No firm plans for Mill redevelopment

OXFORD — Developer Chuck Starbird says he has no firm plans for what will be housed in the Robinson Mill.

"We're going to try to fix it up and bring it back to life and create some jobs for Oxford," Starbird says.

Starbird and the town of Oxford are currently finalizing the purchase of the disused mill and the developer has begun making repairs to the building's windows and roof.

According to Starbird, market needs will determine what goes in the space once repairs are finished. He forsees anything from a nursing home to light manufacturing could be housed there.

Considering the housing market, splitting the mill into condominiums seems out of the question right now, Starbird says.

Starbird says that there is still a possibility that a limousine service might store its vehicles at the building, but there is no firm plan to do that yet.

Several years ago, Starbird purchased an old mill in Mechanic Falls and rehabilitated it.

Now, he says, the building is largely full with two recycling facilities, storage and a space leased by Pioneer Plastics.

"It's nothing Earth shattering, but we took an eyesore dump to something that looks presentable now and has 30 or 40 guys working out of it," he says.

Starbird says the Mechanic Falls mill was in much worse shape than the Robinson Mill.

The town took control of the former woolen mill in 2009 for non-payment of taxes. After the mill closed in 2004, former owner John C. Robinson tried to redevelop it into condominiums, restaurants and commercial space.

The town and Starbird are still working out some issues with easements around the building. On Monday, Starbird estimated the deal would be finalized within 10 days.