Historic Preservation on the Water
Today, Woolen Mills Lofts is a 60-unit complex that includes an atrium, modern amenities and the building’s original travertine flooring. But when Northpointe purchased the building that became the Woolen Hills Lofts, there wasn’t much time left to perform a historic preservation on the building.
Bringing History Back to Life
With the original structure about a year away from demolition, Northpointe used their property development services to address a variety of unique issues that made the location both attractive and a challenge to rehab:
Removing lead paint and asbestos safely
The structure, located mere feet from the Fox River, had been built with a dam system and water turbines in order to generate power. The turbines had to be closed off, secured and marked before further rehabilitation.
Because the project was so close to water, it was also necessary to work with and satisfy multiple governmental groups, including the Department of Natural Resources, the local municipality and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The building had been expanded during its years of use, with some of the interior walls having originally been exterior walls. During the refurbishment, one of these walls started to crumble, which meant the entire wall had to be rebuilt.
A beautiful home on the water
Northpointe met every challenge it encountered, and today this historic preservation features 60 unique rooms, beautiful exposed beams and brick and vaulted ceilings.
Awards
2019 Carolyn Kellogg Historic Preservation Award
