Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
The Pendleton Cotton Mill, known as the Cheney Mill to many locals, will soon be home to a new district in the town, with up to 150 new housing units and some vetted retail, all a short walk from downtown.
“This is fantastic news for Pendleton,” said Pendleton Town Administrator Steve Miller. Miller said the project is part of “a very long process,” but now the town is on track to see the development up and running in two years.
Miller said bones of the structure, including the exterior walls, remain in good condition. Camden Management Partners, which is developing the project, hopes to keep the architectural elements in place and replicate their style in other parts of the development.
Camden President John Gumpert said the current plan is to begin construction in the Spring.
Miller said the town worked closely with the developer, whom he praised for attention to detail on the project.
“Very few people who have the expertise to save these mills, and this company is one of them.”
“When people see this mill in about 24 months, they’re not going to know it was ever a dilapidated structure,” said Miller.
He also said the new project will add a new element to downtown.
“We already have a great downtown, but anchoring this district, with roughly 150 residents in walking distance is the kind of thing everybody loves to see right now.”
The mill, which produced cotton yarn, opened in 1906, and was one of 17 textile mills operating in Anderson County between 1900-1920. The two-story, L-shaped form of the mill has remained mostly unchanged since the early twentieth century, and the building retains a substantial amount of physical integrity, including more than half of its original eight-over-eight, double-hung wood-sash windows with eight-light transoms.
The building also retains its low-pitched gable roof, exposed rafter tails, segmental-arch window openings, a crenellated stair tower, and brick smokestack. The mill site features a water tower, mill pond, press house, warehouse, and three hose houses that contribute to the historic integrity of the site. It was listed in the National Register Jan. 29, 2018.
Pendleton was awarded a $25,000 grant to develop a small-area plan for the area, which includes determining the types/styles of buildings and their uses, as well as how to tie the area into a walking district to downtown.
“This is pretty exciting for the residents of Pendleton and the town in general,” said Miller, adding that these kinds of investments often lead to broader impacts, including the potential of more sidewalks and streetlights, along other renovations.
Pendleton is committing approximately $300,000 in internal infrastructure investment around the mill, to work with the developer on the most critical needs for the project.
“We also worked with the Anderson County Transportation Committee, and they will be repaving the street in front of the mill,” said Miller. “We banded together with not only the town’s resources, but the county’s resources to get all of this in place.”
Miller said Anderson County worked closely with Pendleton and the developer on the project, including providing fee in lieu of tax incentives, historic property tax credits, abandoned mill tax credits and assistance with getting the site on the historic register.
“It’s going to be an awesome project,” said Pendleton Mayor Frank Crenshaw. “It is taking care of a lot of improvements in that area there that are sorely needed. We are excited about it.”
Crenshaw said the project will help extend downtown.
“We are focusing on that area a good bit right now,” said Crenshaw. “That is the direction we are going to go in the expansion of downtown as we know it. It makes sense to tie this project into that growth.”
Crenshaw said the expansion is part of the town’s master plan, which includes a unified zoning ordinance to manage growth, especially in the historic downtown area.
“We have to be really careful with our downtown, it is a very special place and we want to maintain its unique character,” said Crenshaw.
“The Cheney Mill project is the result of a lot of hard work by the Town of Pendleton which has been making good progress on this for more than a decade,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “It’s going to be another game changer, and all the credit goes to Pendleton Town Administrator Steve Miller and Mayor Frank Crenshaw for making this a reality. It’s a huge win for the Town of Pendleton.”
The Cheney Mill development is just the beginning of the expansion of downtown Pendleton. The Pendleton Oil Mill, is expected to be cleaned up and environmental studies begun before the end of 2023, creating the potential for another planned district not far from the current cotton mill project.
The town’s master plan includes spending $1.5 million on a walkable streetscape on the west side of the town square headed toward the community center. A recent $500,000 neighborhood revitalization grant will bring improvements in the area toward Riverside, including sidewalks and streetlights. And, working with a “Safe Route to School” grant in conjunction with Anderson School District Four, the town is repairing sidewalks to connect to the new improvements there.
A plan to connect downtown with Pendleton Elementary School is also in the works.
The proposed Tax Increment Financing district for massive Village Hills is progressing as well.
“We have been reclaiming some of the property in that area for decades, and we are going to build a new fire department and, in partnership with Anderson County, will make some major public infrastructure with that area,” said Miller.
In addition to the historic downtown, the 300 acres of town on U.S. 76, provides additional opportunities for growth, leaving Pendleton well-positioned for the decade ahead.
“Our master plan will help us navigate and manage the growth,” said Crenshaw. “We’re excited and looking forward to seeing the results.”