What’s Next For The Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory?
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Prattville’s historic cotton gin has been empty for more than three years now, but now that the historic Prattville redevelopment Authority has bought it, what’s next?
City leaders are talking about turning this mill into apartments, maybe even putting some shops, restaurants in the lower level there’s no plan to tear them down, but restore them.
This is the view from the Daniel Pratt Cotton Gin Factory. Many of the sounds are still the same from 1848. While the manufacturing plant has been empty more than three years, that may not be the case for long. City leaders are looking to put add apartments and even businesses inside.
Fox’s Pizza is right across the old factory’s waterway. Employee, Anthony Wright, welcomes the possible changes.
“That means people will be right there across the street and I don’t think they want to drive so far to go get something to eat and we are just downtown,” Said Wright.
City leaders say nothing is set in stone with bringing in apartments, but they’re accepting proposals to redevelop the first 15 acres of the gin property to fit about 150 apartments.
Chamber of Commerce President, Patty Vanderwal, says restoration would be in store before it could be livable — the five major buildings were built between 1832 and 1912. That makes this the oldest gin manufacturing plant in the world.
“I think they’re going to probably try to keep some of the things that can be structurally sound in there… There may be beams, things that will keep the mill alive and that vision of it, but probably modernize it a little bit,” Said Vanderwal.
The mill would get a small face lift to preserve its history, including replacing windows and removing weeds. It’s a vision Wright believes could be the ultimate answer to revitalize downtown Prattville.
“I don’t think this gets enough attention down here. like With people right there across… Like right across the street from us that’s getting money downtown,” Said Wright.
The mill is in the historic district and it’s also in the national registry of historic places, so whatever company ends up developing the site will have to keep that in mind if they make any changes.
The Historic Prattville Redevelopment Authority purchased the building last December for nearly $1.8 million dollars.
