Staff Writer

gjohnson@theeasleyprogress.com

EASLEY - City leaders hosted a public hearing Thursday about the grant application that would help bring a $20 million renovation project to the old Woodside Mill.

The proposed Geer Lofts Apartments would renovate the old textile mill and put 128 units on three levels where cotton was once processed.

As rental units on South Fifth Street, the Geer Lofts would provide affordable housing to low- to moderate-income families, officials have said.

According to details provided in the grant application, the developer's investment is $18.9 million.

But before work begins, the developer, North Carolina-based The Landmark Group, has asked Easley to obtain a Community Development Block Grant.

To get the grant, a city must first commit to a matching dollar amount and then hold a public hearing about the grant application.

City Council committed $50,000 in matching funds in order to apply for the $500,000 grant earlier this month. The grant is available through the state Department of Commerce.

The total project is estimated to cost $19.4 million, according to the grant application.

If approved, the grant and matching funds, $550,000 in all, would be used by the developer to "renovate and convert a former textile mill to provide housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income persons," according to the resolution passed by City Council.

"The City of Easley has identified the shortage of affordable housing to be a community development need," the resolution said.

Danny Griffin said he lives within a hundred yards of the mill and was concerned about the project's potential influence over property values.

Community Development Administrator Judy King answered that there have been many improvements to the Woodside area lately and the Geer Lofts could have a positive effect.

"People out there are getting excited in the neighborhood," King said. "I've had a lot of people that live out there that have called (saying) they're real excited that their property value will go up if this is built."

Councilman Dave Watson said the project will be attractive and suitable to the area.

"It is not the city's intention to build another West Gate apartments," Watson said. "That's not what this is going to be."

The proposed Geer Lofts would make use of some existing architectural features such as the old water tank and smoke stack.

Other features will include exposed brick, spiral ducts, refinished hardwood floors and the like, according to Landmark's Jim Sari.

"We're trying to help improve that neighborhood, trying to upgrade that section of town," Watson said.

To see examples of similar projects by The Landmark Group, visit www.landmarkdevelopment.biz.

Questions about the hearing and application should be directed to Dirk Reis at the Appalachian Council of Governments at 242-9733.

For more information about the grant or the project, call City Hall at 855-7900.