City Council Seeks Textile Tax Credits for Townsend Mill Site
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson City Council will vote on Monday to apply for state tax credits tax under the South Carolina Textiles Communities Revitalization Act to restore and rehabilitate the 4.5-acre site that was home to the Townsend Mill Cotton Mill property.
The site, which borders Bleckley Street, Lee Street, West Mauldin and First Avenue is owned by Fairway Development Partners, LLC, seeks to develop the site for residential use.
The S.C. Textile Communities Revitalization Act is designed to revitalize former textile mill communities through a combination of incentives and programs focused on redevelopment and job creation. The tax incentives are aimed at encouraging redevelopment and investment in these areas by providing tax credits, property tax breaks and the creation of new jobs.
Approved properties also qualify for revitalization grants for such things as redevelopment and infrastructure improvements.
The Townsend mill, also called the H.C. Townsend Cotton Mill, was built in the late 19th century as the Townsend Planing Mill, and initially focused on woodworking and lumber. By 1902 the mill had transitioned to cotton manufacturing as the textile boom spread throughout the region.
The mill played a major part of the Anderson community using mill funds to build a hall for religious services, and a school building to educate the children of mill workers.
Also on Monday, council will consider the annex and zone .57 acres at 1212 Reed Road, owned by Concord Baptist Church. The church seeks to build a childhood education center on the property.
