Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 14:35 Written by Christina Gordon Monday, 15 February 2010 22:05

Riverside Mill in Weldon was honored at the Annual North Carolina Main Street Awards Program and Dinner Thursday night at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern.  The renovation of Riverside Mill was the winning entry in the category of Economic Restructuring for Best Private Project. 

 

The Weldon project was nominated for the award by the Weldon Small Town Main Street committee.  Weldon has participated in the Small Town Main Street program for a number of years, and the recognition of the private Riverside Mill project is just the latest sign of Weldon’s successful linkage with the program.

 

The Weldon Small Town Main Street Committee was represented at the Awards Program by former Town Councilman and Weldon businessman Andy Whitby.  Riverside Mill was represented at the Awards Program by Bill Blackwell, who is a local partner in the venture.  The crowd of over 400 viewed “before” and “after” pictures of the project.  The “after” pictures showing the riverfront, and the massive beams and heavy plank floors of the Mill drew admiring comments from the crowd. 

 

Before conferring its Award of Merit on Riverside Mill, the N. C. Department of Commerce reviewed a number of excellent entries, according to the Director of the N.C. Office of Urban Development, Elizabeth Parham.  It was a difficult decision, she said, but the Department singled out Riverside Mill as the top entry in its category.

 

The project developer, Keith Cuthrell, thanked the Town of Weldon for nominating the Mill project, and for the support the town has provided in improving the Mill’s surroundings.  The town has been active in removing unsightly structures and clearing underbrush, and has obtained a grant to repave Mill Street, which will benefit the Mill.

 

Cuthrell also said, “Our staff is reporting that we are seeing more and more local citizens at the Mill, in addition to I-95 travelers.  Word is spreading that it is fun to visit Riverside Mill.  People are constantly amazed when they see what we have done to this old cotton mill.  They never expected something this nice.”

 

Riverside Mill currently houses an Antiques Mall with over 50 dealers, the largest gallery of Craft Art on the I-95 corridor, a number of specialty Shoppes, and Roanoke Valley Auction Company’s auction house.

 

Every element of the Mill has the potential to draw customers from outside the region, according to Cuthrell.   “For example, next Saturday the Auction House will be having a huge auction of antique oil lamps that will bring collectors and dealers from outside this region and outside the state.  Riverside Mill is doing a lot to help put Weldon back on the map.”

 

*******************

 

The following is from the narrative that was included in the Nomination Application.

 

Riverside Mill Renovation Project

 

Riverside Mill was a complex of historic buildings left vacant and decaying within sight of historic downtown Weldon. The mill was purchased and restored as an antique mall, auction gallery,  art gallery and a space for specialty shops. Over a million dollars was spent to create a shopping destination and economic opportunity along the waterfront in Weldon.

 

Riverside Mill is located just outside Weldon’s downtown Historic District.,  Fronted by the former Roanoke Canal, and with a channel of the Roanoke River to its rear, the complex had its genesis as the1899 water-powered Weldon Cotton Mill. Most recently, the Riverside Mill complex had been the warehouse and headquarters of Dollar Wholesale.  Vacated around 2004, it had fallen into substantial disrepair, with leaking roof, a basement ankle deep with water, termite damage and overgrown grounds.

 

 The buildings comprise 85,000 square feet with 13,000 being the three levels of the original water-powered mill building, about 30,000 consisting of the most recent single level concrete block addition to the mill, and the balance being a two story warehouse structure measuring approximately 366’ x 48” and containing about 20,000 square feet on each level.  

 

 It was a huge, vacant commercial eyesore when it was acquired by Keith Cuthrell in 2007. Cuthrell, his local partner, preservationist Bill Blackwell, and consulting architect Harry Merrit had in mind a renovation that would highlight the waterfront, display the building’s history, light, structure, and materials, and fuel the local economy by bringing jobs, commerce and the travelling public to Weldon.

 

What emerged was a plan for a mixed use development centered on specialty retail. The project is anchored by an antique mall designed to accommodate over 100 vendors. Ten thousand square feet became the largest gallery of art and craft on I-95. Pottery, jewelry, metal work, glass and fine art from local and regional artists gleam in the light from windows overlooking the river. Fine craft art is displayed on fixtures assembled from damaged floor timbers salvaged during the renovation.  The Mill’s entry hall features huge restored windows overlooking the Roanoke River.  From an Observation Deck created from a former loading dock, visitors can view both the river and trains passing on the trestle over the river, which connects to the historic elevated trestle that forms a boundary of the Historic District.

 

The lower level of the former warehouse accommodates dozens of individual specialty shops. Many locals are using this space as a small business incubator, operating real estate, design, accounting, and event planning businesses in these spaces, along with retail shops.

 

With its location less than 1.5 miles from I-95’s busy Exit 173, Riverside Mill is targeting the traveling public. Billboards on I-95 and on U.S. 158, rack cards in visitor centers, hotels and restaurants, plus internet advertising help guide people to the Mill and to historic Weldon.  The Mill is on the web at http://riversidemill.net.

 

The cost of site improvements and renovations to the building approached $900,000. Over $1.25 million has been invested to date in the entire project, including the acquisition of adjacent property for parking.

 

Riverside Mill is unique in that it creates jobs both directly and indirectly. Directly, the Mill currently employs four full time and three part employees. However the antique mall has 50 vendors, the artisan’s gallery has 80 vendors and downstairs in the Riverside Shoppes there are another 20 businesses. Roanoke Valley Auction Company, which occupies 8,000 square feet adjacent to the Antique Mall, employs its own personnel and draws well over 100 buyers to each of its auctions.  Over 150 people are deriving direct economic benefit from Riverside Mill.

 

Riverside Mill has been recognized as an important  tourist attraction by Halifax County’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, and its presence in the community contributed to the decision to place tourism at the front of Weldon’s STEP program objectives.  According to Halifax County Director of Tourism, Lori Medlin, when tourists visit an area, the thing they most want to do is shop. Riverside Mill created the most desirable type of specialty shopping within walking distance of the downtown Historic District. What was once a detraction for the town has become a vibrant, attractive tourist attraction that hosts events, music, and opportunity for all segments of the economy. Riverside Mill is creating jobs and driving economic opportunity in historic Weldon.

 

Riverside Mill has benefited from Small Town Main Street through several projects. Blighted structures in the area of Riverside Mill were condemned, demolished and removed. Trees and brush were removed between the downtown area and the mill creating a line of sight and a walk way between the mill and historic downtown. The Public Works Department and Water Plant made street improvements and rerouted their vehicular traffic. A town fish fry was held at the Mill, bringing hundreds of local citizens to preview the mill just before it opened to the public.

 

Riverside Mill opened its doors in April 2009. It is currently near 80 % capacity for leased space. Future plans for expansion call for a restaurant, and a Native American museum and gift store. It has made a significant contribution to the beautification and historic preservation of the area. Its existence creates economic opportunities and jobs for a large number of people. By saving the original historic water powered cotton mill it perserves an important part of the region’s history. By converting a dilapidated eyesore near the historic town center into a tourist attraction and shopping destination Riverside Mill is using help from Small Town Main Street to attract tourists and opportunity to historic downtown Weldon.