POKO Partners Given Another Chance With Pawcatuck Building

The Town of Stonington is hoping the sounds of construction will soon fill the long vacant Thread Mill building in Pawcatuck.

POKO Partners LLC of Port Chester, N.Y., has plans to renovate the building and turn the old mill into apartments and businesses. But those plans have existed for years, and so far the only thing occurring at the building is its continuing fall into disrepair.

Still First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., is hopeful that POKO Partners will soon act on the building.

Haberek said he meet with representatives from the company two weeks ago and that POKO Partners is seeking new financing for the project and they know the state of the building is on the town’s radar.

“They admitted they hadn’t heard from us in a while,” Haberek said, adding that the company hadn’t realized the condition of the building and lack of progress was upsetting residents and the town.

When Patch asked residents if they would like POKO Partners to be given another chance to turn the place into apartments, or if the town should attempt to the force the company to move on and what other businesses should go into the place, residents were a bit divided in their responses.

Millie Donovan thinks the place is perfect for apartments but that the focus should be on providing affordable working, living and gallery space for emerging artists such as is the Artspace in Hartford.

“There is such a need around here for affordable accommodations and workspace for artists, musicians, photographers, designers, and fashion students. This would be a project that anyone would be proud to be a part of,” Donovan wrote.

Patch User Tom Santos went the other route saying the place should be senior and affordable housing, perhaps with a convenience store, or small coffee shop on the first floor.

And Virginia McCormack said she wanted to know POKO Partners has to say about the building but that, “if they cannot obtain financing to build condos or work spaces, then they should repair and secure the building before it deteriorates any further.”

Patch attempted to contact POKO Partners to find out their response to the residents wishes but they didn’t respond.

Haberek said the company is working to find local investors in the project.

“Hopefully, it will spur some movement,” Haberek said.

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