Here is a roundup of some of the economic development happenings in town related to the Old Methodist Church, Quilting Bits & Pieces, the old public safety building, Anchored Collective and a future apartment development.
Old Methodist Church venue space
Owner GW Weld’s plan to turn the old Methodist Church into an event venue space is underway as crews work on rehabbing the building.
The project had been on hold while Weld determined next steps after fire damage was found to be more serious than he thought.
Weld said the renovations should take about nine months with goals for all work to be done by summer. Phase 2 of the project will include renovating the basement after initial work is done.
Quilting Bits and Pieces
The closing date for Quilting Bits and Pieces is Nov. 30. Owner Christina DeArmond is retiring later this year. DeArmond said she is still not sure what the outcome of the building will be, whether they plan to sell or keep the building.
For more information about the closing, read our full story here.
Old Public Safety Building
The old public safety building that was purchased by the Wights, who also own 701 Main St., is undergoing renovations on the inside. Assistant City Manager Zack Daniel said interior work has been going on over the last year or so, but Daniel has no firm timeline on when the owners plan to get a permit for more extension renovations.
The building is at 840 Main St.
When the city signed a contract to sell the building for $150,000 in June of 2023, the Wights said the building would eventually house a media production facility for shooting, filming and recording. They said the goal was to attract national TV and film production to town to bring projects and jobs to the area.
Their building at 701 Main, which received funding from a Community Development Block Grant for renovations, will need a three-month extension while they wait for windows to come in.
Anchored Collective
Anchored Collective, a resource hub owned by the Thakker family, is also making progress toward fully opening on Main Street.
Robby Giffin, the hub’s counselor, has begun working out of the building. Other aspects like Ready for Good, which will be in the front section, have begun set-up and will be opening in the near future.
Giffin said a soft launch will be coming soon, but an official opening ribbon cutting will be in January. He has begun providing some of his services like life coaching and grief and marriage counseling out of the building.
Paschal’s Landing
The affordable housing project by Weld and Dustin Baker of Alcove Development will be discussed again at next Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting. The commission will see preliminary plat applications and development plans.
The project’s application for federal low-income housing tax credits was approved earlier this year. The plan is for the apartment complex to have both affordable and market rate options.
For more information on what the space will have and why it’s being brought to the community, read our story here.
