Live-Work-Play. Looking around one of the partially finished apartments at the Mill on Main, this modern living catchphrase takes on a dual meaning. New residents will come here to live in an upscale space. They will enjoy urban style recreational amenities while remaining nestled in the middle of a small town. And work may be just a short walk down the street.

But the original mill also provided a different kind of Live-Work-Play environment, as hundreds of turn-of-century mill workers constructed homes, and built their lives around the massive brick building that provided them with the opportunity to make a living and pursue their dreams.

At the main office on 401 E. South Main Street, Sara Teller, the General Manager for The Mill on Main, and Laura Gann, the Assistant General Manager, are ready to share the project vision with potential renters. “I think making something old new again, and giving it life, is what makes it unique,” said Laura. The Mill on Main was originally built as a cotton mill in 1898, by John Lafayette Rodman, Sr., and E.J. Heath. Now the campus contains 63 apartment units, as well as recreational and commercial space.

The largest commercial space, running about 7000 square feet, will be an Italian Restaurant, featuring brick oven pizza. “They’re great people,” said Sara, “I’m really excited for them.” While unsure what the second space will be, since it is still available for rent, she pointed out that Pelican’s SnoBalls is also across the street, within easy walking distance for residents looking for another tasty treat.

On the residential side, The Mill has a collection of flats and lofts. And it’s about 20 percent leased, so far. “The lofts are what’s hot right now. A lot of people call for those specifically,” said Sara. The lofts have original brick, original wood flooring, and the original ceiling. A master bedroom occupies the entire upstairs.

The flats are situated on concrete floors. “They’re original, but it’s going to be polished,” said Sara. The ceilings are metal, which is going to be painted white. In areas where steel beams run along the soaring, 16-foot expanse, they will be painted black, to add contrast.

All of the apartments come with stainless steel appliances included. Other high-quality details include subway tile, quartz countertops, and open shelving. The units have been designed to be top of the line. But they are also on the minimalistic side.

“We wanted people to be able to explore what they want in their unit,” explained Sara. For example, some units, instead of including an island bar, have been left open so that residents can choose what type of dining and seating arrangement they want. The restored apartments have good bones, and they provide a customizable template for the resident. And all units are ground level, so there are no upstairs or downstairs neighbors.

The recreational area of the complex has a resort-style pool, with a top of the line filtration system that is chemical free. Fire pits, as well as charcoal and gas grills, dot the courtyard. The Mill on Main is also very pet-friendly. Pets are not only allowed in the apartments, but there will be a dog park on campus.

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Sara said, “We have a lot of outdoor seating areas with outdoor TVs because you want to create a little mini-vacation from home. So you can go out there and relax, hang out with friends. Just have a nice space to go to. Then you can walk back home to this amazing unit. We want a space where people can build a life. We wanted to create a really nice living space for people, with a small town feel.”

The Mill on Main will offer the only rental apartments in Waxhaw. Although it’s a mainly residential town, the Mill is being welcomed by the community, as they provide something of value that has been absent for decades. Prices for flats and lofts range anywhere from $1055 to $1685 a month, depending on location and size.

Potential renters can visit the main office from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday, or 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sunday. They can also call (704) 256-9588, email gm@themillonmain.com, visit www.themillonmain.com, or visit The Mill on Main on Facebook.