Revitalization of Siler City

Siler City was once an industrial hub with a thriving downtown; however, that vibrancy has faded over the past several decades as industries changed and people moved from small towns to larger urban areas. To revitalize Siler City, MHAworks was hired by Wren Family Estate to assist in defining a master plan with Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative that reimagines a portion of the existing downtown into a live-work-play environment that offers a mixture of housing types and public spaces. The goal is to design a downtown area that attracts those who are looking to get away from the urban grind and live in a small, walkable community.

We have currently finished renovating three historic buildings that are a part of this vision. 121 North Chatham Street was transformed into a new, multifamily residence with four one-bedroom units. 109 North Chatham Avenue was renovated into a residential apartment complex with eight one-bedroom units. Siler Station, located at 114-116 West Raleigh Street, includes a butcher shop, four apartments, and shell space for a restaurant tenant. The goal of these renovations was to keep each building’s original historic charm intact while adding in modern elements. These original historic elements are seen in the exposed brick and ceiling tiles. The next steps will be to develop additional spaces for restaurants, storefronts, and breweries.