The American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham is now touted statewide and nationally as a resounding success.
The expansive historic mill that churned out Lucky Strike cigarettes for generations rebounded from decades of decay to become home to more than 100 companies and spark an ongoing renaissance in Durham's core.
But there was a time when it sat poised like Revolution Mill, the former Cone Mills flagship in Greensboro now undergoing a $100 million renovation by Self-Help Ventures Fund of Durham.
And on Tuesday, Self-Help invited community and business leaders to Revolution to hear how the developers of American Tobacco carved a path to recovery during the past 10 years, with the hope that a similar future lies ahead for the former Cone property.
Michael Goodmon is vice president of real estate for Capitol Broadcasting Co., which has redeveloped American Tobacco, and said local involvement will be crucial to the success of Revolution Mill.