HUD secretary, congressman visit Marion
Discuss Clinchfield apartment project
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards speaks Thursday as CEO of Givens Communities Kevin Schwab, left, U.S. HUD Secretary Scott Turner and Old Fort Mayor Pam Snypes, right, look on.
Old Fort Mayor Pam Snypes speaks about how her town is being rebuilt from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Scott Turner, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, speaks while U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards looks on Thursday at Clinchfield Mill.
The old Clinchfield mill building will have 141 apartments once renovated.
On Thursday, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and the CEO of Givens Communities all came to Marion to discuss plans to convert the old Clinchfield Mill into affordable apartments for older adults.
Late last year, the HUD awarded $11 million to Givens Communities for its Clinchfield Mill project in Marion. The Section 202 funding will go toward converting the historic structure into 141 affordable apartments for older adults. The project aims to preserve and repurpose a historic landmark and meet a critical and growing need for safe and affordable senior housing in western North Carolina, according to a previous story by The McDowell News.
Thursday morning, HUD Secretary Scott Turner arrived at the old textile mill building in the Clinchfield community of Marion to make the formal announcement. He and Edwards previously visited Asheville and saw Hurricane Helene recovery efforts taking place there.
"Speaking of revitalization, that word 'revitalize' means to bring new life and that's why we are here at Clinchfield Mill, which is a prime example of new life being breathed into a community," Turner said. "This building was an empty textile mill and now it's being turned into affordable housing for 200 seniors."
Turner said the $11 million HUD grant was secured with the help of Edwards, his staff and other partners.
"It shows what HUD can do with the help of local communities such as yourself," he said.
Edwards said there had been a housing crisis in western North Carolina for a long time, and it worsened after Hurricane Helene. He commended Givens Estates for having the vision of turning this old large textile mill building into an apartment complex. He also commended the Dogwood Health Trust for its participation and helping make Givens' vision a reality.
Edwards said the U.S. Congress passed legislation to increase HUD funding. Three weeks ago, the U.S. House passed two bills to address the housing crisis, Edwards said.
"I want to call to your attention that President Trump has been very clear, after visiting western North Carolina twice since Hurricane Helene, that western North Carolina will not be forgotten," Edwards said.
Kevin Schwab, the chief executive officer of Givens Communities, said, "This project represents the power of true public-private partnerships, bringing together the federal leadership, state, local government, philanthropy and mission-driven organizations to address the growing need for affordable housing."
Schwab said Givens is grateful for the $11 million grant, which was "the catalyst that made this project possible." He said he also appreciated Edwards and his staff, as well as Chuck Abernathy with the McDowell Economic Development Association.
Officials from the city of Marion, McDowell County, the McDowell Chamber of Commerce and the economic development association were there for Thursday's announcement.
Pam Snypes, mayor of Old Fort, spoke about what Helene did to the town of less than 1,000 and how the town's infrastructure is still rebuilding. "I want to start out by saying, as many of you know, that Old Fort was almost completely wiped off the map by the storm," Snypes said. "It was devastation to the extreme."
Snypes said Old Fort lost 47 homes due to Helene, but is now getting 12 of those back on the same properties. It is estimated that the storm caused $30 million of damage to the town. For a town with a less than $2 million budget, "that hurts," Snypes said.
"So far from FEMA, we have only received $4 million," Snypes said.
Last week, the town completed the rebuilding of Westerman Street, which was wiped out by the storm. More streets were washed away.
Snypes said she and other town officials have submitted their needs to FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security and are still waiting for the promised assistance.
"Right now, what I think the town of Old Fort and western North Carolina needs is for the government to go back to work," she said. "We need Homeland Security and FEMA to get this right."
Old Fort is rebuilding its business community. Five new businesses have opened in the town and two more are on the way, Snypes said.
"For a town our size, I am amazed at the work that is being done," she said.
Givens purchased the old Clinchfield Mill, at 56 Branch St. in Marion, with a $3 million grant from Dogwood Health Trust in December 2022. In April 2024, the mill building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which qualifies it for other state and federal funding.
Originally constructed in 1917 as a textile mill, it has most recently been used as a storage facility, distribution center, and equipment depot for the Hurricane Helene recovery volunteer group Resilient Recovery North Carolina, according to a previous story by The McDowell News.
Teresa Stephens, vice president of affordable communities for Givens, said construction work on the apartments should begin this year and the new apartment building is expected to open in 2028.
There will be 85 HUD subsidized apartments for people with an income of less than $27,000 a year. Thirty-six apartments will be reserved for those with an income of less than $37,000 a year. Twenty apartments will be set aside for those who earn more.
There is an opportunity to develop an additional 12 acres on the north side of the Clinchfield Manufacturing property, where the old building once stood before it burned, according to Stephens.
