Tiffany Miller
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — Springs Creative, a textile company based in Rock Hill, has teamed up with Charlotte-based commercial real estate firm Keith Corp. to give the Baxter Mill a new start.

Baxter Mill, located in Knowledge Park at the intersection of White and Wilson streets in Rock Hill, is scheduled to undergo a renovation that will include office space, retail space, breweries and restaurants, according to a statement.

Construction is scheduled to begin on the 400,000-square-foot building in early 2019, with the first occupants expected to move in late next year.

Springs Creative is not releasing information at this time and has referred all information requests to Keith Corp., according to Sharon Cooper, a receptionist at Springs Creative.

“We look forward to working with the City of Rock Hill and are pleased to continue our extensive investment in the future of South Carolina,” Greg Keith, CEO of the Keith Corp. in the statement.

Business owners in downtown Rock Hill said they were looking forward to the influx of business and foot-traffic to the area.

“It’s going to create a tremendous boom,” said Antonio Barnes, owner of Barnes Hair and Spa Salon on Main Street. “I think downtown is going to be a place that people are going to want to (come to). It’s going to attract people from (near) and far.”

Barnes said the renovations could help downtown business owners become more visible as they collaborate with new businesses that are attracted to Knowledge Park, which ultimately could make the area more marketable.

Residents in the area are also excited to see what changes the renovations might bring.

“It will make the area more sociable and current,” said Holden LeCroy, a downtown Rock Hill resident.

“I do think the (renovations) will have a positive impact on the area by bringing new businesses and jobs as well.”

The announcement of the renovations in Baxter Mill came after Springs Creative and Keith Corp. hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month at the once-empty Lowenstein building, a newly renovated building in Knowledge Park.