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River City Collective to breathe new life into Downtown Waynesboro anchor

Chris Graham

waynesboroA local team of developers is leading an effort to redevelop a one-time Downtown Waynesboro anchor building that has been vacant for more than a decade.

The plans for the River City Collective include a common entrepreneurial space at 304-320 W. Main St. in Waynesboro, in the former Leggett’s building downtown.

Waynesboro City Council will vote tonight on a proposed resolution of support for a $600,000 Industrial Revitalization Loan Fund application being made by River City Collective.

“Revitalization of these premises will provide an inviting gateway to Downtown Waynesboro and represent the spirit of our entrepreneurial heritage,” said David Gauldin III of Bottom Alley Development, which is leading the redevelopment effort.

The 304-320 West Main building was for decades a hub of economic activity in Downtown Waynesboro, and the target is to have it play a similar role in the ongoing rebirth of the central business district.

“The objective is to bring like-minded people to eat, drink, shop, gather, and work while supporting the revitalization of Downtown Waynesboro,” Gauldin said. “The strategy for the Collective would be to support economic growth by creating platforms for developing entrepreneurial spirits to assemble and operate within a central shared space.”

A seven-figure redevelopment of the 304-320 West Main property being led by Bottom Alley Development and Mathers Construction, a Waynesboro-based construction firm, would be expected to come online in 2019.

“Our goal with this project is to support the shared community goals that reflect the focus of our community leaders and city planners as they seek solutions to moving Waynesboro forward,” Gauldin said.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].