Another of Rock Hill’s historic, downtown properties is now getting new life with a groundbreaking at The Thread, the Rock Hill Herald reported.
The 400,000-square-foot former textile mill and warehouse at 220 White St. will become a three-story mixed-use space. That means the transformation of yet another well-known property following recent openings of the Lowenstein Building, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, The Power House and other Knowledge Park area revitalization projects.
Thread plans came amid a wave of downtown redevelopment set to invest half a billion dollars, with other projects like the former Herald building becoming office, retail and apartments, and similar additions at the former Good Motor Co. site. In 2019, Charlotte commercial real estate group The Keith Corporation and Springs Creative announced plans for The Thread. A portion of the former Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company site would be redeveloped into restaurant, retail, office and event space. Springs Creative also would move its headquarters there from the nearby Cotton Factory site.
Significant site work started in January. Major demolition is now complete and the project moves to new construction. The Thread project continues a long history of work at the site.
The Baxter Mill building, which will become The Thread, dates back to two warehouses built in 1946 and 1956. The buildings grew the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company, or the Bleachery, site that was a major driver for city employment after M. Lowenstein & Sons bought the former Anderson Motor Company and transitioned it to textile production. Anderson Motor traced its roots back to the Rock Hill Buggy Company in the 1890s. Springs Industries, now Springs Global, bought Rock Hill Printing and Finishing in 1985. The Rock Hill site closed in 1998. A retail and specialty fabrics division under the Springs banner became Springs Creative which remained in the Knowledge Park area.
Earlier this year developers at The Thread detailed plans for a first phase of 170,000 square feet of office and 30,000 square feet of retail space with construction running through early next year. Springs Creative, an anchor tenant, is a planned first phase addition. A second phase would later add 200,000 square feet of loft apartment and ground level retail space.
