Staff Writer

 Doug Sanford said it’s a huge leap of faith, but he’s ready to jump.

Sanford, the developer behind the transformation of Biddeford’s North Dam Mill, said he is buying the historic WestPoint mill complex to transform it into a national model for urban centers.

When Sanford walks through the cavernous rooms of the vacant mill, he sees nothing but possibilities. In one corner, he envisions an office overlooking the river, in another area he imagines a small manufacturing business cranking out products.

Above all else, Sanford said he envisions the complex as a campus where all levels of education – from community arts classes to high school to college – thrive while working alongside small businesses.

‘This is the most exciting economic development project in Maine and potentially New England,” Sanford said. “Rebuilding these mills could create a national model for education, energy and living and working.”

The 12 WestPoint buildings sit on more than 11 acres overlooking the Saco River. The brick buildings at the heart of the city’s mill district total more than 713,000 square feet.

 The North Dam Mill is 380,000 square feet and, following the purchase, Sanford will control the majority of the city’s mill district.

The buildings were listed for sale at $2.245 million by the Dunham Group after WestPoint Home closed its Biddeford manufacturing operation last year, bringing to an end the city’s long textile manufacturing tradition.

Sanford would not disclose how much he will pay for the buildings, but said he expects the sale to be finalized in June.

Sanford did not hesitate at the opportunity to buy the former Pepperell Manufacturing buildings, which have loomed large in downtown Biddeford for generations.

Construction of the Pepperell Mills began in 1848 and Mill No. 1 began operating in October 1850. WestPoint joined with Pepperell Manufacturing in 1965 to create the fourth largest textile company in the country.

The 38-acre mill district, including Saco Island, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

By transforming the buildings for new uses, the mill district will have the opportunity to “rise up and be a national model for the future” and drive the local economy, Sanford said.

“The future of America is going to be affordable, sustainable space. Urban centers are coming back and we have one of the most interesting urban centers in the country,” he said. “We’re going to help drive everything.”

Sanford said he hasn’t yet developed a master plan for the property, but admits he has no shortage of “dreams” for the space. Building an urban high school would be relatively easy and less expensive than building a new school or repairing an old one, he said. Sanford said he is more likely to pursue bringing colleges and vocational schools to the mills.

Sanford said he frequently talks to both retail and manufacturing businesses about their needs. Often, businesses tell him they need more employees who have training in areas such as machinery and retail management. The rooms that for more than a century held large machines would be perfect for vocational training programs that require heavy equipment, he said. 

Also included in his master plan will be a plan to create green electricity and heat. The buildings have an existing steam loop and creating green energy is central to his vision for the future, Sanford said. He has brought in Bill Strauss of Maine Energy Systems to develop details of the plan.

Strauss, speaking at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Saco last week, said his job as Sanford’s “energy guy” is to coordinate thinking on the plan. He said producing cheap but clean energy is essential and progressive, and noted Maine has the highest electricity rates in the country.

Sanford said another central element to his plans for the future of the buildings is cooperation with other mill owners and city officials. He said he wants to work with those groups to address needs of the area, including parking. He said a parking lot between WestPoint and Lincoln Mill could be turned into a parking garage to serve the needs of the mills and the downtown district.

Biddeford Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson said Sanford approached him and City Manager John Bubier once he had the building under contract. The city wants to see the buildings adaptively reused, maintain an open dialogue with Sanford and look at parking and pedestrian access, he said.

“It’s time we start looking at a parking structure back there,” Stevenson said. “Parking in the mill complex is, for me, a priority.”

Stevenson said the city’s mill master plan will be used to guide the parking issue. Some baseline feasibility work has been done on the parking lot and he said he would like to see more testing done this summer.

Stevenson said he is “very excited” by opportunities to bring mixed uses the WestPoint buildings, especially if it involves an education component. Bringing in tenants will diversify and grow the tax base, he said. Stevenson said the city likely will look at leveraging funding partners for the project where possible.

“(Sanford) is vested in this community. He’s had success in the redevelopment of the North Dam Mill and he has a real willingness to partner with the city,” he said.

Developer Nathan Szanton, who is renovating a mill building into the Mill at Saco Falls apartments, said Sanford “led the way” for the redevelopment of Biddeford mills and is an inspiration. He also credited John Tarbox, owner of the Bugbee Brown building, for demonstrating how to draw tenants into buildings.

“We’re just hoping to contribute to the momentum they’ve created,” Szanton said. “We’re excited about helping drive economic development in Biddeford.”

Saco Island Developer Kevin Mattson said people seem very interested in what is going on with the mill district. He said smaller buildings on Saco Island continue with renovation projects and a plan for redevelopment of building No. 4 will be rolled out in the next few months. He said he also looks to other mill owners for inspiration.

“I always take great inspiration from (Sanford) for what he has done and continues to do,” he said.

The first time he wandered through the WestPoint buildings, Sanford said he was amazed by their condition. Sanford said the condition of the mill buildings is a testament to the company that built and maintained them for more than 150 years.

“It’s such a tribute to WestPoint. They were responsible, they cared about the facility,” he said. “There’s nothing like it in the state.”

Because the company invested so much in maintenance, Sanford said the complex will need no major remedial work. The company had its own asbestos abatement program and there is very little asbestos in the building. Sprinkler and electrical systems are up to code and elevators work throughout the buildings, he said.

Natural sunlight pours in through tall windows in “excellent” condition and wood floors are not as worn as you’d expect in a 150-year-old building, Sanford said. The entire complex – including one building that towers seven stories over lower Main Street – is clean and well cared for, he said.

“You can go through a million square feet without a pigeon,” he said. “Every floor is clean as a whistle.”

Sanford said the mill has unique features, including a lagoon under one building. He envisions developing park space around the lagoon and someday creating a way for people to walk through old aqueducts to access paths along the river.

“There would be nothing like it in the Northeast,” Stevenson said.

In one room, a Vellux blanket hangs on a machine, a remnant of the company that for so long occupied the buildings. Sanford said he will save the blanket to put in a history museum he hopes to someday create in the space.

“I want to hear the history, to hear the stories,” Sanford said.

For all of his dreaming, Sanford said he will be able to accomplish little without support of the community. He said he is looking forward to again opening the doors of the mill to community and hearing how people would like to see the space used.

“It’s been this little secret gem we’ve had for all these years,” Sanford said. “It was built for the future.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.