BIDDEFORD — Big plans are in the works for one of the city’s former mill buildings. If the proposed project moves forward it could take the city to the next level in growth and development, officials say.
A proposal for a hotel in the city’s mill district, two new restaurants and 100 more housing units could cause a “ripple effect,” said Mayor Alan Casavant, that could bring about more investment and development in Biddeford. It could invigorate the revival of the once-bustling downtown that city officials and local businesses owners have been salivating over for years.
On Dec. 3, the planning board will consider a project proposed by Odyssey Properties, LLC, the company that has owned the Lincoln Mill since 2007.
The plan to be considered is an amendment to a proposal, which received planning board approval last year, for a 101-unit housing development and 77,000 square feet of mixed use space.
The new plan keeps the residential, market-rate units, but instead of the mixed commercial and manufacturing use, the new plan includes an 80-room hotel and two restaurants ”“ one that would have room for 150 people and a smaller one with 65 seats.
Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson said he’s excited about the project. He said he estimates that the new plan will bring $50 million in new investment to the city and create more than 100 permanent new jobs.
“This is a significant project for Biddeford’s downtown,” he said. “This amended plan will help make Biddeford a destination spot.”
“It’s a very big event,” said Casavant. “It follows what we’ve been anticipating since we closed the Maine Energy Recovery Company,” a waste-to-energy incinerator. Many blamed Maine Energy, which was located in the downtown, for the lack of redevelopment in Biddeford. The facility was closed in December 2012 after the city purchased it for $6.65 million.
According to a cover letter dated Wednesday that was sent to City Planner Greg Tansley by landscape architect Stephen Doe, on behalf of Odyssey principals Christopher Betjemann III and Greg Bennett, the project will include a new main entrance for the hotel on the north facade of the building, along with new landscaping and pedestrian walkways.
“This will greatly improve the appearance of the site from the public way,” wrote Doe in his letter.
The larger restaurant, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, will be located on the east side wing of the mill and be accessible from the parking lot on that side. The current entrance will be used, although modifications will be made to make it more attractive. The entrance to the smaller restaurant, which will serve lunch and dinner, will be within the mill, according to the plans.
There will be a separate access for the residential units, to be located on the east side of the mill. Landscaping and other improvements will be made.
There will be landscaping and other site improvements on the Lincoln Street side of the building to make it more attractive.
According to Doe, the Maine Department of Transportation does not require a traffic movement permit.
Parking may be a problem as the new uses require 266 parking spaces, and the plan includes only 121 on-site spaces.
The planning board does have the authority to waive some requirements like the number of parking spaces, and has done so for other mill redevelopment projects.
If it moves forward, the new project will add the first large hotel in Biddeford’s downtown and create more dining options, officials said.
Mayor Casavant said he believes that the city can absorb these new projects.
“My office has been working at making people aware that Biddeford-Saco has 40,000 people willing to purchase goods and services,” he said.
“We’ve been off the radar for so long,” said Casavant. “People are coming into my office looking to invest in Biddeford, but had never before been to Biddeford, and they live in Maine.”
“We have a ready market for a lot of new investment,” he said.
The proposed project “is transformational,” said Casavant. “It’s going to transform the way Biddeford is going to go.”
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].
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