Stop 6

The Willowbrook

            The Willowbrook building, formerly a textile mill, is the largest building in downtown Lincolnton.  The historic brick structure boasts 140,000 square feet and over an acre of onsite parking, which created endless possibilities for adaptive reuse.

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Residential:

The building’s proximity to schools, churches, and restaurants is an ideal location for families, but tenants of all ages are drawn to the benefits that come with living at the Willowbrook.  Some conveniences of downtown living include being in walking distance to banks, shops, and community events like the Apple Festival.  The Willowbrook sits only several blocks from the Marcia H. Cloninger Rail Trail, open for children, joggers, cyclists, etc.

The exterior walls of the original structure were in excellent shape, but many of the walls and floors inside could be removed, which created a blank slate for apartment designs.  This space was optimal to be creative with apartments; some may have two levels and a staircase, patios on the ground floor, from one to four bedrooms, open or traditional floor plans.

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Office or Retail:

The Willowbrook also had potential for a combination of office and retail space on the ground floor. Market shops incorporated into the bottom level of downtown buildings are familiar to many small towns.  The small fruit stand located in the Willowbrook allows businesspeople to stop by on their lunch break, grab some fruit and a sandwich, and dine down the block in the park or courtyard.  The community now enjoys the option to drop in to purchase a few items for dinner and avoid the supermarket.

*Restored using the Historic Preservation Investment Tax Credit and North Carolina Mill tax credits, the Willowbrook is a textbook example of the adaptive reuse of a former textile mill.