Editor’s Note: SouthsideCentral is proud to welcome Travis Hackworth as a contributor to the website. Travis is a history major (from Averett) and has a Master’s degree (from American Military University) . I’ve been very impressed with Travis’ in-depth knowledge and research of Danville’s history and I look forward to him writing more articles here at SouthsideCentral. In his first article, Travis starts with his thoughts on one possible improvement for Downtown Danville.
Standing on the corner of Union St. and Main and stretching to Market St. the famed Dudley building holds one current tenant in the vast collection of retail space. The former Kingoff Jewelers section was purchased by a developer with a yet detailed fate and the Love Wig shop occupies the former People’s Drug Store / Evelyns Dress Shop. A sad testimony to the once full, vibrant building. Built in the early 1900’s, the building became a collection of several different buildings by the expansion of Belk-Leggett Dept. Store and by the 1940’s became the massive behemoth that most knew and still very much loved. With a store front spreading most of the 400 block of Main St. and several store fronts along both Market and Union St.’s, the Belk building as most came to call it was a vibrant retail center for more than 50 years. With the onset of the 1980’s came the expansion of the indoor mall craze and Danville fell victim to the “glamor” of it all leaving major portions of its city core to deteriorate. With the exception of a ill planned Downtown Mall and the Gingerbread House, the Belk building has virtually sat empty since the 1982 with the flight of Belk to Piedmont Mall; now called Danville Mall. The Daniel, Medley, and Kirby Law firm bought, renovated and currently occupy the former boys/kids section of the dept store building leaving roughly 99,000 sq ft of usable space to be developed.
The BIG question is – What’s the best use ??
In my opinion the Downtown Mall concept is probably the best one. Being that it originally was tried right after Piedmont Mall opened more or less guaranteed that it would not work, but after 20+ years and a changing trend in shopping as it pertains to destinations and themed opportunities, the building now stands to have a chance as a retail center in some form. Housing simply doesn’t make sense for such a large space and with the continued expansion of housing opportunities in the Tobacco Warehouse District, it makes most sense that those efforts continue to center there and retail/office opportunities focus along Main St. and the TWD (Tobacco Warehouse District) in designated properties.
The concept is simple, provide ample retail space, but not to much to make it attractive to boutique type stores. The idea of a massive retail store are unrealistic and a smaller focus is much more achievable and doable both from a marketing and $$$$ standpoint. The basic idea is the take the upper storefront at 430 and change it back into a single 3 story section independent of the rest of the facility and market that for either office or small business space that is tech or satellite office oriented. The main entry to the former Belk store would be retained and extend through all 4 floors. In this section you would retain original features such as the hardwood floors and the hand-pressed tin ceilings. Also this section, courtesy of Belk contains 2 elevators and bathrooms and basement access and escalators. Each section off to the right and left would be for individual stores; measuring 3,000-4,000 sq ft of space (boutique size). These spaces would be gutted and more or less vanilla boxed or white walled as I call it and is easy to visualize as a store space. The top floor (4th floor ) would be for office space on one side and restaurant space on the other providing nice views of the Warehouse District. The basement would be converted into 6-9 separate areas for storage for each store.
Doing this makes the building much more marketable and easier to manage and or sell. It gives you the perfect blend of preserved space as well as very modern space. Maintaining the original features in the central foyer on all 4 floors provides a unique sense of space and modernizing the store space provides both comfort and the spaces new tenants are looking for as well as the character they desire in spaces as well by retaining the central hall features.
(Click on the image to enlarge)
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A very interesting look at my home town! I am looking forward to the continuing revitalization efforts in the community. Great job Travis Hackworth; your research and dedication to the region is impressive!
I think its a very excellent and should be put into action asap