Weldon mill project ties with retail river development plans

Lance Martin, Herald Senior Staff Writer

WELDON — Looking at the hand-sketched map, the connections become clear and the potential for a riverfront marketplace in Weldon makes sense.

The major crossroads in town — U.S. Highways 158/301 and First Street — lead to a historic mill being renovated for artisan shops. It is bounded by the river, the Roanoke Canal Trail goes through it and River Falls Park is near, explains Bill Blackwell, a minor partner in Rockfish Capital LLC and owner of multiple local businesses in the town.

“It could create enough of an engine for tourism purposes,” he said Thursday. “It dovetails with the greater initiative of developing the waterfront.”

Within Weldon there is railroad history and there is canal history.

The feeling was, Blackwell said, “If we could find the draw that would drive economic development in older buildings we can create a critical mass of people. Downtown needs people coming into the town. This project dovetails with that initiative and will hopefully provide a catalyst.”

One of the beauties of this project, he said, “Is we have a private developer who can have a marketing campaign, Internet presence and radio ads.”

For the town, he said, it means an opportunity to bring more people in and develop new projects.

“Water, kind of, just does something to people,” Weldon Mayor Johnny Draper said. “We need to take advantage of this. It’s all kind of coming together.”

Draper believes Keith Cuthrell, the majority owner of the LLC, is committed to the project. “We thank him for that and picking Weldon. We’ve got what he thinks will work and the river is a big part of it.”

Weldon Town Commissioner Andy Whitby, who is also a local business owner in town and has played crucial roles in its revitalization, hopes the River Mills project will have a spill over effect downtown and draw more people to the riverfront. “We’re hoping to use this to be able to get some of our other projects to move along.”

Whitby has been impressed with what he has seen of the renovations being done to the historic cotton mill. “It’s looking really nice. A lot of the windows that have been bricked up have been re-opened so you can see the river. It will be an attractive place for retail. It’s located on the Canal Trail,” he said.

Meanwhile, Blackwell said he believes it will take time to develop the project. “The model being employed is the best for the success for Weldon,” he said. “It’s going to take the town’s involvement. The town’s been very cooperative with the initiatives taken, the general theme of clean-up, board support of the project.”

Blackwell also believes the project can help Roanoke Rapids with its Carolina Crossroad project, which The Roanoke Rapids Theatre serves as the anchor. “Weldon’s relationship to Carolina Crossroads can be advantageous to both parties,” he said. “What Weldon provides is the closest destination prior to other retail opening around the theater.”

People would be able to shop at the mill before shows, see the historic sites in Weldon and tour the Canal Trail. “I think the entire area will benefit.”