A former bottling plant in downtown Franklin that was supposed to be part of a multi-million dollar revitalization project had to be torn down due to the extent of damage.
The Double Cola building, across from the garment factory on Wayne Street, was supposed to be remodeled into office space as part of the Bemis Group’s $3.9 million project to turn the buildings into upscale housing, retail shops and a massive event venue. Homes nearby were torn down to make way for parking, and the former bottling plant was supposed to be remodeled into office space.
When the Bemis Group took on the project of redeveloping the former Varynit Mills Garment Factory at Wayne and Water Streets, it purchased several nearby homes and buildings, including the former 2,200-square-foot Double Cola bottling plant at the eastern corner of Wayne and Water streets.
The initial plan was to remodel and redevelop the bottling plant into office space, Todd Bemis said.
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However, the structure was in such poor condition that it was beyond repair, and it was torn down the first week of December, he said.
Among the conditions that made the building unsound were dry rot and termites, Bemis said. The building needed the roof replaced, and some of the walls were not structurally sound, adding significantly to the cost of revitalizing the property.
“It was in such disrepair that it wasn’t possible to salvage it,” Bemis said.
Consultants examined the building and determined there weren’t any artifacts or objects of historical significance, he said.
Bemis didn’t have an estimate for how much the project would cost now with plans to construct a new one-story office building. They won’t know that until after architectural plans are completed, he said.
“It will be a beautiful addition to the city of Franklin,” he said.
He estimated that work could be complete within a year, but the garment factory remains the biggest priority for the Bemis Group, he said.
Work on the event center is expected to be complete early in 2017.
