May 31st, 2017 by WCBC Radio

Although most of it is not visible, officials with the $9 million Footer's Dye Works Building renovation say tremendous improvements have been made in recent months- and interest has increased in the project.  Michael Joy, the Washington based developer behind the renovation of the historic four-story building, provided a brief update during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority.  He said much of the recent work has taken place on the roof, the windows, inside the building and underneath the parking area.  Joy hopes to install a restaurant and brewery on the first floor with 16 loft apartments on the third and fourth floors.  There have been a number of announced businesses with plans to locate on the ground floor in the past year- only to pull out months later.  As a result, Joy has been cautious in recent months when discussing the potential for commercial development.  On Tuesday he said it’s important to secure a commercial tenant with long term interests…