Officials get look at Church Street Lofts progress

ASHEBORO — A former hosiery mill being converted into senior apartments received a tour by the Asheboro City Council on Oct. 27.

The old Acme-McCrary mill across Church Street from the Asheboro Senior Adults Center is being renovated by Landmark Asset Services. When completed early next year, it will become the Church Street Lofts.

The council held a special meeting, available to the public, for the tour, followed by another tour of the Zoo City Sportsplex on Zoo Parkway at Old Cox Road.

John Stiltner, director of development and construction management services for Landmark, said he received a phone call from City Manager John Ogburn in July 2017. Soon, he was touring the Senior Center and the old mill building, which he said “had so much character.”

Ogburn had called Stiltner because Landmark had renovated another former mill building, converting it into the Mill Lofts Apartments on South Church Street. Landmark, and Stiltner, also restored the Sunset Theatre.

Perhaps the most striking quality of the Church Street Lofts project is the skybridge connecting the future apartments to the Senior Center. With a parking lot across the street, renters will be able to access their vehicles without having to cross the street. 

Stiltner said the 50 units will consist of:

- 4 efficiencies of about 600 square feet.

- 36 one-bedroom apartments of approximately 900 square feet.

- 10 two-bedroom units of some 1,000 square feet.

Bedrooms will be carpeted and the other rooms will have stained concrete or hardwood floors. There will be just a handful of walk-in showers.

There will be no washer/dryer hookups in the apartments but a community laundry will be downstairs. The complex will also offer a fitness center, large meeting room, computer center and seating areas.

“My hat’s off to the city and the council for its revitalization of town,” Stiltner said. “This project is one of the best examples of a public/private partnership.”

Construction began in March of this year and the first tenant is expected to move in next March.

Mayor David Smith noted that the south portion of the mill building was Parks Hosiery during the early years of the 20th century. Later, McCrary Hosiery took it over and added to the building, later merging with Acme Hosiery.

He said a significant architectural feature is represented in the mushroom cap columns, constructed of poured concrete.

“We’re proud of our partnership with the Senior Adults Center and the parking lot,” Smith said. And he predicted that Landmark would win a national award for the project.

Residents of Church Street Lofts will be able to use an elevator to move from floor to floor. Across the skybridge in the Senior Center, there is presently a freight elevator. Stiltner said the project will convert that to a passenger elevator.

When opened for residents, Church Street Lofts will be a “fully-locked building,” Stiltner said. Entry will be by key or by punching in a code. Security cameras will scan the outside areas. Access to the Senior Center will also be secure.

The apartments have affordable rents and are income restricted. 

Asked what have been the biggest problems during construction, Stiltner listed the “unpredictability of the labor market and the increase of costs.” He said they were fortunate to have ordered materials early, although he is still awaiting arrival of glass for the windows.

Interest in the apartments has been high and about three dozen have already been accounted for. Potential renters must contact Landmark for applications. Call 800-809-4693.