AUGUSTA — Plans to restore and repurpose the only remaining building of the massive riverfront Edwards Mill complex may rely on attracting a private developer or organization with $3 million to spend.
The complex at one time employed thousands of Franco-Americans who came to Augusta to create a better life for their families by toiling and sweating in the cotton mill.
Advocates for renovating the piece of Augusta’s working-class history for new uses – such as a cafe and museum or heritage center – say it could pay tribute to the people whose labor fueled the growth of the city and draw visitors to an area they say is a largely undiscovered gem.
“I felt compelled to do this project because I believe in the history of the people who worked here to help develop the city,” said Jan Michaud of Augusta, leader of the nonprofit group Friends for a Heritage Center in Mill Park.
“Especially because their offspring are part of our community today and many of them are doctors and lawyers and business people and community folks, firefighters, police officers, who make Augusta a good place to live. There is so much we need to share.”
A majority of city councilors agreed informally Thursday to have city staff put together a request for proposals seeking a developer, business person or any other entity with the ability, interest and funds. The proposal would call for redeveloping the two-story, 30-by-60-foot brick structure known as the transformer building, currently used for storage.
Councilors heard a presentation from architects who worked with a city committee to come up with potential concepts for how to repurpose the building. They outlined a design concept for the building featuring space for a heritage center, gallery or museum, a visitors center, a cafe or restaurant, and an addition to the building to provide restrooms that could be used both by visitors to the building but also by users of the sprawling city park.
The park now occupies the space where the mill loomed until it was destroyed by a huge fire in 1989.
The architect, Judy Johnson, said it would cost an estimated $3 million to restore and repurpose the building in that way. With the addition and two existing floors, the building would total 5,489 square feet.
Leif Dahlin, community services director for the city, said the old building is structurally sound, and has steel beams and a concrete roof. He agreed it is likely time to consider what the best use for the building could be.
Dahlin pointed to the Sea Dog restaurant and bar, located in a riverside former mill building in Topsham, which displays old mill equipment on its walls and ceiling, as an example of repurposing an old building for a new use while preserving some of its heritage.
Johnson said the proposed design for the building would seek to highlight its historic architecture, including large arched windows, which have been partially filled in with bricks. The building is built into a hill and the design would use that elevation change to provide access, including to people with disabilities, to both floors of the building without an elevator. The design would lower the existing second floor, which was built covering part of the windows, to let in more natural light.
Keith Edwards can be contacted at 621-5647 or at:
kedwards@centralmaine.com
Twitter: kedwardskj
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