Old Clover textile mill site may soon see new construction. Here are the latest plans
The rebirth of a former Clover textile mill site as townhomes and commercial space is almost ready to start. That site served as the town’s very first mill 133 years ago.
The town planning commission received applications to update and sign off on plans that would allow construction on Old North Main Street. The commission will hear those proposals Thursday night.
The town approved a development plan for the more than 6-acre Clover Mill project last year.
Eight properties at and surrounding 602 Old North Main St. will become townhomes and retail space, with some single-family homes and duplex lots. The property at Old North Main and Columbia streets is the former Clover Spinning Mill, or Coltex site.
According to National Register of Historic Places documentation on the Clover Downtown Historic District, the Clover Spinning Mill opened in 1890 as the town’s first mill and led to significant employment and population growth. County land records only show ownership back to 1965 when Halls Textile Machinery acquired it.
Now owner K2 Development NC has applied for minor changes in lot layout, but also for final plat approval for the first area of construction. A plat is a layout of how land is divided. Final plat approval shows how development projects are subdivided and often is among the final steps before construction starts.
The entire Clover Mill project will have 52 townhomes, three single-family homes and six more duplex or townhome units, depending on a requested change for more townhomes. It also will have some commercial space.
Clover Mill West is the 1-acre portion up for final plat review. It’s at 113 Old North Main St., on the northwest corner of Columbia and Old North Main. Clover Mill West will include three homes and six townhomes.
K2 Development out of Charlotte bought the eight-property Clover Mill site for $250,000 in January, according to county land records. The properties hadn’t been sold since 2014, and were last run by Coltex Inc. prior to a late 2011 sale. The property has had several uses in machining, manufacturing and textile spinning.
Redevelopment plans submitted to the town offered a different picture, with driveways leading to townhomes with two-car garages, sidewalks, small parks and a playground.
Repurposing SC mills
New uses for former mill sites has been an issue not just in Clover, but in many area towns and cities that once thrived on textiles.
The Springs mill that once employed much of Fort Mill’s population became Elisha Park. An entire downtown corridor in Rock Hill continues to transform as University Center adds apartments, restaurants and retail.
Clover once had multiple mill sites in operation.
In 2019 the town held a workshop in search of plans for the former American Thread property at 401 S. Main St. That 16-acre site is about a mile south from the Clover Mill redevelopment. A plumbing company out of Charlotte owns it. The property hasn’t changed hands since 2014.
“The owner of the American Thread site does not appear to have any immediate plans to improve the property,” said Allison Harvey, town administrator.
Destiny’s Calling Ministries’ plan
The Clover Mill update isn’t the only large proposal for the town.
Destiny’s Calling Ministries in Charlotte applied to build a faith-based campus on more than 12 acres between 303 and 305 Cheek Road. The church site would include a girls home, chapel and pavilion.
The large, open site is beside both the Cloverbrook and Clover Meadows neighborhoods. Destiny’s Calling wants to put about 3,200 square feet of group home space, a 5,400-square-foot chapel and a 2,400-square-foot pavilion on its property.
Potential future uses, according to its application, include two more group homes for girls, four homes and four duplexes.
Destiny’s Calling will bring its concept plan for review by the planning commission Thursday and then will have to submit more detailed site plans for the various construction pieces.
