ORONO, Maine — A Portland-based group of developers went before the Town Council’s community development committee last week as discussions on the old Webster Mill site took another step forward.
The Developers Collaborative, which is redeveloping the former site of the Maine State Prison in Thomaston, was one of three groups that responded to a request for qualifications, or RFQ, from the town.
Town Manager Cathy Conlow, who served on the Town Council RFQ review subcommittee which tapped Developers Collaborative, said the group’s experience and success with similar projects were what led the town to select the company.
“They had a strong background in performing the kind of work involved here, the rehabilitation of older facilities, and successfully doing that,” Conlow said. “They have good experience getting financing for these kinds of projects. They took a very open approach to dealing with the public on it, and it was a very clear approach which we appreciated.”
Town planner Evan Richert, who recused himself from the selection process because of a previous business relationship with one of the investors, said he now would draft a memorandum of agreement with the Developers Collaborative. That memorandum likely will be up for a vote at the Town Council’s April meeting.
Once a memorandum is in place, the developers will spend eight to 12 months exploring the site and its potential uses. That process will include bringing in a structural engineer to determine how much of the building and site, located near the intersection of North Main and Penobscot streets, can be used.
The building on the 3-acre Webster Mill site dates back 130 years and there has been activity on the site since the late 1700s. Cleanup costs for the site are estimated at $300,000 because of chemicals such as arsenic and lead in the soil and asbestos in the building.
Developers Collaborative has not revealed its thoughts on potential uses, Conlow said, but the company is interested in hearing from the Town Council and residents.
Neighbors have suggested the site be used as a restaurant, an artists center or for University of Maine offices, but were emphatically against the idea of using the site for student housing.
The Developers Collaborative has worked on a variety of residential, commercial, mixed-use and affordable-housing projects. Its work includes the Chestnut Street Lofts in Portland; Brick Hill, which is on the site of the former Maine Youth Center in South Portland; Birch Hill Apartments in Lewiston; West Falmouth Crossing; and the Park Street Lofts in Saco.
The company’s philosophy, according to the company Web site, is one of “smart growth.”
“We believe in creating developments that revitalize town centers and cities, not only by providing new space for new residents and businesses, but also by guiding private investment into the communities where people already live,” the company states on its site. “Smart growth should also reduce the surrounding community’s tax burden by using existing public infrastructure as effectively as possible.”
The town of Orono owns the property, which was taken for nonpayment of taxes in November 2006. It is zoned as limited and medium density residential.
Conlow said the council was pleased to get responses from three companies, considering the poor economy and the condition of the site.
“It’s a beautiful site but there are some challenges with it,” she said. “It does have a lot going for it and Orono is a good area. It has its own micromarket economy because of the university.”