitalization project is likely to give private sector investors a certain level of comfort and could potentially pique their interest in town developments.

These first projects are publicly funded, but more development efforts from private investors are anticipated in the future. Among them, Capstone Property Group is planning extensive renovations on a former Wells Fargo bank building and the recently purchased 64-acre former country club campus. ”Such investments bode well for the economic outlook of the town,” comments Clauson, “Winnsboro is going to attract more similar investments in the future.”

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