Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | April 30, 2018 | wbjournal.com A $10M mill redevelopment adds to a city restoring old manufacturing sites BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor F or decades, mills on both sides of the Nashua River west of downtown Fitchburg sat most- ly decrepit as shells of their former manufacturing glory. Last year, a mill on the north bank of the river, where yarn was once made during the city's industrial heyday, was transformed into 96 housing units. Now, it's the other mill's turn. Crews have been working since late last fall on the former Sanitoy Mill on the river's south side to turn a long-un- derutilized building into new offices and industrial space. By August, the mill will house a range of government offices in addition to what is already an expanded space for its existing tenant, FoamTech Corp., a maker of packaging material. Of the building's roughly 100,000 square feet, about 80 percent is already leased. "is shows there's a demand where people didn't think there was," said Matt Fournier, the president of Elite Construction and Design, the Fitch- burg firm building the project. "ere's a want and a need and a desire to live, work and play in Fitchburg." e city's growing number of mill renovations in the past decade will al- low residents to live in one revitalized mill and work in another just down the street, all clustered west of downtown. "What is exciting is to see the move- ment afoot, particularly on that River Street corridor," said Mary Jo Bohart, Fitchburg's economic development director. Mill redevelopments Anwelt Heritage Apartments, a senior-living development off River Street and Oak Hill Road, opened in 2008 in a former shoemaking mill of the same name. Riverside Commons, a 187-unit development at 245 River St., opened in 2013 at the former Orswell Mills. Just last summer, Yarn Works opened at a mill at 1428 Main St. Others still await a ideal modern use. One mill, at 35 Daniels St., was the longtime home of Independent Lock Co. and later housed Seaboard Folding Box Co. But that company le for Westminster in 2016. e site is now used for storage by Wachusett Brewing. Another mill complex, adjacent to the Sanitoy Mill off River Street, is tentatively under sale agreement. Mary Anne Taylor, a broker for the former Iver Johnson Gun and Cycle Works, said interest increased as in- vestment went into nearby properties. "In addition to the one we've accept- ed an offer on, there have been other bidders," Taylor said. "Developers are 1428 Main St. (Yarn Works) 96 units of mixed-income housing 245 River St. (Riverside Commons) 187 residential units 1 Oak Hill Road (Anwelt Mill) Senior-living units, Massachusetts Innovation Center 15 Oak Hill Road Fitchburg Strength and Fitness, DeMar Technologies, Piano Artisans 35 Daniels St. Storage for Wachusett Brewing Co. 93 Nockege St. (Sanitoy Mill) Being converted into office and manufacturing space 87-89-91 River St. (Iver Johnson Vacant but sale of 80,000-square-foot mill is Gun and Cycle Works) under agreement Fitchburg mill redevelopments Source: Worcester Business Journal, city records, property websites Location Current use PHOTO/GRANT WELKER Matt Fournier, the president of Elite Construction and Design, and Francesco Colangelo, the owner of the former Sanitoy Mill off River Street in Fitchburg. FITCHBURG MILLS

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