CUMBERLAND – The Ann & Hope redevelopment project is still a way off from getting going in earnest, though there’s been more activity at the old mill off Broad Street recently.
According to Building Official Larry Enright, developers started permit applications last December, but certain documentation was not part of the permit package. Officials, including from the Fire Department, needed more paperwork and plans.
“As of today, none of that stuff has been uploaded,” he said.
February was the last contact the town had with the developer, he said, and their permit/application is technically no longer valid and they’ll have to start the permit process over.
Not all is at a standstill, said Enright, as workers have been sandblasting, cleaning, and doing some non-permitted items to get the property prepared for major renovation as a modern mixed-use residential and commercial building.
Asked what types of permits the developers need, Enright said “all kinds of permits,” including plumbing, mechanical, and electrical. This project represents a change of use, he said.
The original plan submittals weren’t very far along, said Enright, with only some preliminary building plans received. None of the documentation that should have gone along with those items, including fire alarm or sprinkler drawings, were included as requested by the chief.
“It’s been kind of stuck in limbo for a while,” he said of the project. “They’re getting prepped to do the work. I don’t think they’ve done any of the actual building yet.”
Representatives from Hartford Holdings LLC, during preliminary plan approvals last year, said the mill is an important building to anyone who’s been part of Cumberland, with so many memories associated with it. They mentioned the long the vacant has been on over the last few years.
The property will feature 48 deed-restricted units, of 241 total homes.
Town officials have emphasized the importance of both the commercial aspects of the project and the idea of it tying in well with the surrounding neighborhood. The project is also expected to help with flooding in the area.
Owner David Corsetti and Eric Zuena, of ZDS Architecture and Interiors have highlighted the award-winning work they’ve done together on other mill redevelopment projects.
Corsetti said at the time that delays are typical with mill redevelopments such as this because new issues are uncovered as they go. He said then that they’d spent two years going through the mill to remove any guesswork once work starts.
