Where are you?
I’m in Darlington, at the grand re-opening of the newly renovated McClellan – Dodd building located on the west side of the downtown square.  A former department store, built in 1890, it was facing demolition only a few short years ago until the Palmetto Trust stepped in.

This was one of the first projects that I ever worked on as the Palmetto Trust Executive Director. The Trust had purchased the McClellan –Dodd building because we feared that it would be torn down. Through a partnership with the City of Darlington and the Landmark Preservation Group, an agreement was forged for a restoration plan to turn the empty department store into a 7 unit apartment building with two smaller retail spaces.

That’s got to be great to see your first project come to fruition!
Personally, it’s an honor. It is good to have such a firm example for other small towns to see how downtown revitalization rooted in adaptive reuse can lead to positive economic development.  We are thrilled to have such a great example of a working partnership between a private developer, the Palmetto Trust and a progressive forward thinking city government. 

What makes this project so remarkable?
After so much damage, including a destroyed courthouse and ravaged downtown, many towns would have just thrown up their hands and said, “Well, there’s no point in starting now!,” but Darlington recognizes the importance of the history they have left and are doing their best to take advantage of it, which is why the Trust is willing to help when opportunities arise.

This is our second building restoration in downtown Darlington. The first was the Gibson house, which has now been converted into five apartment spaces.

In all aspects—governmental, civic and residential—downtown is reemerging as the heart and soul of this city, and we are proud to be a part of the process.

I saw you titled one of your pictures “Dewayne Anderson is my hero? “
And I mean it! The McClellan - Dodd project is a great example of the lifetime of preservation work that Dewayne Anderson has accomplished. His great work in preservation around the area is why Dewayne received the 2009 Historic Preservation Governor’s Award.

Posetd on 9/28/09