InterRoyal Mill article in the Norwich Bulletin (Plainfield, CT)

[Megster]

Plainfield sets sale for vacant InterRoyal site
By FRANCESCA KEFALAS
Norwich Bulletin

PLAINFIELD -- Peter Brodeur said he believes it's only a matter of time before the rest of the vacant InterRoyal mill erupts into flames.

"Kids are always in there," said Brodeur, who lives on Community Avenue and can see the mill from the front windows of his house. "I know it will burn down one day if something isn't done."

The Board of Selectmen took steps Monday to get the mill back on the tax rolls and off the backs of residents with a vote to begin investigating a tax-lien sale of the property.

About half of the mill burned in April 2005. The blaze needed dozens of fire companies working for several days to quench the flames.

The 653,000-square-foot, three-story structure was built about a century ago as a cotton mill. InterRoyal converted the facility to manufacture robes and hospital beds. The mill was built of brick and wood, and was known to have asbestos throughout the building.

Just weeks before the fire, the town decided to move ahead with a tax-lien sale. The fire changed those plans.

"There was at least one developer interested in the property before the fire," said First Selectman Kevin Cunningham. "No one has showed interest since."

The town is owed more than $1 million in taxes on the property, he said. But he believes developers will once again be interested in the land.

"It's prime property," Cunningham said. "It has access to rail lines and has the proximity of a neighborhood and surrounding areas."

The property could become an excellent location for retail space, he said.

Selectman Albert Brunsdon said the property is nothing but a burden to the town.

"It's a dead issue right now," Brunsdon said. "It's just sitting there."

Brodeur was happy to hear the town is once again planning a sale of the property.

"It will help with taxes," Brodeur said. "There are so many things that could go into there that are a lot better than it just standing there."

The town has run out of state and federal grant money for environmental cleanup, Cunningham said. The portion of the mill complex still standing is known to have asbestos in the roof-line, he said.

As the town moves forward, determining the parameters of the sale will be essential, Cunningham said.

"We want to make sure any interested developer understand our expectations," Cunningham said.


Originally published August 29, 2006

The original article can be found here:
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060829/NEWS01/608290321/1002

(Hint: You can watch the mill burning in the Random Videos section! And there are pictures in my galleries.)

[BigEyes]

Will the new developer be responsible for the $1mil owed in back property taxes?

[nassahegon73]

It looks like the building is still standing. I was thinking of checking this place out. Also, there are two smaller buildings about a quarter mile to the south beside some railroad tracks. Do you know anything about that?