EDITORIAL: An old mill gets new life

In it's heyday, Clearwater Finishing Plant was a bustling textile mill employing more than 1,000 people. Homes and shopping grew up around the mill, as it did around similar mills throughout the South.

But when the textile industry moved overseas, these mammoth manufacturing complexes were often abandoned. Such was the plight of the Clearwater plant.

Since the 1980s, the 15 buildings on the 64-acre Clearwater Finishing site along U.S. 1, have sat idle and empty; an eyesore reminder of the heartache caused when the mills fled.

But that's about to change. Developer Christian Morton is demolishing most of the site with plans to transform it into residential and retail space. He plans to renovate the newest building - the brick building with a large "Clearwater Finishing" sign stretched across the front - for residential, office and retail space.

The project is much like the successful conversion of Enterprise Mill along the canal in downtown Augusta. The old mill is now a upscale apartment building with offices, a restaurant, a banquet area and even a museum on site. The developers even kept, and refurbished, the iconic "Graniteville Company, Enterprise Division" sign, which shines brightly over the Augusta Canal.

The Clearwater Finishing project will include new construction to create a mixed-use development with loft apartments, retail space, assisted living and single-family homes.

Ironically, a fire Tuesday night destroyed part of the site being demolished. We were glad to hear that the fire hasn't dampened plans and work continues.

Done well, this project could be a boom for the community - a community which sorely needs some new life. We look forward to learning more about Morton's plans and watching the transformation of the Clearwater Finishing Plant.