The former Miller Manufacturing Building at 311 Bryan in the Near Southside’s South Main Village area has come a long way since the last time we took a look at it. The historic 1910 factory is being reborn as 15 loft apartments after years of neglect. The developer is Eddie Vanston (the Carillion Group), responsible for a string of successful, funky-cool apartment redevelopments in the Near Southside – the LaSalle Apartments on College in Fairmount, the Leuda-May Apartments on Leuda Street just off Jennings, the Markeen Apartments on Daggett near Broadway Baptist Church, and (most recently) the Sawyer Grocery Apartments on South Main itself.

The newly christened Miller Lofts is turning out to be a very cool development indeed. More than any other loft conversion we’ve seen in Fort Worth, the Miller Lofts really allows the character of the building to come through. These are not posh “soft lofts” – the units definitely embrace the classic industrial character of the building. Exposed concrete, industrial fixtures, minimalist contemporary design – these are the sort of lofts not really found in Fort Worth. The units feature very open floor plans and tall ceilings, and range from 688 square feet at the small end to over 1,700 square feet at the upper end, in configurations featuring both one and two bedrooms and one and two baths.

Here, we’re in a first-floor unit. Kitchen cabinets will feature doors made from the original wired safety glass taken from the building’s windows during redevelopment. There are multiple kinds of kitchen counters, in different varieties of granite as well as soapstone.

Light fixtures are very eclectic, and come from a number of sources. Some are from Old Home Supply, while some – such as this – are industrial units. They all help reinforce the feeling of the units being carved out of the old factory space.

Bathrooms are large and minimalist. For a bit of contrast with the rough factory architecture, the bathrooms feature classic claw-foot bathtubs painted in a variety of colors.

Some first-floor units, such as this one, have smaller windows. Because of the tall ceilings, Eddie was able to use industrial ceiling fans, which are very powerful. Their minimalist metal design compliments the look of the building nicely.

Close-up of one of the industrial fans.

This first-floor unit on the north side of the building is one of the most unique apartments you’ll find in Fort Worth – it’s built out of the old factory manager’s office. The kitchen windows here look out into the hallway.

Here’s a good look at this countertop finish, one of several different kinds used in the building.

The north wall of this unit features the building’s characteristic extra-tall tilt-out windows.

This second-floor unit showcases one of the interesting pieces of interior design by architect Robert W. Kelly. Even in floorplans where parts of the unit, such as the kitchen or bathroom, don’t have direct window views, cut-outs in the walls allow natural light to flood the interior all the way to the back of the unit.

Another view in this second-floor unit. The closet on the right stops short, giving a potentially interesting bit of space from the closet up to the ceiling.

Another of the cut-outs, which allow light to flood through the units as well as exposing more of the pipes, conduits, and ducts to give an extra bit of industrial flair.

This second-floor unit shows how the building’s two-piece tilt-out windows work.

Another 2nd floor kitchen area.

Another 2nd floor unit, showing off the building’s sixteen-foot ceilings.

Some 2nd floor units, such as this one, feature big north-facing skylights – which also tilt open.

2nd floor kitchen – the “pillbox” for the skylight can be seen at upper left.

Another 2nd floor view.

One really gets a sense of the height of the ceilings and skylights in this shot.

Another 2nd floor unit, showing off yet another style of kitchen counter.

Another 2nd floor space, with more of those great old windows. The windows were built by Mesker Brothers Iron Works of St. Louis, Missouri. The plaques from this manufacturer can be seen on the window frames.

A 2nd floor bathroom shows off one of those great claw-foot tubs.

This view is a good demonstration of the wall cut-outs. Even with the door shut, the bathroom can still receive natural light from above.

Another view in a 2nd-floor skylight unit.

2nd floor space.

The unique angle on the Downtown skyline from the 2nd floor of the Miller Lofts.

Kitchen cabinet doors under construction, showing off the original wired glass that used to be in the windows.

This first-floor unit has a split level design thanks to the old loading dock. Some first-floor units, such as this one, have direct entrances on the exterior of the building.

The Miller Lofts is in the final phase of completion, and Eddie is renting units now. Check out oldbuilding.com, or give them an e-mail or call 214-850-3408 for more information. We look forward to seeing work finishing up and checking out the building once move-ins start.