McLellan dedication culmination of hard work

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success.” – Henry Ford

DARLINGTON – Words and footsteps echoed through the newly remodeled McLellan Building on the Public Square in Darlington on Wednesday.

The project from day one a difficult one to pursue because in July 2006, the city intended to tear the McLellan building down and replace it with a parking lot, said Howard Garland, assistant city manager.

“Were it not for the strong editorial comments of Paul Howle and Bill Shepherd, the historically-minded people they represent, we might very well be standing in a parking lot right now,” said Darlington Mayor Tony Watkins.

The McLellan Building project created seven apartments, two retail spaces and a public walkway.

The apartments include one one-bedroom, two three-bedroom and four two-bedroom living spaces. Three are lofts and one is handicap accessible. The apartments will be available after Oct. 6. On that day, city council will have the second and final reading to sell the building to Landmark Assets. For information on the apartments, call Site Manager Helen Goodson at (843) 393-0095.

Rent for the retail spaces will be $700 per month for the 1,200 sq. ft. location and $750 per month for the 1,500 sq. ft. location. For retail rental information, contact Garland at (843) 393-4100.

The 15-foot wide arcade allows for easy access to the 120 parking spaces located behind the square.

The main goal of the project was to make the square more convenient for people with business on and off the square, said Garland.

The project is part of Phase II of the downtown revitalization plan. Phase I consisted of the Coleman Building now home to the Darlington chamber, the Hill Building, the old Coggeshall Grocery, the Gibson House and the old fire department on Cashua Street.

All were unoccupied, underutilized and had serious structural problems.

Phase I and II of the downtown revitalization efforts in Darlington represent a $6 million investment.

The adaptive reuse of downtown buildings is not a new idea. The city got the idea for the project from Wayne George who pioneered a similar project in Mullins, said Watkins.

“The condition of these buildings is symptomatic of the serious deterioration of the downtown that would have threatened the economic vitality of our city center had it gone unabated,” said Watkins.

The first serious investment the city made was through streetscapes that enhanced the overall appearance of the square. The city also had some success with building codes and through façade grants, according to Watkins.

“Real momentum came only when we as a city became involved in the ownership of private property around the square and entered into a partnership with Landmark Assets,” said Watkins.

A number of players collaborated to make the rehabilitation of the McLellan Building possible: City of Darlington, City Council, state legislators, Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association, Pee Dee Council of Governments, Landmark Asset Services, Rehab Builders, S.C. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative.

Rep. Denny Neilson said she was happy to see state money visibly in this project.

The rehabilitation saved half the original windows and some of the original skylights. Nearly all of the wood is original, just refinished, except for a few landings. Rehab Builders also saved some of the original tin ceiling tiles and bead board.

“We tried to save as much of the original materials as possible,” said Gary Hollingsworth of Rehab Builders.

“It is an honor to be standing in a town where we have the best example of a partnership between nonprofit preservation, civic leadership and private development to show that preservation can work without charitable needs from the city and help create economic vitality,” said Mike Bedenbaugh, executive director for The Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation.