Megachurch closes Oconee County land deal

Property that, for decades, was the location for an Oconee County textile plant is now officially in the hands of a large church. In the last two weeks, records in the county Register of Deeds show that Concord Road, Anderson’s Newspring Church has bought two separate parcels that front both 123 and Lake Hartwell just inside the Oconee County line from Clemson. The deeds show Newspring paid Pacolet Milliken Enterprises of Pacolet $5 million dollars for 59.5 acres. The church also expended $500 thousand for almost three acres belonging to Robert and Alice Heller. The buyer envisions the former location of the Deering-Milliken plant as the location for an Oconee Newspring Church. But Richard Blackwell, county economic director, has said Newspring has more than a church in mind for the acreage. “The church is looking to, not only utilize the land for its church functions, but really package to where it is a high-end, mixed-use commercial development to bring some new retail and restaurant opportunities to Oconee County. So, we’re very excited about it…,” Blackwell told 96.3/WGOG NEWS in an earlier 2013 interview.