Mt. Vernon, Mill No. 1

Mount Vernon Mill has had a long history along the Jones Falls dating back to 1847 and its use as a cotton mill. The large mill, known as Mt. Vernon Mill No. 1 was built in 1873 following a fire that destroyed the original 1847 building. A small L- shaped building, known as the “Picker Building” dates from 1873, with a later addition in 1879. The “Warehouse” was a cast in place concrete building built in 1918 and connected to the Mill No. 1 by a bridge across the river. All of these buildings create a unique piece of history along the beautiful setting of the Jones Falls and are well connected to the surrounding mill neighborhoods.

Despite the explosion of historic conversions across Baltimore City over the previous decades, this complex remained in limbo because of several key obstacles to conversion. Because it was situated in the river valley and hemmed in by Falls Road, it had very little exterior area for use as parking and building support. Interior parking was limited by access and an inefficient footprint and column grid. Additionally, the concrete Warehouse was trapped on the other side of the river with only one access way through the Mill 1 building.

The new uses include residences, commons space, a fitness center and pool, two restaurants and office space. The unit types vary from studios and one bedroom units on the first two floor, lofted units on the third floor, and duplexes up into the clerestory. Emphasis was placed in the common spaces and corridors on maintaining the clean open look of the mill with the repetitive column bays. Exterior amenities include a large courtyard with outdoor dining patios and a river overlook as well as a vanishing edge pool under the loading dock area with vistas up to the falls.

The project achieved Baltimore City Green Building Standard LEED Silver equivalency as well as approvals from the Maryland Historical Trust and National Park Service.  Historic issues included installation of approximately 250 pairs of custom arched-top operable double hung windows and reconstruction of the clerestory and cupola.

The final project integrates new uses that take full advantage of the history, scale, and fabric of the historic mill to create a clear continuum between the industrial past and the vibrant mixed use urban community it has become.