Iconic Raleigh warehouse gets modern makeover

The Dillon Supply Company was a fixture in Raleigh for dozens of years and employed many in the community. However, for the last several years the facility on S. West Street has sat vacant. City leaders said it will soon be transformed.

"Really, when this goes up and people see this, this is going to be a game-changer," said Mayor Nancy McFarlane. "It's really going to set the standard for what Raleigh expects to see."

The Dillon will keep its name, but a plan calls for a 220,000 square foot multi-purpose facility made up of offices, apartments and retail in the space.

“This building represents a great mix of both. It’s inspirational, and it shows what our community is becoming and it also references the past and acknowledges the warehouses that surround it,” said city council member Bonner Gaylord.

Gov. Pat McCrory also attended the event to tout the change.

"This is cool and businesses like cool because you can recruit business," said McCrory.

While many are excited, preserving the city's warehouse district comes with a set of challenges.

"When you're trying to preserve buildings, but you're trying to make it more modern today, there are just issues that come up with that. The sidewalks are much more narrow than you'd like them to be," said developer John Kane.

McFarland said projects like the the one at The Dillon reflect Raleigh's growth. According to census data, the city's population has swelled by more than 50 percent within the last 15 years.

Gaylord said the project is expected to be complete by th end of 2017. McCrory said that once the project is complete, others throughout the state should take note.