The couple who owns Danville’s Bresee Tower is partnering with a company to possibly develop the long-abandoned structure, but Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. says he’s not sure it will lead to anything being done.
Jeri Collins, who has owned the downtown Danville landmark since 2018 with her husband, Chris, tells VermilionCountyFirst.com that they have formed a partnership with a Tennessee-based company called Wellspring Development Group in order to revitalize the structure.
“Chris and I are very excited to be able to have this important step in the process finally official and are looking forward to bringing fun and hope to the people regarding the revitalization of this historic building,” she says.
Mayor Williams, who has expressed concerns several times regarding the structure, says he has spoken with the development company but is not sure if the partnership will result in new life for the building.
“We will continue with the legal process to keep the citizens safe,” he says, noting that the couple has not made any improvements to the structure the entire time they have owned it. “They either need to improve it or tear it down.”
The Collinses have owned Bresee for three years, although the building’s condition has continued to deteriorate. Concerns about falling concrete facade has caused city officials to close one lane of Main Street.
Bresee Tower was built in 1918 and was used by the First National Bank for decades. It was then sold to the Bresee brothers, who owned WIAI radio, in the 1960’s. The tower has sat vacant since 2005.
Both city and Vermilion County officials have expressed concern about the tower’s condition for several years. County officials abandoned the Courthouse Annex, which wraps around the tower, in 2018 due to structural concerns.
“It has been a very long and tedious process,” Collins explains. “We have had potentials over the past two and a half years, but nothing has panned out.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she adds.
