The Lippitt Mill project is the historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a nationally designated historic lace mill in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The 71-unit affordable project will include the redevelopment of the mill building and the
construction of a new 4-story structure on the same lot.
Constructed in 1809, Lippitt Mill is Rhode Island’s third oldest mill and had been the longest continuously used mill when it closed in 2012. In 2020 an unrelated developer began the property’s restoration of the mill as a LIHTC and Historic Credit project but ran into issues with construction, including COVID related delays, severe damage to interior renovation work caused by flooding, and ultimately disputes with the general contractor. The property was foreclosed by the construction lender, and Marathon Development acquired the property through receivership in 2024 at a stage of roughly 60% construction completion. Marathon propose to “step into the shoes” of the previous developer, assuming its already incurred LIHTC and Historic basis, and to complete the project largely as designed by the prior owner. The project will include the redevelopment of the mill and the construction of a new addition to the existing structure.
