North Adams Transcript

January 31, 2007
Section: Local

Williams alumnus eyes mill
By Bonnie Obremski, North Adams Transcript

Wednesday, January 31 WILLIAMSTOWN —

Cable Mills has a developer, and two potential buyers have emerged for the Photech mill site, Town Manager Peter Fohlin said Tuesday. Bart Mitchell of Mitchell Properties LLC in Boston is completing a purchase-and-sale agreement on the Water Street condominium and townhouse project, Fohlin said.
He also named Scarafoni Associates of North Adams and the Eby Group, based in Olathe, Kan., as potential developers for the Photech mill on Cole Avenue.

Fohlin said he has been corresponding with Mitchell, who is a graduate of Williams College, and is glad to see him take over the Cable Mills housing development project.

"He is a gentleman of very high integrity, with a long history of experience," Fohlin said. "He is dedicated to mixed-income development, much in the same way Bob Kuehn was."

Kuehn was the project's developer until he died unexpectedly in June. He had envisioned building 83 condominium and townhouse units along the Green River on the old General Cable mill property and listing a quarter of them at prices below market value.

Fohlin said Mitchell may also investigate making improvements on the property surrounding Cable Mills by rebuilding sidewalks and installing lamp posts between Meacham Street and the bridge crossing the Green River, across from the old town garage site.

Mitchell was unavailable for comment.

Eby submitted a sealed design proposal for Photech to Town Hall on Tuesday, and Fohlin said he was confident Scarafoni would place a bid by the deadline, which is Friday at 4:30 p.m.
The Eby Group is a family-owned company with branches throughout the Midwest that specializes in constructing senior housing.

"They're absolutely in love with the Photech site," Fohlin said. "They plan on demolishing 'the cube' (what's left of the old mill) and building completely new structures from the ground up."
Scarafoni has developed numerous residential- and office-building projects throughout Berkshire County. Its recent projects include the renovation of the former Plunkett Hospital in Adams into condominiums and major work on buildings on Main Street in North Adams. Should Scarafoni submit a proposal, the two developers will give presentations to the Selectmen in a meeting Feb. 12. The Selectmen will have "as many meetings as they need" to make a final decision, Fohlin said.

He said he would be happy with either developer.  "This is a real opportunity to turn a derelict property into a jewel," he said.

Transformation may also be destined for the town municipal building this year. Fohlin said police officers are applying for state and federal grants that may aid in the construction of a new police department.

"It's 40 years old and should have been replaced 20 years ago," Fohlin said.

The police department would still be attached to the municipal building and would be part of a project to expand the Selectmen's meeting room, he said.

(c) 2007 North Adams Transcript. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.