Wednesday, November 22, 2006

New Beginnings for 701 Whaley

















VIDEO CLIP#1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local real estate developers Richard Burts & Robert Lewis have closed on the historic building once known as The Pacific Mills Community Building and more recently Gallery 701. The treasure is located at 701 Whaley Street in an area known as Olympia in Columbia, SC. Burts & Lewis both have experience in restoring historic buildings.

Built in 1903, 701 Whaley started out as the mill store for the surrounding mill village known as the Pacific Mills community. 701 Whaley then became the Pacific Mills Community Center that included a bowling alley, library, auditorium and dance hall.


In 2000, a section of roof caved in and nearly 6000sq feet of roof deck and second floor deck have collapsed into the building. The city was going through the process of condemning and demolishing the building but Burts and Lewis felt this cornerstone of the community needed to be preserved.

With strong support from the neighborhoods, The Richland County Conservation Commission, Columbia Historic Foundation and the City of Columbia and The South Carolina Department of Archives & History the future looks bright for this magnificent building. Burts and Lewis hope to revive 701 to a multiuse facility that will once again serve the needs of this important area of Columbia.

Burts and Lewis will be handling the development side of this newly formed partnership and are currently discussing a strategic partnership with Red Curb Investments headquartered in California who has shown strong interest in the property.

Local filmmaker Lee Ann Kornegayhas been funded by the Richland County Conservation Commission to produce a documentary on the Mill community that features the 701 Whaley Street structure.

Photo is 701 Whaley as it originally existed.

For more information contact:
Richard Burts
(803) 414-9450
Robert Lewis
(803) 256-1268

3 comments:

Unknown said...

VERY INTERESTING:

LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THIS BUILDING HOUSED THE SEMI- PRO BASKET BALL TEAM FOR PACIFIC MILLS IN ITS DAY IN THE 20'S.
OTHER TEAMS WERE:
INKA MILLS
PACIFIC MILLS
HAINES HOSERY MILLS
PELZER MILLS
AND OTHERS
THE TOURNAMENTS WERE PLAYED AT TEXTILE HALL IN GREENVILL SC.....

Laurie W. Smith said...

LET IT ALSO BE KNOWN THAT MY GRANDFATHER ALBERT J. WALLACE COACHED BASKETBALL IN THIS COMMUNITY BUILDING, HE WAS WELL KNOWN AND LOVED BY ALL! I LOVE AND MISS YOU MUCH GRAND-DAD, LAURIE ANN WALLACE

Lee Ann Kornegay said...

That is so wonderful to hear Laurie!
Thanks for that comment!
I am quite certain your grandfather's spirit frequents 701 and we are happy and honored for that.