Several years ago I decided to purchase a modest 2 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow in Beaumont Mill Village. Beaumont is a neighborhood located on what many consider to be the gateway to Spartanburg, SC. Beaumont is convenient to Spartanburg Regional Hospital, Converse College, Wofford College, and our thriving downtown area. Part of the old mill has been restored and the Southeastern Conference (college athletics) is based there.
Over the years the Neighborhood Association became concerned that if they didn't do something positive that their neighborhood would decline. Out of that concern was born the idea of seeking Local Historic Designation for Beaumont Mill Village. It has been a long road to travel for this Neighborhood Association, with plenty of bumps and twists and turns along the way. I wish I could say that I had been involved from the beginning but I wasn't even aware of the effort at first. As soon as I did become aware of the efforts I chose to get involved. That involvement has evolved into me attending the Association Meetings, volunteering at neighborhood events, and publishing the Beaumont Newsletter. I guess all of that makes me rather unique since I do not live in my little bungalow. Technically I am an investor since my property is tenant occupied.
The process is very involved and one of the things the city did was to have Martin Meeks, a respected architect to conduct a study and put together proposed guidelines for Beaumont. Considered to be one of the few mostly intact mill villages left in our area Beaumont is a prime candidate for historic preservation. With Spartanburg having a rich history tied to the textile industry it is important that we preserve this important part of our history.
Hopefully we are nearing the end of this journey. We are finally back on City Council's Agenda and there will be another vote on this important issue later this month after several information sessions to provide answers to questions and also to explain the process.
I firmly believe that being designated a Local Historic District will be good for Beaumont, good for the people of Beaumont, and good for property values in Beaumont. I envision Beaumont as becoming a popular neighborhood for buyers who treasure our history and want to be a part of preserving history in Spartanburg SC!
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