This Huntsville Building is being renovated & revived through Historic Tax Credits
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Historic Tax Credits. You know em, we love em. Cities can apply for federal (or even state) funding to breathe new life into older structures. If you want to learn more about these Historic Tax Credits, check this out.
Today, though, we want to highlight a current renovation underway in Huntsville: Lincoln Mill.
Lincoln Mill’s backstory
Built in the early 1920s, this almost-100-year-old-structure used to be a cotton mill, including a separate facility for dyeing of textiles from the mill. While operating as a cotton mill, the Lincoln complex rose to notoriety by pumping out massive quantities of “duck” canvas during World War II.
In its height, the Lincoln Mill was the largest cotton plant in the state.
The factory stayed open until 1955, where a landmark Supreme Court case over unionization decided against the factory owners in favor of workers.
A few years later, in 1957, a small group of Huntsville businessmen bought and revamped the mill, renaming it the Huntsville Industrial Complex. The goal was to draw in business from the US Army, which it did, but ultimately the facility would be used by NASA.
In 1980, tragedy stuck, burning down several buildings in the complex, leaving only two standing. It’s these buildings that were restored by Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate Group, who made public their plans for renovation last year and have since opened the facility.
Lincoln Mill renovations
The sheer size of the Lincoln Mill lends itself to some kind of creative workspace, or maybe even a mixed-use facility. At least that’s what Matheny Goldmon, a local architecture and interior firm, was tasked to emulate.
The Lincoln Mill project was a top priority, not only to preserve this historic building, but also because of its location:
Lincoln Mill stands apart in its ease of accessibility, proximity to the city’s main business district, and its unmatchable architecture, design, and historical influence. All of these features combined make it the ideal candidate for a revitalization—one that will showcase its distinctive spaces, its ability to further serve the community, and connect the area of downtown with north Huntsville’s educational center.
From a post on Crunkleton Real Estate’s blog
Construction is still in-progress, but you can follow Crunkleton’s blog where they frequently update the project. We particularly like the before and after shots.
Once the facility is open, check out Lincoln Mill for a variety of restaurants, offices, boutiques, and that good ole’ Huntsville charm ;). A full list of vendors and even more info can be found here.
Do you plan on visiting the renovated Lincoln Mill? Tag us @thebamabuzz and let us know!
