HERE WE
GROW AGAIN UPDATES ON COMMERCIAL AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS BY JAMES DUPREE
T
MAP BY JEAN CARLOS ROSARIO-MONTALVO
ransformation is well underway for the South of the Courthouse (SoCo) development project in downtown Pittsboro, which began in early 2021 with an estimated cost of more than $10 million. The entire southwest corner across the street from the historic Chatham County Courthouse covers roughly 30,000 square feet from 39 West St. to 56 Sanford Rd. A new brewery, Havoc Brewing Company, owned by Michael Pipkin, is expected to occupy the former Pittsboro Roadhouse restaurant site. The original building housed the Justice Motor Company, a well-known car dealership that brothers Frank Justice and Fred 98
CHATHAM MAGAZINE
Justice opened in 1947. The site covers
6,392 square feet of space, including the old 2,561-square-foot showroom. A distillery plant for the brewing company is being installed as well as a tasting room, with plans to open late this summer. SoCo developer Greg Stafford expanded the building project to include 45 West St., where the defunct Mathiesen Clinic stands. Dr. K.M. Mathiesen operated it for close to 30 years before it closed in 1974. Renovations are underway with a possible completion date in summer 2023. “It’s demolition with care,” Greg says. “We’re not taking down the building, but cleaning out asbestos and removing lead paint.” That building’s 6,500 square feet is divided into 18 hospital rooms with two large conference areas. The location is likely to be used as leasable office space and a new
APRIL / MAY 2022