The Lofts at Osage Mill offers a host of modern amenities, including an on-site management office, a mail room and package lockers, a resident lounge, a business center, a fitness room, and secured storage for residents. New skylights bring natural light into the building’s interior atriums, illuminating its historic wooden beams and original flooring.
Courtesy WinnCompanies The Lofts at Osage Mill offers a host of modern amenities, including an on-site management office, a mail room and package lockers, a resident lounge, a business center, a fitness room, and secured storage for residents. New skylights bring natural light into the building’s interior atriums, illuminating its historic wooden beams and original flooring.


A historic textile mill has been repurposed into 139 affordable homes in Bessemer City, North Carolina.

The redevelopment of the 127-year-old mill preserves the building’s iconic exterior and historic features while creating 50 one-, 77 two-, and 12 three-bedroom apartments for households earning 60% of the area median income.

“This iconic building created hundreds of jobs in Bessemer City at the start of the 20th century, and now it will deliver unique apartment homes for the working households driving the area’s modern economy,” said developer Gilbert Winn, CEO of the WinnCompanies. “We value our partnership with North Carolina’s housing and economic leaders on this important effort and are thrilled to be welcoming residents into their new homes today.”

The 250,000-square-foot building was built by Bessemer City founder John Askew Smith in 1896 and was one of the region’s largest textile mills. It had been largely vacant for the last 30 years, a visual blight that hampered the growth and vibrancy of downtown Bessemer City, which straddles strong employment hubs in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, according to developers.

“The revitalization of the historic Osage Mill is a cornerstone of Bessemer City’s efforts to bring new life to our downtown and community,” said mayor Becky Smith. “This project not only preserves our rich history but also fuels economic growth, attracts new businesses, and creates opportunities for residents, existing and new. It’s a transformational step forward in making our community a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”

Courtesy WinnCompanies

Led by vice president Aimee McHale and senior project director Laura Manville, the Lofts at Osage Mill is WinnDevelopment’s first adaptive-reuse project in North Carolina. The company has been responsible for the reuse and rehabilitation of 47 historic structures since 1981, creating more than 5,400 new apartments in eight states and the District of Columbia.

The $36 million development enjoyed strong support from federal and state policymakers in the region as well as multiple funding partners.The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency supported the project with tax-exempt bonds issued by the Gastonia Housing Authority.

Bank of America provided construction and permanent financing, as well as equity under the federal low-income housing tax credit program, the federal historic tax credit program, and North Carolina’s Mill Rehabilitation Tax Credit program.

Lofts at Osage Mill is managed by WinnResidential, the property management arm of WinnCompanies.

Rehab Builders served as the general contractor for the project, with Tise Kiester Architects serving as architect and MacRostie Historic Advisors as historic consultant. Brockmann Law served as legal counsel.