LISBON

After a decade sitting vacant along the Androscoggin River near the town of Lisbon’s gateway, Worumbo Mill owners say plans are underway to demolish the building.

Positive Change Lisbon announced the plans for demolition of the concrete building on its Facebook page Tuesday. Those plans were confirmed Wednesday by a trustee of Miller Industries, which owns the historic mill on Canal Street near the Route 196 intersection.

“It is with mixed emotions that we share that the Worumbo Mill is scheduled for demolition this summer,” wrote PCL in its Facebook post. “While this mill has been a huge part of this community’s history, and will be missed by many, we see this as a very positive step forward.”

Positive Change Lisbon is a nonprofit organization working with Lisbon businesses, citizens and the town to improve the town’s image and business environment.

“We are aware that many would love to see this mill renovated, but that is simply not a feasible option,” the release states. “Miller Industries has tried for many years to sell this building to a wide variety of developers to no avail.”

According to PCL, the demolition will be done over the next several months and hopefully completed by the fall. The group also says that Miller Industries has mitigated environmental concerns and met Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

“All appropriate permits and regulations will be adhered to and the building will be removed from the site, leaving a flat piece of property. Due to liability concerns, Miller industries will be fencing off this private property to the public,” said PCL.

The group has been told Miller Industries will try to sell the property after the structure is removed. A trustee with the company said that decision hasn’t been made yet, but that the possible sale of the property could help recoup some of the hefty cost of demolition.

Vacant since 2006, the building is often broken into and poses too great a liability.

The Miller Industries representative said once the proper paperwork has been filed with both the state and the town, the demolition will begin.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Lisbon’s code enforcement officer Dennis Douglass said no demolition permit application had been filed.

The mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. According to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission website, owners of private property listed in the National Register have no obligation to restore or maintain them, “and can do anything they wish with their property provided that no federal license, permit, or funding is involved.”

In 2013, the town had the opportunity to purchase the mill, the 5.5 acres it sits on and additional properties for $100,000. But a $1 million bond proposed by the council to acquire and demolish the building was rejected by voters.

“There’s a mixed blessing in this,” said Ross Cunningham of PCL. “Going forward we will have a stunning view of the river regardless of what happens.”

Fern Larochelle, president of PCL, thanked Miller Industries for stepping forward to get the project done.

“They didn’t have to do this. If they didn’t touch this, this building would still be sitting down there until far after we’re all gone,” Larochelle said.

He said this investment shows a commitment to the community.

“Myself, I think it’s actually a real benefit for the town to actually see some progression on something happening there,” he said.

He believes with the building gone, it will promote the attraction of new businesses to town. The mill is in an area that can be updated to a better use for Lisbon along the river that serves as the town’s best asset, said Larochelle.

He added that PCL has tried to look for positive change for Lisbon, “and I think this could be a positive change.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com