Warren Mill

Type

State Historic, Federal Historic, and Textile Mill Credits

Location

512 Trestle Pass, Warrenville, SC 29851

Built

1896

Developer

Piedmont Private Equity and John Gumpert

Project Partners

Betsch Associates, R. W. Allen Construction, and Rogers Lewis Group

Finished Use

Multifamily Residential Apartments and related amenities

Project Overview

Utilizing federal and state historic tax credits, along with South Carolina’s textile mill credit, the transformation of the Warren Mill into a residential community brought new life to a long-abandoned industrial site while preserving its historic integrity. The interiors retain original features such as wooden columns, painted brick walls, and eighteen-foot ceilings, while new construction and amenities were carefully integrated into the site. With thoughtful design, collaboration, and adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, the project converted a deteriorating textile mill into a successful housing development that honors its industrial past. This project was recognized with a 2025 South Carolina Preservation Honor Award for excellence in adaptive reuse and historic rehabilitation.

Photo Credit: Joel Overstreet

History

Built in the late 19th century, the Warren Mill complex originally served as a major textile manufacturing site in the Warrenville section of Aiken County. It included several key structures, including the main mill, cotton warehouse, boiler room, and engine house. The site played an important role in the area’s industrial growth, with architecture that reflected the scale and utility of South Carolina’s textile economy.

As the years passed, the mill fell into disrepair and the buildings sat vacant for years as they deteriorated and became overgrown. In 2025, following an extensive rehabilitation effort, the site reopened as the Warren Mill Lofts. It now features more than 200 apartments, restored amenity spaces, and select new construction that honors the mill’s historic character while giving it vibrant new life.