By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

A Biddeford developer says he needs support from the city as he makes plans to reuse nearly a million square feet of mill space.

Doug Sanford, the developer behind the renovation of North Dam Mill, last month closed on the sale of the former WestPoint Stevens buildings, which have sat empty since the mill closed last summer. He met with city councilors for a July 29 workshop to share his vision and receive feedback from city officials.

Some city councilor said they would like to see a convention center to drive tourism, while others supported a parking garage for the mill district and Main Street businesses.

“We are poised to be the model of redevelopment in the country,” Sanford said.

During the workshop, Sanford said he has heard many stories about the history of the buildings and wants to dedicate a space to create a museum. Former employees have told him of strikes and what it was like to work behind the mill’s brick walls.

“We have what I feel are America’s greatest moments,” he said. “What a tribute it is to Biddeford. We have the best bones in the country and I’m very humbled to be a steward for those bones.”

It is rare to find buildings that are maintained as well as those in the historic Pepperell complex, Sanford said. The condition of the buildings is a testament to the company that placed maintenance as a high priority for 150 years. Touring the buildings is a “jaw-dropping experience,” he said.

Councilor George “Pete” Lamontagne, who worked at WestPoint for 38 years, saw first hand the work that went in to maintaining the buildings. He said problems were fixed immediately without taking shortcuts to save time and money.

Sanford said he is excited about the potential of the project and envisions a combination of commercial and residential uses. He did not outline specific plans or provide a timeline for the project.

“We see the future of this complex with an education component and manufacturing components,” he said.

Sanford has met with other mill owners to talk about energy, which could potentially be provided at low cost using an existing steam loop in the WestPoint buildings. Sanford also has discussed building a parking garage on top of an existing surface lot at the complex.

Scott Joslin, a contractor who is working with Sanford on the project, said it is rare to find a million “excellent” square feet in a downtown area. The proximity to big cities, transportation and tourist destination spells success for mill redevelopment in Biddeford, he said.

“This is the fastest-growing county in the region. To me, the stage is set. I see the ingredients as being there,” he said. “It’s all there, it’s all ready to go.”

Joslin said creating a Pepperell Mills campus would create both temporary and permanent jobs. He estimated 40 full-time workers renovating the buildings for five years would create 400,000 man-hours of work. Permanent jobs could number more than 700 by 2013 if the space is used for a mix of residential, education, manufacturing and office uses, he estimated. 

Bringing that many workers downtown would benefit other businesses because they would need to buy lunch, Joslin said.

Joslin said the project needs support from the city, including a willingness to work with developers and allow a parking garage downtown.

“We don’t see this as a developer versus city scenario because that won’t work,” Joslin said. “It’s not all about someone’s back pocket, it’s about making this work.”

Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson said it is “absolutely imperative” to have public-private partnerships to leverage the maximum amount of money available for mill district redevelopment. The city’s commitment toward mill district redevelopment is $1 million to date, he said.

Plans for the district have been supported by a 2006 parking and traffic study; a 2008 TIF amendment that earmarked $15 million for a central parking facility; preliminary soil stability tests for a parking structure in 2009; and the October 2009 completion of the Biddeford Mill District Master Plan, Stevenson said.

“There is energy and momentum building in the redevelopment efforts. The city’s commitment to initiate the implementation of the Biddeford Mill District Master Plan demonstrates community priorities with a focus on strategic, planned growth leading to quality jobs,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said the city must plan ahead for redevelopment and noted it takes more than two years to build a parking garage. The addition of 300 jobs downtown would create an immediate parking problem, he said.

“Development really and truly is about planting seeds. What you want tomorrow you start today,” he said. “We have an opportunity now to put these things in motion. We need to be ready and open for business.”

Stevenson said the city has some money earmarked from a 1997 bond to look at parking downtown. He said he would like the full support of the council to build a parking garage and explore various funding options.

City Councilor Rick Laverriere said he wanted to be sure the surface lot next to Building 10 is the right place to put a parking garage.  The surface lot is behind the former Main Street store where WestPoint products were sold. Stevenson said the largest investments in the city are in the mill district and working with Sanford to create the garage is a great opportunity. He also said Sanford is interested in removing Building 10 to expose a lagoon and create green open space.

Laverriere asked if there were plans for a hotel because there are none in close proximity to the train station on Saco Island. Council President Bob Mills said he would like to see a convention center downtown because it would drive tourism in the area. Councilor Pat Boston suggested the mill should contain conference space.

Lamontagne said he also supports the idea of a hotel downtown and described a visit last fall to Clarksville, Tenn. The area “looked an awful lot like Biddeford, Maine” and had a vibrant downtown, he said. Lamontagne talked to business owners who said adequate parking and a downtown hotel made a difference in their success. 

Mayor Joanne Twomey said the city already has shown a commitment to the mill district and officials will continue to meet with Sanford about the project. Looking at the whole picture is “overwhelming” and a timeline is needed for the project, she said.

Twomey said she doesn’t see parking as a problem and questioned how much more housing is needed downtown. She said she will consider creating a steering committee to look at parking and energy.