The commercial spaces in Saxapahaw Rivermill have been open for business since mid-2011 and are drawing crowds of interested visitors, not only for the regular musical events and conferences held in the ballroom, but also for the delicious dishes prepared at The Eddy Pub and Saxapahaw General Store. Meanwhile, the 28 condos, which will be custom designed by their individual owners, currently are receiving the finishing touches on their core and shell. “We decided to phase the project: The pub was phased in first and then the ballroom and now the condos,” Haslam explains. “The interest around the commercial spaces is actually driving the condo sales.”
Haslam and Williams admit there have been many times during the last five years they wondered what they had gotten themselves into, but no matter how difficult or expensive the project became, they and their fellow owners never lost sight of the community they were creating. “We set our intention early; this was about creating a community and that was our driving force,” Haslam says. “It helped us make decisions and was basically our purpose.”
“There were certainly options that were presented to us where we could’ve gone a cheaper route but it would’ve really compromised the building,” Williams adds. “Yes, it has been a long drawn-out commitment before there’s any financial return. However, there’s definitely return every day in community and satisfaction. There are many young people who have moved here to be a part of it.”
Haslam adds: “Of course you ask yourself when you’re making a decision whether somebody is really going to enjoy this and whether the benefit is that great. But we’re already seeing young and old people interacting in the spaces in the ways we had intended. And we originally thought we would have to bus people from Chapel Hill to work here, but all but five staff members of the pub and general store now live in Saxapahaw. It’s these people who are helping take our vision forward.”
Online Buzz
Read a blog by Doug Williams, owner of Saxapahaw Rivermill, about the importance of investing in the revitalization of communities.
Retrofit Team
Ownership team: Mac Jordan, Doug Williams and Claire Haslam, Heather and Tom LaGarde, Margaret Jemison, www.rivermillvillage.com
Architects: Fred Belledin, AIA, and Chris Johnson, Clearscapes, www.clearscapes.com, and Will Alphin, Alphin Design Build, www.alphindesignbuild.com
General contractor: Charlie Wilson, CT Wilson Construction, www.ctwilson.com
Civil engineer and landscape designer: Sungate Design Group PA, www.sungatedesign.com
Structural engineer: Fluhrer Reed PA, www.fluhrerreed.com
Systems engineer: Sud Associates PA, www.sudassociates.com
Steel fabrication and erection: Buckner Cos., www.bucknercompanies.com
Retrofit Materials
High-efficiency water-source heat pumps: ClimateMaster, www.climatemaster.com
Windows with PPG Industries’ Solarban 60 low-E glazing: Winco Window Co., www.wincowindow.com
Sliding doors with PPG Industries’ Solarban 60 low-E glazing: Acadia Windows & Doors, www.acadiawindows.com
Storefront windows: Tubelite, www.tubeliteinc.com
Concrete counters containing reclaimed glass: Meld USA, www.meldusa.com
Energy Star kitchen appliances: Bosch, www.bosch-home.com
Low-flow faucets: Grohe, www.grohe.com/us
Sinks/tubs: Kohler, www.us.kohler.com, and American Standard, www.americanstandard-us.com
Water filter/conditioner: WaterCare, www.watercare.com
Zinc cladding: Rheinzink, www.rheinzink.us
Casework: Merillat, www.merillat.com
Elevator: KONE, www.kone.com
Retaining walls: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems, www.keystonewalls.com
Sustainable Features
- Native landscaping
- Constructed wetlands
- Rain gardens
- Rainwater harvesting/collection
- Solar-thermal hot-water system
- Geothermal water-source heat pumps
- Reuse of historic mill structure (heavy timber, masonry and structural steel)
- Onsite wastewater treatment
- Concrete counters with integral salvaged mill glass
- Refinished and salvaged hardwood flooring
- Low-E glazing
- Energy Star appliances
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Mixed-use development