$14M project at former Borden factory in downtown Greenville nears completion.

The reimagining of a long-vacant factory in downtown Greenville into an "urban office park" is nearing completion.

The Bordenproject near Unity Park an adaptive reuse and mixed-use development will feature more than 30,000 divisible square feet of office space for up to seven tenants.

The project is centered around the historic renovation of the former Borden Ice Cream Factory, which was originally Greenville Ice Cream before changing its name.

The original Borden building structure dates back to 1923, and The Furman Co., the developers on the project, is gearing up to celebrate its centennial with the opening of "Borden" this spring, after breaking ground nearly a year ago, according to Robert Poppleton, The Furman Co. vice president of development.

The Furman Co. is repositioning through this renovation a significant historic project for the Greenville community to feature urban loft office space that's park-side. Most of the original structure will remain intact except for minor demolition of unsalvageable areas of use or for the improvement of access to space, said Poppleton.

Borden is the fourth significant historic project the Greenville-based real estate development company has taken on in the last decade. It has completed the Greenville Claussen Bakery restoration, where the architecture firm on the project McMillan Pazdan Smith has taken up residence for its offices, Keys Court, where Johnson City, Tenn.-based Yee-haw Brewing Co. resides in addition to CycleBar, and its most recent restoration project, Poe West in the Village at West Greenville.

"When we first came across Borden, we knew there was a story to tell and bringing office space close to the park would be well-received by the community, saving another old building in Greenville for future generations," said Poppleton.

He said there is a quote on most of their signs that reads: "New ideas often need old buildings," and that there is something unique about the sense of place that develops over 100 years that new construction can't simply manufacture.

"We started to dive into Borden's history, and we were very excited to learn this was an ice cream factory and children from local schools used to come here and get samples," Poppleton said. "It was a significant place of employment for the community with thick brick walls, exposed wood ceilings and other really cool features. We had confidence Greenville as a community is investing in Unity Park, and Borden will be the first...