Chamber urges use of Magnet Mills site
During the Clinton City council meeting Monday, Sept. 25, Anderson County Chamber of Commerce President Rick Meredith, along with the entire crew of Anderson County Chamber of Commerce board officers and members, were present Monday to urge Clinton City officials to continue their support of moving forward with the plans for redeveloping the site where the old Magnet Mills building once stood.
In January this year, a demolition crew began the process of tearing down the Magnet Mills building, a site which had been long out of use and had become dilapidated.
Long abandoned as a former hosiery mill during its heydey, the more than 100 year old historic structure in downtown Clinton on Charles Seivers Boulevard was considered by many in the community to be an eyesore, and a nuisance.
Business-minded individuals see the Magnet Mills site as an area of potential development, one that could bring much revenue to the city.
The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce thinks this is the case, and showed up to the City of Clinton Council meeting Monday to underscore the need for the site to become developed.
Meredith spoke to the council as the spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce, and said the site was a vital one to the community that could bring in much growth.
“We’re here tonight to ask that you, the city council, continue to support redevelopment of the Magnet Mills site. Can you continue doing that?” asked Meredith, to which the council replied “yes,” they would continue their efforts in keeping the redevelopment plans moving forward.
“Right now, the property benefits nobody, but moving forward with the demolition and cleanup of the site and building, and developing it, would be a benefit to citizens,” said Melissa Charles, Chair of the Anderson County Board of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.
As it is currently, the site is still considered a public eyesore and a safety hazard.
“The Chamber strongly supports your continued endeavor to make progress happen at that site,” added Steve Heatherly, former Chairman of the Anderson County Board of the Chamber of Commerce. “Now’s the time to increase those efforts to get things moving forward.”
Rob Herrell, Vice Mayor of the City of Clinton, stated the council was going to keep up with their endeavor to get the site developed.
Clinton City officials have since filed two liens on the Magnet Mills property, one for junk vehicles stored on or near the site.
Council member Zack Farrar stated that he still wants city officials to consider getting an environmental study done of the site, as well as a structural study of the water tower to assess whether or not it poses a safety hazard.
“We need to continue to apply all legal ramifications at our disposal to see to it that the building is in compliance,” Farrar asserted.