206:. The mill (and an additional 8 1/2 acres) was purchased at auction by the newly formed Brandywine Conservancy. Renovations began in 1970 and the museum opened in 1971. The renovation was done by James R. Grieves Associates, Inc. of Baltimore. Grieves was the only professional consulted who wanted to keep the 19th structure intact. Other architects recommended tearing it down and starting over. The museum exhibits Wyeth and American art, with galleries devoted to the works of N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth.
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140:. Since this time, more than one-million listings have been added to the National Register, on many types of structures and places across the country. While not a certain guarantee that a structure will never be demolished, the National Register provides owners with a tool to seek national and state tax credits, grants and other assistance that may enable the rehabilitation of the building.
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usefulness of the mills for continuing industry was limited. Business practices were changing, and the old mill buildings were no longer efficient or practical for industry. Even today, most jurisdictions require some sort of special permit or zoning change in order for the conversions to take place.
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Since most mills were initially zoned as "industrial" with the emergence of zoning ordinances during the mid- and late 20th century, an early obstacle of many planners and developers in transforming these vacant or underutilized mill spaces into residences was to convince local officials that the
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across the region built for the production of textiles and other goods, such as shoes, machinery and other items. However, the
Northern textile industry would suffer greatly beginning in the early 1920s, with the failure of many of these companies, and the rise in competition from Southern mills.
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The property tax value of a restored mill it typically about ten times greater than the existing underutilized mill building, and there is also the added benefit of many construction jobs and other services during the renovation process. The intangible value of having a historic factory building
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changed the economy, and entire industries began to move overseas to developing nations. Through the 20th century, many mills carried on in a variety of industrial purposes, other than original intended use. Many were used for storage, or other small enterprises. Still, many more remained mostly
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were converted into factory outlet stores, although with minimal physical alteration other than some partitions and carpeting. The factory outlet stores in Fall River were highly successful for many years, but have in recent years declined, a victim of newer "premium outlet" malls opening up in
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Concurrent with the move to restore former industrial mills into residences, has been the conversion of certain sites into a mix of retail shops, offices and restaurants and other non-industrial uses. During the 1980s, many of the historic cotton mills in
457:-based company with a long history of historic preservation projects. This mill had sat vacant for many years, and was in serious threat of being demolished. The site has since successfully been converted into residential apartments, situated on the
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In recent years, many states have enacted
Historic Tax Credit programs in an attempt to enable the rehabilitation of older structures deemed to be "historically significant". Typically, the major criteria for this determination is a listing with the
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the development of industry during 19th and early 20th century resulted in the construction of thousands of mills or factory buildings typically of brick or stone masonry construction across the nation, with a high concentration in the
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Often, parking, utilities and other infrastructure need to be upgraded as part of the mill conversion process. Many of the old industrial sites contain levels of contamination, which can be very costly for the developers to mitigate.
390:. The huge mill complex was originally the Assabet Manufacturing Company, which grew during the 19th century to be one of the largest textile companies in the state, specializing in woolen goods. It was later acquired by the
398:, until it finally vacated the location in 2001. Since then, the entire complex has been transformed into an office park. It is now home to many companies in differing markets. Its most famous tenant is perhaps
417:, once the largest single textile company in the world. The Amoskeag Millyard is the centerpiece of Manchester's waterfront, and includes offices, restaurants, a museum, residences and a university.
442:, usually followed by a review by state and local agencies. The development companies typically utilize the tax credits to offset the usually expensive process of renovation and site cleanup.
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preserved for future generations to enjoy, as well as the benefits to the community are often harder to calculate. The restored mill buildings often become the focal point of the community.
225:. The restoration gathered momentum in the 1980s, including the renovation of the canals and former mill facilities into museums, as well as the construction of a waterfront walkway.
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was deemed as one of the most successful in the nation, enabling hundreds of historic structures across the state to be preserved over the past several years since it was enacted.
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The benefits historic tax credit programs to state budgets have been often controversial, but there are many indirect economic benefits to local communities.
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Not all historic mills can be successfully transformed into museums however, only with the few, most significantly historic ones has this been possible.
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established a series of
Heritage State Parks throughout the state to celebrate and preserve the state's valuable historic (mostly industrial) history.
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vacant and underutilized through the middle part of the 20th century, and even today. Many vacant mill buildings have become a target for vandalism,
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were converted into a 445-unit apartment complex beginning in 1990, while the nearby Market Mills
Apartments have 230 units. In recent years, with
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and the Lowell
Historic Preservation Commission. The legislation to create the park was sponsored by United States Senator and Lowell native
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in 1793. With its significant historic value, the drive to restore Slater Mill into a public museum began during the mid-20th century.
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and special by-laws in an attempt to preserve and prevent the destruction of properties deemed important to the context of history.
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Royal Mills, West
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have been converted into residences also, as part of Lowell's continued revitalization of its historic waterfront area.
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One of the most ambitious mill conversion projects in recent years is the transformation of the huge Wood Mill in
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Other mill conversion projects during the 1980s include the Border City Mill
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Other industries would follow, especially during the later part of the 20th century, when
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projects in big cities and small towns across the nation. A similar movement occurred in
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in the city's industrial canal district, is an excellent example.
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Since the 1960s communities across the country have established
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building is restored or rehabilitated into another use, such as
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While recently suspended due to the State's budget crisis,
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One excellent example of a mill to mixed-use conversion in
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Mill conversions have also occurred in other parts of the
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One result of this outcry was the establishment of the
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One of the earliest known conversions of a historic
330:In recent years, there has been a trend toward the
353:in the world at the time. The project is known as
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572:Rhode Island's Historic Tax Credit Program
97:A similar scenario has also played out in
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20:Massachusetts Mills Apartments, Lowell
504:National Register of Historic Places
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349:. Built in 1906, it was the largest
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627:Industrial buildings and structures
270:into residential apartments is the
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597:New Hampshire Conversion Projects
592:Champlain Mill, Winooski, Vermont
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304:historic tax credit program, the
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386:, located in the small town of
236:, which occupies a former mill
219:Lowell National Historical Park
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371:nearby suburban areas such as
258:Mill to residential conversion
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524:Lowell National Historic Park
396:Digital Equipment Corporation
230:Commonwealth of Massachusetts
361:Mill to mixed-use conversion
234:Lawrence Heritage State Park
105:during this same timeframe.
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470:Historic Tax Credit Program
276:Central Falls, Rhode Island
109:Historic awareness movement
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447:West Warwick, Rhode Island
245:North Adams, Massachusetts
211:Lowell Heritage State Park
561:Brady Sullivan Properties
411:Manchester, New Hampshire
409:however, can be found at
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291:Fall River, Massachusetts
151:Mill to museum conversion
355:Monarch on the Merrimack
392:American Woolen Company
373:Wrentham, Massachusetts
347:Lawrence, Massachusetts
247:was converted into the
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274:south mill located in
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163:The first successful
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407:New England
400:Monster.com
380:New England
340:condominium
325:New Orleans
306:Boott Mills
192:Chadds Ford
173:Slater Mill
611:Categories
530:References
489:Cregg Mill
204:grist mill
190:opened in
78:mill towns
29:mill rehab
455:Baltimore
336:apartment
209:In 1976,
200:Civil War
74:Northeast
57:mixed-use
546:Archived
483:See also
382:is the
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67:In the
41:factory
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103:Europe
53:office
622:Reuse
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88:arson
451:SBER
332:loft
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