A mill redevelopment project that was supposed to come before Burlington’s city council a year ago is apparently still not quite ripe for its debut before the city’s elected officials.
For the second time in 12 months, the city council has agreed to postpone its consideration of a rezoning request that would facilitate the conversion of the so-called Aurora Cotton Mills along East Webb Avenue into a collection of tony rental apartments.
The council had originally been slated to take up this request in September of 2023. It nevertheless agreed to put the matter off for a year at the urging of Clachan Properties – the Richmond-based developer behind the mill’s proposed transformation.
Clachan’s year-long breather ultimately ran its course on Tuesday, and the council was prepared to take another crack at the project when it convened its latest regularly-scheduled meeting that evening. The council’s plans were foiled, however, when Jamie Lawson, the city’s planning director, presented another plea from the developer ahead of a proposed public hearing on Clachan’s rezoning request.
“The applicant is not present,” Lawson conceded, “but has requested that the matter be continued for up to a year.”
The council went on to postpone the public hearing until September 16, 2025. At that point, its members will presumably get a full briefing on Clachan’s plans for the historic finishing plant, which was originally known as the Aurora Cotton Mills when it opened its doors in 1906.
Situated along Webb Avenue between Johnson and Everett streets, this storied facility is perhaps best known for its long-time affiliation with Pickett Hosiery Mills, which operated the plant until its acquisition by Clachan in 2021.
Despite its repeated requests for delays from the council, the mill’s current proprietor is no mere tyro when it comes to the business of historic redevelopment. Prior to its current undertaking, Clachan transformed Burlington’s iconic May Hosiery building into an upscale residential facility. The company had hoped to replicate its success with the Aurora Cotton Mills, which it proposes to convert into 90 rental apartments.
[See photos of May Hosiery Lofts below.]
