In 2013, John and Jennifer Church bought a 120-year-old textile mill planning to sell the land; after reconsidering demolition, they turned the 7-acre site into a mixed-use development

In 2013, John and Jennifer Church bought a 120-year-old textile mill planning to sell the land; after reconsidering demolition, they turned the 7-acre site into a mixed-use development. The project became the Chronicle Mill in Belmont, North Carolina. What began as a plan involving an old industrial property changed after work at the site revealed parts of the original structure that could be preserved. The property had been built in 1901 as Belmont's first textile mill. It later became part of the city's industrial history and continued yarn production until 2010. By the time the Churches acquired the property, the mill had been left unused.

The redevelopment eventually became a $60 million adaptive reuse project. Instead of removing the entire structure, the development team retained parts of the historic building and incorporated them into a new residential and commercial community.

How the 1901 textile mill became Chronicle Mill?

The original mill was built by R.L. Stowe in 1901. It was the first textile mill in Belmont and became part of the city's manufacturing history. The mill remained connected to textile production for more than a century. Yarn production continued at the property until 2010. After operations ended, the site became an abandoned industrial property.

John and Jennifer Church, who own Centra Properties, purchased the site in 2013. Their initial plan was to sell the land. Demolition also began as part of the early plans for the property.

That plan changed when the work exposed brickwork from the original plant. The Churches decided to preserve the historic elements rather than remove the building completely. The change led to an adaptive reuse project. The approach allowed the developers to retain parts of the existing mill while adding new residential and commercial uses.

A 7-acre site becomes a mixed-use neighborhood

The Chronicle Mill development covers seven acres at 96 Catawba Street, Belmont, North Carolina. The completed project combines apartments, commercial areas and public workspace. The development officially opened in 2023.

The project includes:

• 238 apartments with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts.
• 9,000 square feet of commercial space for retail and food and beverage businesses.
• Mill Collective, a public coworking space within the development.
• Chronicle Millworks, an initiative focused on reusing material from the original mill.
• Preserved sections of the original brick façade.
• A new fourth floor added to the existing structure.

The apartments combine elements from the former industrial building with features used in modern residential spaces. Exposed brick and historic timber framing were retained as part of the design. Apartment rents range from $1,335 to $2,176 per month, depending on the unit and layout.

Development took place after delays

The Churches worked with Armada Hoffler Properties and BB+M Architecture on the redevelopment. Construction began in 2021. The project faced delays connected to the pandemic and environmental issues before construction moved forward. The completed development held its grand opening in 2023.

The project shows how an unused industrial building can be converted for residential and commercial use while retaining parts of its earlier structure. The redevelopment also created space for businesses. The 9,000-square-foot commercial area was designed for retail, dining, breweries and coffee shops.

Mill Collective brings workspace into the project

The development includes a public coworking area called Mill Collective. The space was incorporated directly into the Chronicle Mill development. It provides an area for people to work outside their homes or traditional offices.

The inclusion of coworking space adds another use to the former industrial property. The site therefore combines residential units, commercial businesses and workspace within the same seven-acre development. This mixed-use model changed the function of the former textile mill without removing every trace of its industrial history.

Old materials were reused through Chronicle Millworks

Material from the original mill was also used in the redevelopment. Some wood from the building could not be preserved for structural purposes. Instead of discarding it, the development team created Chronicle Millworks to reuse the salvaged wood.

The material was turned into custom furniture and doors for the community. Other design elements also refer to the site's earlier use. The interiors include hand-woven art panels, rope ceilings and furniture made from material salvaged from the original mill. These details connect the new apartments and shared spaces with the property's textile and industrial past.

Historic elements were retained during redevelopment

Historic preservation became an important part of the project after demolition work revealed the original brickwork. Parts of the original brick façade were preserved. The development also added a fourth floor to the existing structure.

The design therefore combines portions of the 1901 building with new construction. Exposed brick, timber framing and salvaged furniture are used alongside the newer residential spaces. The result is a development that keeps identifiable parts of the former textile mill while adding housing, businesses and workspace.

Chronicle Mill received recognition for adaptive reuse

The project received recognition from the National Association of Home Builders. Chronicle Mill was named the 2023 Multifamily Community of the Year for Adaptive Reuse. The recognition focused on the project's conversion of an existing industrial property into a multifamily community.

Adaptive reuse involves giving an existing building a new purpose instead of constructing an entirely new building on the site. In this case, a former textile mill became a residential and commercial development.

The property was later sold for $55.5 million

The Chronicle Mill property was later acquired by Harbor Group International for $55.5 million. The sale followed the transformation of the former mill into a community with 238 apartments and commercial facilities.

The property's history now covers more than a century, from its construction as Belmont's first textile mill in 1901 to the end of yarn production in 2010, its acquisition in 2013 and its conversion into a mixed-use development that opened in 2023.

The project also demonstrates the change in how unused industrial properties can be used. Instead of treating the former textile mill only as a site for demolition, the development retained parts of the original building and combined them with new housing and commercial uses.

Why the Chronicle Mill project matters?

The Chronicle Mill project connects several stages of Belmont's history. The property began as a textile mill built by R.L. Stowe in 1901. It later stopped producing yarn in 2010. After the Churches bought the property in 2013, demolition began before the discovery of the original brickwork changed the redevelopment plan. The seven-acre site was then developed into a community with apartments, commercial space and coworking facilities.

Key points include:

• The original textile mill dates to 1901.
• It was Belmont's first textile mill.
• Yarn production ended in 2010.
• John and Jennifer Church bought the property in 2013.
• The site covers 7 acres.
• Construction on the redevelopment began in 2021.
• The project opened in 2023.
• The development has 238 apartments.
• It has 9,000 square feet of commercial space.
• Rents range from $1,335 to $2,176 per month.
• Mill Collective provides public coworking space.
• Chronicle Millworks reuses salvaged wood.
• The project cost $60 million.
• Harbor Group International later acquired the property for $55.5 million.

The project received a 2023 Multifamily Community of the Year for Adaptive Reuse award from the National Association of Home Builders. The Chronicle Mill story is therefore not only about a former textile mill. It also shows how an abandoned industrial property can be given a new function while retaining parts of its original structure and materials.