Cleanup begins at old mill in Batesburg-Leesville

A cleanup is starting at a former textile mill in Batesburg-Leesville, and town leaders hope it’s a first step toward a new role for the site.

Removal of chemical residue and mold opens the way for redevelopment of the 14-acre site in the Lexington County community.

“Our evaluation of the property and work to remove unwanted materials within the building is ongoing,” said Russ Knocke, spokesman for owner Republic Services.

The vacant, 282,000-square-foot building produced mattress fabric until 1991, then was used for a time as a recycling center.

There is strong interest in its future, as the mill has been a local landmark since it opened 122 years ago.

It’s too soon to say what Phoenix-based Republic Services will do with the building once cleanup is finished, Knocke said.

“We’re consulting with various experts on a range of complexities,” he said, citing a list that includes possible demolition.

Town leaders expect something different will rise on the site in a few years.

“In our conversations, there’s been every indication they’re going to raze the structure and wipe the slate clean for redevelopment,” Mayor Rita Crapps said.

Its location in the center of town makes it a prime candidate for the small-town equivalent of urban renewal, she said.

“It’s got a lot of potential for just about anything,” she said.

The mill formerly processed cotton from farms that once surrounded the town of 5,500 residents.

Its cleanup is not hazardous, Knocke said.

This story was originally published July 5, 2015 at 8:41 PM with the headline "Cleanup begins at old mill in Batesburg-Leesville."