The Berlin Mayor and Council will hear presentations from potential buyers of the former poultry processing plant grounds later this month.
Demolition progress is pictured at the former poultry processing plant in Berlin.
Staff photo / Bayside Gazette
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Berlin Mayor and Council will hear presentations from potential buyers of the former poultry processing plant grounds later this month.
The part of the park for sale is parcel 57, the old processing plant that is undergoing demolition.
Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said the proposed sale would only pertain to parcel 57 for at least $1.2 million and include 15 EDUs (equivalent dwelling units) attached to the property.
Most of the discussion at the meeting surrounded what businesses would be acceptable to place in the building. Initially, the thought was that the new venture should not compete with downtown Berlin. This would disqualify restaurants and retail. Healthcare, gyms, general office space, housing, and entertainment venues were acceptable. Councilmembers struggled to accept the restrictions.
“If I had my way, there would be no limit on uses,” Councilmember Steve Green said. “Let’s see what comes out. I have felt that way all along. I am a capitalist and disagree with interfering with private business.”
“I want something that we are excited about,” Tyndall said, echoing Green’s statement. “I want something that is going to fit Berlin, that has some energy around it, it fits our needs…”
The council agreed to widen the scope of possibilities. While processing plants and storage facilities are a “hard no,” everything else is fair game with an emphasis on mixed-use concept plans, which would see different ventures on different levels of the building. Housing is also a high priority with many references to retail or restaurant space on the ground floor with office and apartments above.
Presentations from interested buyers will be capped at 15 minutes and will take place in public at the next council meeting on July 22.
“The presentations will be at the next meeting, and it is safe to say that it is not binding,” Tyndall said. “It is a presentation that will hopefully lead somebody into…a negotiation period. We will be looking to revisit this in August. We do not want a long delay.”
The council discussed the sale in an early June meeting. After Councilman Jack Orris implored his colleagues to discuss the park property and its sale, Green and Councilman Jay Knerr maintained they wanted to sell the parcel but wanted to avoid the RFP (request for proposal process) again. The town had gone through an extensive process last summer and opted to hold onto the space. The body intends to expedite the negotiation this time by forgoing the lengthy RFP process.
The cut-off date for submissions is July 16, so the proposals may be included in the July 22 public meeting packet.