Selectmen Discuss Ideas for Chocolate Factory

Empty since 2011, the old chocolate factory on Oakland Street has become a symbol of what use to be in Mansfield.

With a recent attempt to zone the building for residential use failing at the annual town meeting and no prospects for use in the foreseeable future, the selectmen discussed ways to use the building at their May 29 meeting.

“I know that the proposed reuse failed at town meeting but I think most people in town don't want to see that building razed,” said selectman Olivier Kozlowski, who proposed the discussion on what should be done with the building.

The land is zoned I-2 which allows the property to be used to house a bank, offices, a lodge/club, a funeral home, a craft shop, a biotech lab, a research and development facility, bulk material storage and sale, light management, general manufacturing, and self/mini storage.

Other uses such as retail, hotel, auto services, and as a veterinarian hospital can be done with a special permit.

Currently, the factory is still owned by Archer Daniels Midland and the town cannot tell the food processing company what to do with the building. Despite this, the board wished to be proactive if the company decides to sell the property.

There was some talk of promoting the building for use as an educational center, but selectman Kevin Moran pointed out the design of the building made that difficult.

"What people have to realize is that it’s very restrictive, there’s no open space. How do you break that up into classrooms?” Moran said. “It’s a very unique structure and it has to have a unique use."

Another idea discusses was promoting the space for a use as a biotech or research and development facility, with emphasis on the location next to a rail line and the zoning and permitting process that currently exists for such use.

“If we could market it as a biotech or R&D site that would be great. They would have a large facility, they would have parking, they would have a rail,” selectman Doug Annino said.

According to Town Manager William Ross, there has been no contact with ADM about uses for the building and he is unaware if factory owner is interested in selling the building. Ross added that he believes there may have been a couple attempts by real estate agents to obtain a listing.

The property’s value is assessed at $2.7 million. A sale of the property would give the town about $50,000 in real estate taxes.

Ross said he would try to contact ADM to see if they have any plans for the chocolate factory.