Mill VIllage Today

Acommute of more than two hours might seem a bit much to some people, but Stacy R. Barnes embraces the time to write while en route to Averett University in Danville, Va. e professor is a new resident of the Mill Village in

Rocky Mount and could not be happier.

“When I saw this house, I told Scott (Roberts, general manager of Rocky Mount

Mills), ’ is is the one,’” Barnes recalled.

Barnes was born in the Twin Counties and remembers boarding the train with his mother when they moved to Virginia. at train now enables him to live in Eastern North Carolina and continue his work in higher education. “I don’t want to be in the middle of too much, but I want to be close,” he said. In addition to living within a mile of downtown

Rocky Mount — and the train station —

Barnes lives within walking distance of the farmers market that is open from April to

November. He’s also close to the Rocky Mount greenway, one of the largest dog parks in the state and, of course, the Rocky Mount Mills campus. Two craft beer taprooms already are open for business and more are set to come online in the near future.

“It is amazing what Capitol has done so far.

I’m so impressed,” Barnes said. “ ey’ve really got it going on. You can feel the energy.”

Capitol Broadcasting Co. purchased more than 80 acres to include the huge brick warehouse that housed one of the first cotton mills in the state as well as countless homes known as the Mill Village, many that had gone by the wayside. In a few months time, the company had renovated several homes and was leasing them before crews even finished their work. e one- and two-bedroom homes rent for around $1,000 a month, which is largely unheard of in the Rocky Mount market. Capitol officials said the unique amenities of each house, such as kegerators and fenced in backyards with grills and yard games, paired with the nearby attractions offered at the Rocky Mount Mill, Battle Park and Tar River Trail make it a popular contender for residents already living in the Twin Counties and those considering a commute.

“ e buzz term in real estate is ‘live, work and play’ and the Mill Village provides one of the few opportunities in this area to do that,” said Real Estate Development Manager Matt Honeycutt. “If your company is housed at the mill, you can work there, then live across the street then have drinks and dinner with your friends without ever having to get in your car.

“We’re creating an urban environment in a nontraditionally urban setting.”

By the end of 2016, Capitol plans to have 25 houses built and renovated along River Drive. Construction also will begin soon on 40 to 50 apartments in the main mill building and a community center with pool and workout facility at Peachtree and Elm streets.

“When it is all said and done, there will be the community center, as many as 10 breweries, up to four restaurants, two beer gardens and a 7.5-acre island that will be a concert venue with running trails, a playground, outdoor seating

for picnics and so much more,” Honeycutt said. Capitol Development Manager Evan Covington Chavez said they’ll have about 150 residential units of varying sizes within the next few years. Because Rocky Mount Mills is a historic district, Capitol is ensuring continuity even for new houses such as Barnes’ home. “It is all about balance between the history and the future of the village,” Honeycutt said. “ e first way to make it look and feel as if it was back in the day is to salvage everything we can. But we also have to balance it with new and modern features, and part of that is the functionality of these homes with today’s lifestyles. “Since this is part of the Brewmill concept, “ IT IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE BETWEEN THE it just made sense to include kegerators in the homes to pay tribute to what the mill will be going forward.” While the kegerators are popular with the young professionals, Chavez said they also have been a selling point for an older generation hoping to get grandchildren to visit.HISTORY AND THE FUTURE “ is is a type of residential choice that doesn’t currently exist in this market,”

OF THE VILLAGE” Honeycutt said. “ ere are people who want a dog and a yard, so they lean toward the Mill - MATT HONEYCUTT Village homes, but there are people who are at a point in their lives where they don’t want to cut the grass, so the apartments in the mill appeal to them. It is great to be able to have options for everybody.” To learn more, email info@brewmill.com. Open houses and additional events will be posted on the Rocky Mount Mills page on Facebook. “I got into redevelopment in a past career and stayed interested, so when I saw what they were doing here, it just hit me,” Barnes said. “I knew as soon as I left that I was going to move here. I said, ‘I like what I see.’”

“THIS IS THE ONE.”

Story By Brie Handgraaf Photography by Abbi O’Leary