Lofts at Anthony Mill Officially A Place to Call Home

Dozens of local dignitaries, residents and town officials gathered in the balmy August air on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the official opening of The Lofts at Anthony Mill -- 122 luxury apartments located within the historic mill on Washington Street in Coventry.

Situated on the banks of the Pawtuxet River, the Lofts, made a reality by Brady Sullivan Properties and Starr Development Partners, offer 1 and 2-bedroom luxury apartments that come complete with all the amenities, including central air, in-unit washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and newly polished wood floors. The apartments were converted with the help of several historic tax credits provided by the state.

Click here to view a photo gallery from Wednesday's ceremony and tour.

During Wednesday's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Chris Starr, of Starr Development, gave thanks to a plethora of people and organizations involved in giving the abandoned, dated mill, built between 1872-74, new purpose and a modern touch. 

"Bringing a vision such as this one to reality requires the collaboration of so many individuals," said Starr. "From elected state and local officials, dedicated municipal and state workers, financial professionals such as banks and investors, to talented engineers, architects and a bunch of skilled construction professionals."

Members of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission were recognized for their continuing efforts to ensure that the mill's historic integrity was kept intact during the project. 

"These folks worked hand-in-hand with us throughout the process," Starr explained. "They approved items such as windows, mortar color, replication of historic entry doors, where we have to put rooftop equipment, and the like."

State officials, including Speaker of the House Gordon Fox, Coventry representatives Lisa Tomasso and Scott Guthrie, as well as Sen. Lou Raptakis were acknowledged for the work that has been done at the state level to restore the historic tax credit program that had been suspended several years ago.

"Without the state and federal historic tax credit program, this project would not have come to fruition," Starr said.

House Speaker Fox, likely the biggest proponent of the tax credit program, spoke of how glad he was to see this and other restoration projects being done throughout the state, as they help preserve the history of Rhode Island's industries and its residents.

"Not only are we building an adaptive re-use of these mills, but through a program we are putting people to work, building an economy and increasing tax bases," said Fox. "We're making Rhode Island stronger, but what makes us really strong is us as a people, and this mill is a living, breathing adaptation of a place that made us, us. These mills are who we are and sometimes we don't remember that enough."

Town Council President Gary Cote thanked the developers on behalf of the Town for choosing Anthony Mill as a restoration project, and also for utilizing local labor and supporting the local economy as much as possible during the project.

"This is going to be an integral part in moving the entire Village of Anthony forward, and into the future you'll be seeing upgrades and improvements that can be enjoyed by everyone in the community," said Cote.

Before being handed an oversized pair of scissors used for the Lofts' official ribbon-cutting, Town Manager Tom Hoover spoke of how his engineering background helped him not only grasp the magnitude of the project, but also the mill's potential to once again become an important part of Coventry's economy and community.

"When I first came to town several years back, I looked at this mill and thought of what a nice structure it was and I could just imagine the history behind it," said Hoover. "But now with what these developers have done, it's excellent, it's beautiful and I am so happy to have worked with Brady Sullivan and Starr Development to see this project through."

"When a company comes in and dedicates themselves not only to a building but to an entire community, that says a lot, so on behalf of the Town of Coventry, I'd just like to say thank you for what a wonderful job they've done," Hoover concluded.

Following the ribbon-cutting, guests were offered refreshments in one of the building's Community Rooms, followed by guided tours, which included a walkthrough of a model apartment, a glimpse of the indoor basketball court and a visit to the Lofts' rooftop deck.

According to staff, as of Wednesday afternoon, the property was 19% leased. Rent for the 1-bedroom apartments, which range from 715 to 1,392 sq. ft., starts at $1,100 to $1,350. The 2-bedroom lofts, ranging from 904 to 1,366 sq. ft., begin at $1,225 to $1,500 per month.

To learn more about The Lofts at Anthony Mill, peruse an apartment brochure or find a lease application, visit www.loftsatanthonymill.com or call (401) 825-6800 to schedule a personal tour.