OCTOBER 15, 2002
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The Porterdale Mill is
slated to be developed into loft apartments by Miller-Gallman
Developers. Work could begin in the second quarter of
2003.
Ron Manson/The Covington
News
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After decades of decline, which have left
its most famous landmarks in disrepair, its stores empty and
many of its private homes dilapidated, the city of Porterdale
is poised for a renaissance.
In the past few months, plans to develop
Porterdale’s long abandoned mill as well as plans to
renovate the Porterdale Gymnasium have started to take off,
the city is close to signing a contract to purchase 30 acres
along the Yellow River from the Dan River Corporation for
building a park, the City Council has adopted a historic
preservation ordinance, and government officials and concerned
citizens have begun the process of applying for the Better
Hometown Program, which is sponsored by the Georgia Department
of Community Affairs and aimed at revitalizing the city’s
downtown.
“If we can get all of this together,
it’s going to be amazing,” Porterdale City Council Member
Rebecca Roseberry said.
-- Nathan Cain
- Staff Writer
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OCTOBER 19, 2002
The City of Porterdale has been hit with
some bad public relations news in the past few weeks. The city
council is taking steps to rid itself of long-time Mayor Wayne
Maddox. The council recently voted to adopt a resolution to
hold an investigative hearing into charges of malfeasance,
misfeasance and neglect of duty against Maddox. But things are
starting to turn around in the former booming mill town —
the City of Porterdale is poised for a renaissance. In the
past few months, plans to develop Porterdale’s long
abandoned mill as well as plans to renovate the Porterdale
Gymnasium have started to take off. Porterdale is close to
signing a contract to purchase 30 acres along the Yellow River
from the Dan River Corporation for building a park; the city
council has adopted a historic preservation ordinance and
government officials and concerned citizens are applying
for the Better Hometown Program, which is sponsored by the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs and aimed at
revitalizing the city’s downtown. But wait, there is more
positive news from Porterdale. Plans to develop the city’s
long vacant mill are also moving forward. At one time, the
mill was the largest cotton spinning mill in the world. It was
closed in the 1970s, and its fate has long been a concern of
many citizens. The building was purchased by Davis and
Associates Development Firm at the beginning of the year and
is planned for development as loft apartments in a joint
venture between Davis and Miller-Gallman Developers.
Porterdale also adopted a historic preservation ordinance in
September, establishing a historic preservation commission,
which will identify historic structures and make sure any
outside renovations to historic structures will not damage the
historical value. The Covington News applauds the good
citizens of Porterdale who are working hard to revitalize
their city. It is not easy to overcome years of economic
strife and alleged political corruption, but it appears
Porterdale is more than ready to move forward.
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DECEMBER 10, 2002
Porterdale will continue taking steps to
preserve its historic buildings, when the Porterdale Historic
Preservation Commission holds its first public forum.
At 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Porterdale
Firehouse, historic surveyor Tracy Dean will give a
presentation on her work and meet with the Preservation
Commission and the public to gather information about historic
buildings in Porterdale.
Preservation Commission Chairman Gina
Oeland, said Dean comes highly recommended as a surveyor and
has experience working with Bibb City, a town that, like
Porterdale, built by Bibb Manufacturing, making her a prime
candidate to identify and inventory the city’s estimated 500
historic buildings.
-- Nathan Cain
- Staff Writer
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MAY 31, 2003
Porterdale's recent
attempts at code enforcement and historic preservation have
met with success, according to city officials.
Clinton Fowler,
Porterdale's code enforcement officer, said citizens are
getting behind the effort to preserve the city's historic
buildings and improve the town's overall appearance.
In the last month Fowler
said he had issued 70 warning citations for various code
violations. The warnings give property owners 30 days to fix
the problem or face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per day,
depending on the violation.
While there have been some
hostile responses, Fowler said, most people change their
perspective once they learn more about what the city is trying
to do.
"Once they get
information, they come away with a whole different
attitude," Fowler said.
Gena Oeland, chairman of
the city's historic preservation commission, said Fowler has
learned the basics of historic preservation quickly.
-- Nathan Cain
- Staff Writer
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