Taking a tour of the factory building recently purchased by D.W. Miles (second from left) are (from left) Melody Adams, Mayor John Miller, Susan Reinhardt and Clark Hunter. Not pictured are Don Adams and Bryan Edwards, who showed up later due to another meeting.

Rural Center official visits to tour Miles' facility

Melody Adams, director of the Building Reuse and Restoration Program at the Rural Center, was given the opportunity to ask and field questions as she toured Village Park Commercial Facility—formerly the Charleston Forge building—with local officials. The decision of who will receive funds from the Rural Center in Raleigh will be made on Feb. 25, with announcements to be made by legislators, according to Adams.

The property was recently purchased by Sparta Businessman D.W. Miles, who has since applied for a grant through the Rural Center to fund restoration at the site.

According to information given to Ms. Adams, as well as the town council members two days before, Village Park Commercial Facility, located on 8.5 acres, has a building size of 74,149 square feet and an office space of 7,680 square feet. Additional information in the document included a 16 feet ceiling height, bay spacing 40 feet by 30 feet and 200 feet of paved parking.

On hand during the visit were Ms. Adams, Miles, Susan Miles S. Reinhardt, broker-in-charge at Miles Realty; Clark Hunter, manager of Blue Ridge Business Development Center; County Manager Don Adams, Sparta Mayor John Miller and Town Manager Bryan Edwards. Mr. Adams and Edwards joined the group upon returning from a meeting of the Virginia/Carolina Water Authority. While holding a brief conversation in the foyer of the facility, Ms. Adams remarked, "I just think it's great whenever a community can reuse a building like this that was a real productive place in the community, but for whatever reason is no longer and look for ways you can reuse it, maybe in ways you never thought of before. You probably thought this would always be a manufacturing facility, but those days have come and gone and progressive thinkers how can we reuse this in a different way. I'm really glad to be involved."

During the discussion, Adams asked what renovations could cost; to which Miles responded it would not be determined until after interested individuals were confirmed.

"I think that's where the next phase will kick in on this thing, if it would meet qualifications for converting to what they wanted. I understand there's funds available for these job creations…"

After Adams replied in the affirmative, she noted that nonprofit organizations could be located in the facility, while organizations run by governmental agencies were not eligible to receive funds.

When it comes to who would be moving into the facility, Adams asked Miles to consider how many jobs "will come into play," noting the Rural Center can grant as much as $12,000 per each new job.

On Dec. 10, 2008, the Rural Center enacted economic recovery measures through building reuse, according to Adams. In doing so, the grant award was increased to $480,000 from $400,000, the vacancy requirement was reduced to three months, versus the previous six and the Center now allows local government entities to provide a 3 percent match, that would be put in as in-kind grant administration, versus a cash match that was previously required.

"We know that counties and towns are real strapped for cash right now, cutting budgets, cutting travel, cutting services, so we didn't want to get the way of what counties and towns really need to do to encourage economic development. Those are some steps we've just taken in response to the economy. The 24-month window is still there. Certainly...if there becomes a problem with that, we can extend a grant out usually for about another year and see if we can't get those jobs in place as part of the agreement."

Adams also noted in terms of jobs, they have to be "pretty much in hand" versus speculative "Field of Dreams if I build it, they will come; I know it, I know they'll come."

 

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