Development plans revealed for portion of Danville's River District

DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - We're getting a closer look at plans to restore a portion of Danville.

The work is taking place in the 500 block of Craghead Street.

On Wednesday, Barker Property, the company that owns the two historic buildings in which work is being done, announced that they will be converted into nine apartments and four store fronts.

Work has been going on for several months to demolish much of the interior of the buildings.

Barker Property President Rick Barker said this is part of a plan to renovate the entire block.

"There's a market in Danville, Virginia now," Barker emphasized excitedly. "We opened a building about 18 months ago and we've just been overwhelmed by the response and the reception."

The apartments and store fronts are expected to be ready by early 2017.

Barker Property owns eight of the nine buildings in the 500 block of Craghead Street and will begin work on two more buildings and the tobacco warehouse once work on the apartments and store fronts is complete.