Norwich Bulletin: State historians, others look to save Thompson’s River Mill

THOMPSON — The state is convinced the River Mill is worth saving, but it needs the residents of Thompson and its neighbors to be just as passionate.

Todd Levine, architectural historian for the state Historic Preservation Office, and Brad Schide, of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, said they both believe the mill is not only worth saving from demolition, but also full of development potential.

“This is one of the most significant architectural mills in the state — indeed in New England,” Levine said. “The state is doing everything we can to help preserve, revitalize and redevelop this site.”

The River Mill’s owner, 929 Riverside Drive LLC, informed the town in the fall it had plans to raze a part of the mill. The news came while the town was part way through a major analysis of the mill funded by a state grant.

The mill’s owner has contracted with Southend Reclaimed from North Carolina to tear down the four-story section of the mill and salvage the bricks and timber.

Shawn Donohoe, property manager for the mill and the owner who sold it to current owner, Andy Scott, said he has been trying to get the mill redeveloped for about 30 years and has met with many potential developers.

“We’ve exhausted every possibility under the sun in my opinion,” Donohoe said. “You’ll hear it’s the best building ever. It’s in the wrong location. There’s no demand.”

Because the mill is on the national register of historic places, the demolition must be approved by state law.

Levine said a hearing was originally scheduled for June, but has now been postponed to August, when his department will have 20 minutes to make its case for saving the mill and ownership will have 20 minutes to make its case for the demolition.

Levine said the goal is to get the hearing body, the Historic Preservation Council, to agree the mill should be saved and there are reasonable methods to do so. The council would then ask the state Attorney General’s office to take legal action to prevent the demolition.

“All we have to prove is that there are prudent and feasible alternatives and there appear to indeed be prudent and feasible alternatives,” Levine said.

First Selectman Ken Beausoleil said he can understand the owner’s problem and agrees that, in years past, when the economy, particularly in northeastern Connecticut, was slow to recover, no one wanted to redevelop a mill.

However, the economy is changing and Thompson is changing its approach, Beausoleil said.

The town, state and potential developers toured the mill May 9, Beausoleil said, and the four developers all had positive input about the redevelopment.

By Francesca Kefalas For The Bulletin
Posted Jun 4, 2017 at 5:22 PM
Updated Jun 4, 2017 at 5:22 PM

To read the full article, please visit: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/20170604/state-historians-others-look-to-save-thompsons-river-mill.