BELMONT, N.C. -- The Chronicle Mill in Belmont was built more than a century ago.

The texile mill produced white thread and used to employ hundreds of people. But since the building closed in 2010, it has become an eyesore.

Gaston County resident John Church and his wife are in the process of redeveloping the 7 acre property.

The plan is to build 240 apartments and 8,600 sqaure feet of retail space.

The mill will get an additional floor, but some of the apartments will be housed in the original mill, which will be renovated. The goal is to preserve the building's history.

“We could have torn down this mill and reprogrammed this seven acres any number of ways, and probably gotten higher density, and more money for it. But I think for us, it was important that we keep the mill,” Church said.

Church says he hopes to start construction this year and have a full opening in 2021.