Franklin Street Mill Tour

If you stand on the corner of Franklin and Main and head west, past Bonhoeffer’s Cafe, you will find yourself facing down a looming 310,000 square-foot bricks-and-mortar blank canvas. You may know the building but do you know the history behind this property? 

Join us on Saturday March 24 at 1 p.m. as historian and Nashua native Alan Manoian brings us on a tour of this historic mill. Find out the history of the mill and discuss the possible future uses. It’s time to figure out what to do with this renovated paper mill building, which has been in and out of long- and short-term relationships until it was foreclosed on and returned to the bank a couple of years ago.

Jack Heaney of Fulcrum Properties is working with Renaissance Downtowns to see if they can create a vision for this $18 million space that will add value to the city, enhance the neighborhood and perhaps even become a draw, especially with the planned Broad Street Parkway.

Heaney said the original plan for the building was to create some renovated rental housing, but a similar plan was already approved by the city for a mill building across the river.

“In the short term we’re looking at possible commercial uses, particularly for the west end of the building, which has a lot of community facility potential,” said Heaney.

His Manhattan-based firm is looking for some out-of-the-box proposals that might require some investment on their end – perhaps a green market, a pop-up concert venue – some sort of short-term lease that pays for itself while creating some buzz for the downtown, and hopefully, draws in that next big idea that becomes an economic game changer for the city.

Heaney said right now the short list of ideas to move things forward includes an open house tour of the space for the public, Realtors, developers and VIPs who might be looking for a big space with unlimited potential.

Now is your chance to get involved and learn this history of this building while help shaping its future. Join us on for free refreshments after the tour and a chance to help build a future for this great property.

RSVP here on the Event Facebook Page