Brenau University has acquired the property at 1001 Chestnut St. SE in Gainesville, commonly called the Featherbone Communiversity. Brenau had rented a portion of the property to serve as its East Campus since moving the nursing program there in 2007 as one of the first tenants in the converted textile factory.
“When the opportunity arose for Brenau to move from being a tenant to an owner of the former Featherbone property, we knew it would be the perfect location to facilitate the continued expansion of Brenau’s programs at a site that is convenient for students and the community,” Brenau President David L. Barnett said. “It was my pleasure to collaborate with Gus Whalen on behalf of Brenau when he created the communiversity idea nearly 20 years ago, and Brenau is dedicated to continuing the educational and community components that were part of his vision.”
The building was constructed in 1956 by textile manufacturer Warren Featherbone Co. and continued as an infant wear manufacturing facility until 2005, according to Michigan State University archives. Featherbone was one of Gainesville’s biggest employers during the period and was led by Gus Whalen, great-grandson of company founder Edward Warren, for 38 years.
When the company sold its baby clothes manufacturing business in 2005, Whalen, head of the Featherbone Foundation, came up with the idea to repurpose the former factory as an educational and community space.
The purchase of the property was partially funded by a charitable donation from the ownership group, Featherbone Center, LLC. The group also will fund a memorial to Whalen’s vision to be installed at the site at a future date.
“We were very pleased to work with Brenau to have the university acquire full ownership of the former Featherbone property,” Philip Wilheit, an LLC partner, said. “It was always the vision of Gus Whalen that the university one day would acquire the property to continue expanding educational opportunities and supporting the community. Gus was very supportive of the work Brenau does, and so are we.”
East Campus, located just off I-985 in the Featherbone Communiversity, is home to Brenau’s Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing and the School of Occupational Therapy. The site also provides two dance studio spaces and a fully equipped Pilates studio for the Department of Dance. The campus is equipped with four simulation labs, including a pregnancy and child simulator, for nursing students, as well as occupational therapy labs and other spaces for OT students to work directly with community members.
The programs currently located in the facility will remain, and Brenau is evaluating the future use of the additional areas of the facility previously occupied by other tenants.
