City Hopes to Revitalize S. Main Property

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson City Council will vote on the purchase of the property on South Main Street across from City Hall as part of tonight’s meeting in the council chambers downtown.

The buildings occupying the 406-420 South Main Street addresses have been in the crosshairs for redevelopment for some time. In 2018, the city offered an incentive package for the redevelopment of the historic buildings, which once housed the Anderson Hotel.

After several false starts, the last of which removed the windows of the buildings opening them up to the elements, the building fell into a state beyond repair or restoration. In August the city initiated condemnation proceedings which would require the building to be made structurally sound or be demolished.

The city has since purchased the property for $100,000, and will demolish the buildings, clean up the site and prepare the area for a mixed use facility in a prime area downtown.

The conclusion of the property owner and the City is that the building should be demolished. The City was approached to purchase the property and demolish the structure. Staff have negotiated a purchase price of $100,000, contingent on approval by City Council, which represents the land value of the property. Once the building is demolished and the site stabilized, the property will be made available for development. The site is in a key location in Downtown Anderson. The demolition of a long-blighted building will positively impact the Downtown landscape, and will provide opportunity for a new building and mix of uses.

More than 100 years ago, the old hotel site was also used as a passenger station for the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway.