City Breaks Ground on Murray Mills Downtown Development Thursday
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
It’s good news for downtown as the City of Anderson will officially break ground at 10 a.m. Thursday on the new $29 million Murray Mill development downtown.
A new project is expected to bring 156 housing units over 8 buildings, 18 of which will be housed in the renovated mill building. Plans include 18 studio units, 78 one-bedroom, and 60 two-bedroom.
The property, which is just across from the Anderosn County Farmers Market on the nine-acre Chem-Tex property and will also include green spaces and commercial opportunities on the property which stretches along North Murray Avenue bordered by Clinkscales Street, Fair Street and Tribble Street. The apartments are scheduled to include an outdoor pool and a clubhouse.
Dirt is already being moved in preparation for construction.
“We are excited to see this project break ground,” said Anderson City Manager David McCuen. “Our city is growing and that means we need more places for people to live. Our council listened to the public and supported a project highlighted in our downtown master plan. We also appreciate our partnership with Anderson County, making this project a reality, and the developers’ continued investment in Anderson.”
This site was one of the seven “shock blocks” identified for redevelopment in the city’s 2019 downtown master plan, “Shock this Block.” More than 1,000 citizens participated with great interest and enthusiasm for the future revitalization of this property, naming it part of the West End Gateway of downtown.
Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns hopes the new development is just the beginning for that area.
“Anderson County was pleased to work with the City of Anderson and the developers to repurpose and drastically improve that part of town,” said Burns. “We hope it is just the start of new investment in that area.”
The developers of the new project are the same group which restored the Palmetto Lofts, expanding housing opportunities in downtown Anderson.
The historic mill building infits, could feature 20-foot ceilings and the original brick, and house 18 apartments. Once complete, the rest of the development is targeted to be complete in less than two years.
"We hope to begin work in the second quarter of this year," said Rob Wilson, one of the partners in the new development."
"Anderson has been the easiest to work with of anywhere we have built developments," said Wilson. "It makes a big difference from developers' standpoint to have this kind of cooperation, and we hope to work on future projects here."
