PZC Grants Roosevelt Mills Developer an Extension

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday granted the architectural and development firm working on the project to transform the Roosevelt Mills property into residential and commercial space a six-month extension on all permits and deadlines.

The Westport-based Architectural+Development Studio LLC and its project subsidiary, Loom City Lofts LLC now has until September to get everything in order.

The mill at 215 East Main St. was built in 1906 and was known for its quality sweaters. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Loom City Lofts project, boosted by more than $1 million in state aid, is designed to construct 68 apartments and 10,000 square feet of commercial space.

In 2003, The Architecture+Development Studio, L.L.C.. also known as Studio A+D, entered into an agreement with the town for an option to purchase the site. Execution of the option was contingent upon each party reaching a series of "performance milestones," according to a history of the development on the Studio A+D web site.

In 2004 the Roosevelt Mills was placed into the state Department of Environmental Protection Voluntary Remediation Program. The two main areas of contamination were coal ash in the parking lot and chlorinated solvents under the first floor slab, left over from the mill’s former dry cleaning machines, Studio A+D said. Secondary "contaminant concerns" were minor amounts of asbestos and lead paint. An approved Remediation Action Plan was secured on May 15, 2005.

In April, 2010, then-Mayor Jason McCoy announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the project.

Development plans for Loom City Lofts include a combination of residential and commercial use, with sixty-eight one-bedroom apartments intended for the upper floors, and approximately 10,000 square feet of retail and office space planned for the first floor.

The project was anticipated to take approximately 15-18 months once construction begins, McCoy said in the original news release.

The property has been cleaned out and the building gutted for the transformation, but it still sits vacant while the developer works on the plans.

Loom City outlined its progress and plans in a letter to PZC Chairman Chester Morgan. The newest developments include a purchase option agreement  with the owner of adjacent land to the east at 225 East Main St. and trying to secure additional funding through the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

"We are currently putting the finishing touches on the overall budget and application exhibits in preparation for our April 13 submission to DECD for funding under the Govemor's new CHAMP program," the letter states. "Based on discussions with DECD, we are optimistic about our prospects of receiving the needed allocation of funds for Loom City Lofts."

The entire letter is attached.