The 1920-built White Mill in Danville, Virginia, operated for 75 years before closing in 1996. Renamed Dan River Falls, the 650,000-square-foot historic complex is being transformed into apartments, offices, retail space and a riverfront community hub.A historic textile mill in Danville, Virginia, that once symbolised the city’s industrial prosperity has found a new purpose as a residential and commercial complex after decades of disuse. According to developer The Alexander Company, the former White Mill, built in 1920 and operated as Mill No. 8, is being redeveloped into Dan River Falls, a project valued at $110 million that combines 190 apartments with office space and retail facilities. The developer says the first residents moved in after the initial phase was completed in November 2024, while the redevelopment is scheduled for completion in 2026.The transformation reflects a broader effort to preserve Danville’s industrial heritage while bringing underused historic buildings back into economic and community life. The reinforced-concrete structure, which occupies more than 18 acres along the Dan River, is among the last surviving reminders of the city’s once-powerful textile manufacturing industry. Rather than demolishing the ageing mill, the redevelopment aims to retain its historic character while adapting its interiors for modern residential and commercial use.
From textile production to a vacant industrial landmark
White Mill was built by Dan River Inc. in 1920 and began operating in 1921. Designed by Lockwood, Greene & Company, the five-storey building featured a simplified Gothic Revival architectural style and a distinctive reinforced-concrete structure. Its scale reflected the importance of textile manufacturing to Danville, where mills provided employment for generations of local families.The mill operated until 1996. As the textile industry declined, the building eventually stood largely idle, becoming a physical reminder of the economic changes that had reshaped the region. The decline of the wider textile industry cost Danville thousands of jobs, leaving former industrial properties struggling to find new uses.For decades, the White Mill remained a prominent feature along the riverfront, with the words “Home of Dan River Fabrics” once welcoming visitors arriving in the city. Its deteriorating condition presented a challenge: how could a vast industrial building be preserved without leaving it as an unused relic of the past? The answer came through a partnership between The Alexander Company, a Wisconsin-based historic redevelopment specialist, and the Danville Industrial Development Authority.
A $110 million effort to preserve history
The redevelopment effort began taking shape after years of discussions about how to reuse the property. In May 2021, Danville officials announced a partnership between the city’s Industrial Development Authority and The Alexander Company to convert White Mill into a mixed-use development. The original proposal called for 150 apartments and 110,000 square feet of commercial space in the first phase, with another 100 apartments planned for a later phase.Rehabilitation work began in December 2022. The project was subsequently named Dan River Falls, and the first phase was completed in November 2024. The developer’s current plans list 190 apartments, 147,000 square feet of office space and a project completion date of 2026.The total investment is reported at approximately $110 million. According to Virginia Business, the redevelopment involved a public-private partnership in which The Alexander Company led the residential component, while the city and its partners oversaw commercial and public-facing elements. State and federal historic tax credits, alongside other financing arrangements, helped support the undertaking.
Residents, offices and a new riverfront destination
The apartments are not the only sign of the building’s return to use. By October 2025, 150 apartments in the first phase had become home to more than 275 people, and another 40 units were being made available. The developer also says the housing includes options for workers earning less than 80% of the area’s median income, linking the project to local workforce housing needs.The former mill is also accommodating public offices and private businesses. In early 2026, Danville’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism moved into the complex, joining the city’s Parks and Recreation department. Engineering and consulting firm Dewberry also relocated its Danville office to the property.The project extends beyond the mill’s walls. Plans include a riverfront park, an extension of the city’s Riverwalk Trail and space for retail and other commercial activities. The developer’s website describes more than seven acres of riverfront parkland as part of the wider development vision.Preserving the original structure while adapting it for new uses has been central to the project. The work retains the building’s reinforced-concrete framework and historic architectural character while creating interiors suited to modern living and working. The redevelopment was also recognised by Virginia Business as one of the state’s notable projects in 2026, reflecting the scale of the conversion and the partnership behind it.
