ERVING — Town officials have accepted a recommendation to include $1.8 million in the fiscal year 2024 capital budget for the demolition of the International Paper Mill along the Millers River, with a proposal that would spare only the pump house.
“The $1.8 million, in theory, should cover (the demolition of) everything,” Town Planner Mariah Kurtz explained during a joint meeting of the Selectboard, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee earlier this week. “My hope was that if you chose to (include the capital request) … that in March, we could have a community conversation where we say, ‘This is a reality at this point. … What do you want to see happen?’”
Because of a $600,000 Site Readiness grant from MassDevelopment, the town would have to fund $1.2 million, Finance Committee Chair Debra Smith clarified.
The property at 8 Papermill Road, valued at nearly $1.49 million between the land and buildings, has sat vacant for two decades. After a century that saw eight buildings built from 1902 to 2000, International Paper “suddenly shuttered the mill” before selling it “to a private developer who left the complex vacant and delinquent on property taxes,” Kurtz said previously.
The town took control of the property in 2014, and conducted feasibility studies and evaluations before eventually issuing a formal request for interest (RFI) in fall 2021. A request for proposals (RFP) was then released in March 2022, concluding that spring without success.
According to Kurtz, the engineering consulting firm Tighe & Bond conducted a site visit in December after receiving a request to complete a demolition study. The firm is expected to determine cost estimates for four different scenarios at varying degrees of demolition. Kurtz said it’s likely partial demolition would be more expensive than a full demolition.
On Monday night, Kurtz offered her recommendation to keep Building 8.
“You’ll never be able to rebuild that,” Kurtz said. “It also wouldn’t be that expensive for someone to tear down if a developer does come in and choose to do it.
“And it’s a really cool building,” she added.
Selectboard member Scott Bastarache said if this capital budget request goes to Annual Town Meeting in the spring, he wants to hone in on “future steps” for the property.
“I don’t want to spend $2 million tearing it down just to leave it there as an open field,” Bastarache said.
Kurtz responded that a timeline of the next steps should be established. She proposed if the buildings were demolished in the summer, a new RFP should be issued by late fall or early winter.
Smith said she was surprised nobody had been injured in the years the buildings have been left vacant.
“I think it’s time for it to go and for us to move on and see what the future can hold for that site,” she said.
Kurtz said what exactly happens with the former mill — partial or full demolition — remains up for discussion, particularly as the community gets more involved.
She noted that with a budget item and a decision on the table, she believes the conversation can be more productive and pointed.
“I don’t propose this lightly,” Kurtz emphasized. “There’s a lot of history there; they’re incredible buildings. It’s very unfortunate we’re in this position but I do think it’s best for the town.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.