Drayton Mill Lofts breaks ground in Spartanburg

Construction on the Drayton Mill Lofts, a 289-apartment community located in the historic Drayton Mill in Spartanburg, is now underway following a groundbreaking ceremony held Dec. 10.

“This is a great day for Pacolet Milliken and for Spartanburg as we witness the rebirth of Drayton Mills,” said Rick Webel, president of Pacolet Milliken. “Drayton Mills was always a huge part of Spartanburg for almost a century, both as a leader in the textile industry and as a vibrant community of people who worked, lived and played in the Drayton neighborhood. We are thrilled to be able to give new life to this historic site.”

TMS Development purchased the two 111-year-old former mill buildings, The Spinning and Weaving buildings, from Pacolet Milliken in 2013. Pacolet Milliken remains the master developer of the site. The brick mill buildings total more than 500,000 square feet and each of the 68 floor plans will have restored original construction details of the mill buildings, with exposed wood and steel, solid maple flooring, 12- to 19-foot ceiling heights, and detailed replica historic windows. The apartments will also include granite countertops, bar tops/islands, stainless steel appliances, in-unit laundry facilities, and custom lighting.

Onsite amenities will include a multilevel fitness center, two community rooms and a circulation network that performs as a gallery, displaying the cultural artifacts of Drayton Mills’ history. Outdoors there will be a 60-foot lap and cold-jetted recreation pool, a courtyard space featuring fire pits and barbecue stations, and dog parks. A municipal nature trail will be connected to the property and extended, connecting Mary Black Hospital to the greater downtown area.

“Upon completion, the Drayton Mills Lofts will be a vibrant, high-density residential village,” said John Montgomery, vice president of real estate for Pacolet Milliken. “We are proud to be part of the growing adaptive reuse movement, which is working to preserve Spartanburg’s history while setting the stage for its future.”

Pacolet Milliken is working on plans for the redevelopment of the three other buildings on the 16-acre site that is projected to include retail, event and possibly office space. Pacolet Milliken also owns the 230 acres surrounding Drayton Mill.

The Lofts are expected to be completed in early 2016.