New renderings: Former textile mill to become 400,000-square-foot development with loft apartments and retail

Driving the news: Construction begins Jan. 17 on phase one of The Thread, a long-planned adaptive reuse project in the town’s Knowledge Park district, which spans from Winthrop University to Old Town Rock Hill.

Why it matters: The redevelopment will give new life to an old textile mill property that dates back to 1946.

• The redevelopment’s design “will preserve the historic elements of the building,” while adding modern enhancements for its tenants, according to a statement from Keith Corp., which is leading the project along with Springsteen Properties and Capitol Broadcasting Company.

Details: Phase one of the project includes approximately 170,000 square feet of creative office space and 30,000 square feet of ground floor retail.

• Phase two includes nearly 200,000 square feet of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom loft apartments and ground-floor retail, along with outdoor spaces.
• Of note: Original plans for this project included more office space and fewer apartments, as CBJ reported.

Timeline: Construction on phase one will wrap up in a year. Work on phase two begins after that.

Between the lines: The Thread name is a nod to the property’s textile history. The property was called The Bleachery and printed American flags in the 1940s-1960s. Most recently, the site has been home to textile and printing company Springs Creative, which will be the anchor tenant of The Thread.

Zoom out: Transforming old factories and warehouses into hip, modern spaces is a significant undertaking for developers. But it’s becoming more common throughout Charlotte.

• Optimist Hall, for instance, was a gingham mill well before it was renovated and reopened as a popular food hall. Krispy Kreme opened its corporate offices in a refurbished textile mill in South End. Years ago, the Camp North End property was a missile assembly plant.

What they’re saying: “We know firsthand how compelling historic reuse projects are to top talent and companies. As we come out of COVID, The Thread will bring to the market a one-of-a-kind place for people to share in all that the community has to offer,” Michael Goodmon, EVP of Capitol Broadcasting Company, said in a statement.

Here’s a look at what the development will look like. Renderings are courtesy of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, the architect on the project.