Cable Mills project back on track

North Adams Transcript

June 5, 2008

Cable Mills project back on track
By Bonnie Obremski, North Adams Transcript

WILLIAMSTOWN —

After some delay, the former Cable Mills property is drawing closer to beginning its transformation into high-end housing development, owner Bart Mitchell said on Wednesday.

"We've set a target construction start for fall 2008, and we are working aggressively with the architectural and engineering team to meet that timeline," Mitchell said.

Mitchell expects construction to last 12 to 15 months and to cost about $13 million. The original start date had been in early spring, but developers spent longer than anticipated collecting quotes from subcontractors.

There will be 82 different living units, with 12 of them priced to sell below market-rate in order to encourage lower-income families to move in, thereby increasing Williamstown's socio-economic diversity. The units will include one-two- and three-bedroom lofts and apartments and duplex cottages.

The project's development team members met last week at Cable Mills to finish stabilizing the buildings and to work on construction drawings that should be complete by July, Mitchell said.

Team members included geo-technical engineers, civil engineers, structural engineers, the Berkshire Gas Co., Massachusetts Highway Department staff and Champlain Masons. Town Manager Peter Fohlin and Director of Public Works Timothy Kaiser toured the site with the team.

Phoenix Masonry employees from Pittsfield are re-pointing the property's stone masonry to be weather-tight. Masons are also rebuilding portions of one building's exterior wall that could have otherwise deteriorated in the coming winter. In addition, other contractors will fill in a sub-basement beneath one building.

The project saw a shift in management this month. Former project manager Stephen Neill relocated with his family to Washington, D.C., and Mitchell, president of Mitchell Properties in Boston, is now the project's supervisor. Members of the KVA firm will manage design and construction. Alex Hassinger, a 2000 Williams College graduate, is managing the project's finances.

Mitchell said he has already noticed significant public interest in the development.

"Potential buyers seem to realize what a magnificent set of buildings we have here, with high ceilings, big windows, exposed brick, exposed timber ceilings, great natural light and air, views of the Green River and the Hopper and Taconic Golf Course and Pine Cobble," he said. "We've been very encouraged."

For more information, visit www.cablemillls.com