Adaptive Reuse

The Historic Morotock Manufacturing Company building was completed in 1907. Originally serving as a mill for manufacturing men’s work clothes, the building has been repurposed for several different purposes over the years including cigarette manufacturing, a bowling alley, and a grocery store prior to being vacated for the last 20+ years. The Morotock building is one of the most prominent and unique structures in an area of Danville’s River District known as Mechanicsville, historically a predominantly African American working-class neighborhood.

1st & Main will transform the historic structure into 41 residential units, including 9 units that will be reserved for residents earning 80% of area median income. The $15.5M project will utilize federal and state historic tax credits in addition to grant funding from Virginia Housing’s Workforce Housing Incentive Program. The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2026.