From Abandonment to a Sustainable Future: The Fall and Rebirth of Greensboro’s Mill District
Mill District water tower
Previously in Part 1
Moses and Caesar Cone built a textile empire that defined Greensboro’s economy. But as global competition rose, the city faced the painful collapse of its industrial core.
The Long Twilight: Seeds of Decline
By the 1970s, the textile industry was under siege. Global competition intensified, and regulations increased production costs. Between 1977 and 1990, Cone Mills had lost ten mills through either closure or sale. Printworks shut down in 1977, and Revolution Mill followed in 1982. The once-mighty textile empire fell silent.
White Oak endured longer, producing world-famous selvedge denim on vintage Draper X3 looms until 2017, when the International Textile Group, now Elevate Textiles, announced its closure after 112 years.
For decades, the vast mill complexes sat abandoned.
A New Champion: Self-Help Credit Union
The revival began when Self-Help Credit Union stepped in. In 2012, they purchased Revolution Mill at a foreclosure auction for $8 million and committed to transforming it into a thriving, inclusive community once again.
Over the next decade, Self-Help invested $150+ million in the redevelopment, turning the derelict factory into a hub of apartments, offices, restaurants and creative spaces.
The redeveloped site now includes 184 loft apartments, 20 percent of which are designated as affordable housing, along with more than 240,000 square feet of office space. It also features restaurants, cafés, art studios, and the Colonnade event venue, while hosting outdoor concerts and public art exhibitions that have helped bring renewed energy to the area.
In 2018, VF Corporation, the parent company of Wrangler and Lee Jeans, moved its Jeanswear division (now known as Kontoor Brands) into Revolution Mill, bringing the Cone legacy full circle.
Revolution Mill Campus
Printworks and Public-Private Collaboration
Soon after, The Alexander Company restored Printworks Mill, delivering 217 mixed-income apartments, two-thirds of which are affordable housing, and quickly achieved full occupancy.
The City of Greensboro played a critical role in enabling these redevelopments, committing $1.2 million from its 2016 housing bond to support Printworks and incentivize mixed-income housing.
Departments like Neighborhood Development and Water Resources also collaborated to streamline infrastructure, proving how local government can drive large-scale revitalization when aligned with mission-driven partners.
Printworks Mill
Multi-Modal Infrastructure
The North Buffalo Creek Greenway became a centerpiece of the Mill District’s connectivity, restoring natural ecosystems while linking Revolution Mill, Printworks and downtown. It features paved paths, lighting, seating and public art, which have transformed industrial land into an inviting urban corridor.
In 2024, the city launched a free trolley service connecting the Mill District to downtown, further uniting old and new Greensboro.
Interior court at Printworks Apartments
White Oak: The Next Chapter
The historic White Oak Mill, once the heart of global denim, is now being reimagined by the White Oak Ventures, LLC (an ownership group that includes Samet Corporation). Early phases focus on site remediation and selective reuse, balancing preservation with modern industry.
Meanwhile, the White Oak Legacy Foundation (WOLF) has reopened a portion of the facility to preserve vintage Draper looms and educate future generations. Their exhibit, Innovations in Blue, honors pioneers like Dyemaster Floyd Virgil Hayes.
The Mill District Emerges
Through these efforts, the area surrounding these redeveloped mills became officially branded as The Mill District.
Public art, community festivals and creative spaces, supported by Creative Greensboro, have turned the area into a lively cultural hub.
Lessons in Economic Development
- Patient capital enables deep community transformation.
- Historic preservation drives identity and economic value.
- Public-private collaboration multiplies impact.
- Affordable housing ensures inclusivity and long-term sustainability.
Looking Forward
Today, the Mill District stands as a living model of resilience. From denim looms to design studios, the legacy of Cone Mills continues, not as nostalgia, but as proof that community, creativity and collaboration can define the next century of Greensboro’s growth.