Condemned mill buildings (Danville Preservation League)

Although crews are poised to demolish a mill in Danville, Va., locals say it's not too late to save the National Register-listed buildings on the Dan River.

"It is a privately held property; however, it's a very prominent spot—it's right along our river, and the city should have some say in what happens to our riverfront," says Carla Minosh, a member of the Danville Preservation League, which formed last month. "The thing we keep asking for is a public hearing, and city council, to date, has not granted a public hearing."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and APVA-Preservation Virginia toured the 28-acre Long Mill on June 25 and concluded that its 12 brick buildings should be restored.

"We walked through the complex and agree with local preservationists that Long Mill can be repaired and rehabilitated for a new use that would benefit the property owners and the citizens of Danville," according to a June 27 press release. The National Trust said it could offer the owner, River Partnership LLC, a $300,000 loan to buy out the demolition firm it has contracted to destroy the buildings.

The city condemned the buildings, issuing a demolition order on June 22. River Partnership began preliminary demolition work last month. The Danville Historical Society, which says it owns part of one of the buildings in the mill complex, has appealed the city's demolition order and plans to file a lawsuit in the next few days.

If the owner ceases demolition and the city lifts its condemnation order, the National Trust says it will conduct a national campaign to market the historic Long Mill to expert developers.

Minosh says the mill is more valuable than city officials realize, citing this year's article in the Financial Times of London, which lists Danville, Va., as one of the top five small cities in the United States for investment. "Europe sees Danville as a place for opportunity, and if these buildings get torn down, it will be an opportunity that's been lost."

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