PHOTO CAPTION: Commissioner Mark Boughton, left, and Town Administrator John W. Kleinhans, right, listen as Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne describes the mill redevelopment project.
Mayor Dan Champagne and Town Administrator John W. Kleinhans met with Commissioner Mark Boughton, who also serves as Gov. Ned Lamont’s senior advisor on infrastructure, and briefed him on progress on the mill redevelopment project in Rockville.
Boughton was joined by Rob Hotaling, deputy program advisor for infrastructure, and Tayler Thorpe and Ryan Hughes of the state Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team. Mayor Champagne, Town Administrator Kleinhans and Director of Development Services Shaun Gately led Commissioner Boughton and his team on a tour of the Amberbelle and Daniels mill sites and the former Anocoil mill.
The mill redevelopment project, which is now in the remediation stage, will be transformational for Rockville and Vernon, Mayor Champagne said.
“The cleanup of these old mills is complicated and expensive and new requirements from the state and federal government have increased our costs,” Mayor Champagne said. “The commissioner and his staff were excited about the potential this project has for Rockville and Vernon.”
Commissioner Boughton viewed the mill site from Brooklyn Street and from Anocoil, where there is a dramatic waterfall.
“We are hopeful that introducing this project to Commissioner Boughton and his team will help us get those additional funds to complete the cleanup,” Kleinhans said. “The state and federal governments have been extremely helpful, but as with any project involving old buildings there are surprises that can drive up costs.”
PHOTO CAPTIONMayor Dan Champagne, third from right, is joined by (left to right) Ryan Hughes and Tayler Thorpe of the state Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team, Town Administrator John W. Kleinhans, Commissioner Mark Boughton and Rob Hotaling, deputy program advisor for infrastructure.
This is a spectacular piece of property with waterfalls and the Hockanum River flowing through it,” Mayor Champagne said. “Every grant we obtain moves us closer to meaningfully repurposing these mills, which are historically and esthetically connected.”
The site plan for the mill complex calls for about 200 residential units, 5,000 to 15,000 square feet of commercial space and associated parking. ing.