Concern is mounting in Biddeford that the sale of the Pepperell Mill Campus might result in dramatic hire will increase within the complicated and impression market charges all through downtown.
Whereas the builders who’re shopping for the campus say they haven’t selected across-the-board hire will increase, they’ve spoken publicly about their perception that the residential and business rents are 25 to 50 p.c beneath market charges. These feedback stoked concern amongst tenants and group members that the 152 households and 150 small- and medium-sized companies within the redeveloped historic textile mills might see vital will increase of their hire at a time when affordable housing is in short supply and companies are coping with strain from the pandemic.
“There’s undoubtedly a frenzy of concern from of us who’re going to be impacted by these hire hikes,” stated Maine Home Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford, who famous that hire on the Pepperell Mill Campus is “a driver of what’s thought-about market hire all through downtown.”
After news of the pending sale of the sprawling downtown complicated broke this week, native and state leaders started receiving calls and emails from individuals involved in regards to the impression of serious hire will increase. Town’s legislative delegation and mayor requested to fulfill with patrons Chris Rhoades and Andrew Preston to higher perceive what could occur after the sale is finalized later this yr. That assembly is anticipated to happen as early as subsequent week.
Rhoades and Preston, companions within the Maine initiatives of Texas-based funding group Presidium, had been behind the conversion of hundreds of military housing units to non-public housing on the former Naval Air Station Brunswick, now referred to as Brunswick Touchdown. Additionally they have purchased Portland’s iconic Time & Temperature Building and plan to transform it right into a lodge and retail area.
“I believe individuals are extraordinarily involved,” Mayor Alan Casavant stated. “It doesn’t simply middle on the will increase within the mill complicated itself, however the ripple impact it might have all through the group.”
The redevelopment of the previous textile mills has lengthy been touted by metropolis officers as a key a part of the downtown revitalization that Biddeford has loved in recent times. The mill buildings are being offered by Doug Sanford, who purchased a number of the complicated in 2004 and the remaining in 2010 and transformed a number of the buildings into flats and business areas.
Rhoades and Preston count on the sale to shut by mid-December. They are saying they hope to construct on the conversion into flats, workplaces and retail area that has been underway for the previous 15 years.
Kristina Alving, head baker on the Jackrabbit Cafe in Biddeford’s Pepperell Mill Campus, makes chocolate brioche within the kitchen Friday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Workers Photographer
The patrons highlighted the success of the Pepperell Mill Campus in a video posted on the online real estate investment platform CrowdStreet.
INVESTMENT VIDEO DISCONCERTING
“We’re going to make use of greatest practices from Presidium and their established crew to come back in right here and lift rents, do some capital enhancements on the situation,” Preston stated. “We really feel rents are 35 to 50 p.c beneath market on the business and roughly 30 to 35 p.c beneath market on the residential.”
Month-to-month hire on residential items on campus at present vary from $1,200 for a studio to $2,400 for a luxurious two-bedroom.
Andrew Preston and Chris Rhoades, proper, photographed final yr on the Time and Temperature Constructing in Portland, count on to shut on their buy of Biddeford’s Pepperell Mill Campus by mid-December. Derek Davis/Workers Photographer
Rhoades stated this week that he and Preston commissioned a market research and decided that the present rents, each residential and business, are about 20 to 25 p.c beneath the market charges. He stated they are going to most likely elevate rents as tenants transfer out however haven’t decided on across-the-board hire hikes.
Matt Meza, home counsel for Presidium, stated in an announcement Friday that Presidium “is dedicated to persevering with the outstanding legacy of Doug Sanford and his essential work to revitalize downtown Biddeford.
“Whereas we’re unable to debate specifics right now, we sit up for assembly with native leaders within the close to future to debate our plans for the mill and the way we will greatest positively contribute to downtown Biddeford’s renaissance,” he stated.
Casavant stated the statements within the builders’ video pitch to potential traders had been “disconcerting” and raised questions on their intentions.
“Biddeford has come a good distance and we’ve completed so by nurturing small companies and attracting individuals who see Biddeford as a fascinating place,” he stated. “I don’t need that jeopardized as a result of individuals see it as an opportunity for revenue. That’s not what Biddeford is about.”
Metropolis Councilor Amy Clearwater, whose ward contains the Pepperell Mill Campus, stated she “couldn’t consider what I used to be seeing” when she watched the video for traders.
“Reasonably priced housing is without doubt one of the largest challenges dealing with our state and it’s outrageous that traders might assist our downtown worth out over 150 renting households and 150 small companies,” she stated in an announcement. “The pitch to hedge funds they’re promoting is that they’ll elevate the rents in a considerable option to get a return on funding on the backs of our neighbors. I see that as tragically shortsighted for what our group wants and deserves.”
‘A PUNCH IN THE GUT’
Anna and Bowman Brown moved to the mill in early 2020 as they ready to open their eating places, Elda and Jackrabbit Café, in one other constructing within the complicated. They signed a 10-year lease for his or her business area, however residential leases should be renewed yearly. Each had been shocked after they heard in regards to the potential for big hire will increase.
“It felt like a punch within the intestine,” Anna Brown stated.
Due to their 10-year business lease, the Browns are unlikely to see a rise on that entrance within the close to future. However they fear {that a} large enhance in the price of their housing might make it unaffordable to proceed to dwell and work in the identical place. Past that, they’re involved that rising rents might negatively impression current progress within the metropolis.
The redevelopment of the previous Pepperell textile mills has lengthy been touted by metropolis officers as a key a part of the downtown revitalization that Biddeford has loved in recent times. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Workers Photographer
“I don’t need the momentum to be squashed and halted for revenue,” Anna Brown stated. “I concern what such a drastic hire hike would do to that momentum.”
Bowman Brown stated he already has heard from longtime residents and different enterprise homeowners who plan to maneuver out.
“If that’s their plan, to drive everybody out, it’s already working,” he stated of the mill patrons.
Joe McKenney, co-owner of McKenney Pictures, moved his studio out of the Pepperell Mill Campus at the start of the pandemic and is subleasing his area to a bookseller. He was contemplating shifting again, however modified his thoughts due to the prospect of recent homeowners and better rents.
Now McKenney is worried about what the sale might imply for different small-business homeowners.
“It’s a whole lot of overhead to soak up while you’re nonetheless within the throes of a world pandemic and gross sales aren’t what they was,” he stated.
Metropolis Supervisor James Bennett stated Friday that he’s conscious of the group concern. Metropolis employees has simply began to search for methods to objectively measure potential adjustments on the mill complicated and their doable impacts downtown.
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