Robinson Mill sells for nearly $32k

OXFORD —  After years of waiting, the town has finally sold the Robinson Mill complex to developer Chuck Starbird, for $31,800.

The town began negotiating the sale of the mill to Starbird in August. The developer has some apartments and commercial ventures planned for the complex, Town Manager Michael Chammings told selectboard members during their meeting February 7.

During the meeting, Chammings said Starbird had already put $150,000 into the property, on King Street in Oxford.

In a Monday interview, Chammings said the town had worked out a tax schedule with Starbird that would progressively raise taxes on the building over a four-year period.

According to Chammings, some of the large property's parts that were valued in former assessments were now worthless.

"Some of that building is unusable and needs to come down," Chammings said, "it shouldn't really be taxed at a high rate if it's unusable."

After the third year, Chammings said, the town would independently assess the property for its actual market value.

In 2009, the town foreclosed on the former Robinson Manufacturing Co. after the company could not pay more than $244,000 in property taxes selectmen voted to take possession of the mill after the owner, John C. Robinson, failed to make an $80,000 payment on a tax lien. 

When Robinson Mill closed in 2004, there were plans to renovate the building as condominiums and commercial space, but the plan fizzled.

Several years ago, Starbird rehabilitated a Mechanic Falls mill that he says was in worse condition.