Mills to get new life

North Adams Transcript

March 4, 2009

Mills to get new life
By Meghan Foley, North Adams Transcript

WILLIAMSTOWN —

While the economic recession is claiming construction projects across the country, a project to convert an old cable mill at 160 Water St. into condominiums and townhouses is still on track.

Bart J. Mitchell, president of Mitchell Properties LLC of Boston, first presented plans for the Cable Mills development to local officials and community members in September 2008 at a dinner hosted by the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce. Since then, Mitchell said Tuesday that 160 Water LLC has secured a contractor for the project, U.W. Marx Construction Company of Troy, N.Y.

He said the contractor has made tremendous progress in getting 160 Water LLC a good construction price, and the company is working with U.W. Marx as they actively solicit bids from subcontractors interested in working on the project.

In addition, 160 Water LLC is in the process of lining up interested lenders, Mitchell said.

"By late spring we hope to have units available for pre-construction purchase," he said. "Our current hope is if the pre-construction marketing goes well in the spring, we can start construction in late summer."

That construction will be the first phase of a proposed three-phase project, and it will involve the rehabilitation and conversion of three mill buildings into 61 housing units. The subsequent phases of the project involve construction of townhouses and duplexes along the Green River and possibly the addition of a commercial building to the property.

Efforts to preserve and renovate the 135-year-old mill building, that last housed some technology startup companies in the late 1990s, have been ongoing since 2003 when Keen Development Corporation and Berkshire Housing Development Corporation acquired the building. From 2004 to 2006, demolition of some smaller buildings on the property took place, and during that time Bob Keen of Keen Development, died.

Mitchell Properties then purchased the property from Keen Development in 2007.

While Mitchell said in September 2008 he expected construction on the 11-acre property to begin between December 2008 and March 2009, he said Tuesday it took longer than anticipated to get the construction cost they needed, and that is what caused the delay.

"We have to achieve each bench mark, but we are moving forward," he said.

He said they are still refining the estimated cost of the project, and didn't have a number ready to share.

Mitchell said there continues to be tremendous interest in the project from people living in Berkshire County and from those living outside the area as well. Over 150 people interested in living at Cable Mills have stayed in touch with the company, he said.

"We ask ourselves every day with the slowdown in the general economy if we can proceed with Cable Mills, and the answer we get directly back form the people who are interested is 'yes, please proceed,' " he said.

Michael J. Card, director of inspection services, said Monday the town really wants to see the Cable Mills project move forward.

"We're just hoping they get it done. It's a very important ingredient to Water Street and the Village Business District," he said.

According to the town zoning bylaws, the Village Business District -- which includes Water Street -- is intended to be a mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented district.

Cable Mills is located at the southern end of the Village Business District.

Mitchell said 160 Water LLC is excited about where the project stands and has a "solid faith" in the town and the Cable Mills property.

"And we're hearing the same thing from people who want to live there," he said.

To reach Meghan Foley, e-mail mfoley@thetranscript.com.