BIDDEFORD — The end is approaching for the last of the city’s large textile manufacturing plants. But the question remains, what will happen to the empty buildings owned by WestPoint Home now that the property is for sale?

It’s been only a few weeks since the “for sale” sign was hung at the 12-building complex, which the sales brochure refers to as the historic Pepperell Manufacturing complex. The property has a $2.245 million asking price.

The history of the property, which is situated on 11 acres and overlooks the Saco River, goes back more than 150 years to when the Pepperell Manufacturing Company was founded. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, it eventually became part of WestPoint Home.

“It’s no surprise,” said Rachel Weyand, executive director of the downtown business promotion organization Heart of Biddeford, about the possible sale of the property. “But it’s still a shock.”

Biddeford’s textile mills flourished in the 19th and early part of the 20th century. After World War I production slowed, lay-offs of hundreds of employees at a time took place over a series of decades as production moved overseas and to the south.

The remaining 120 factory workers are still producing the last of the Vellux blankets, which are produced only in Biddeford in the United States. Local production is scheduled to end for good in August, according to WestPoint spokeswoman Nancy Golden.

When it announced the closure of the Biddeford factory, WestPoint also announced lay-offs and the closure of two other plants: Those in Elkin, N.C., and Chipley, Fla.

The looming question is what will fill the void in these massive brick buildings that dominate the western vista of the city for those crossing from Main Street, Saco to Main Street, Biddeford.

The zoning, said real estate agent Tripp Corson, who is handling the property, “allows almost any use in that area.”

There is a lot of potential for the property and a lot of interest, said Corson. “The first four calls of the morning yesterday were from people interested in the property,” he said.

While most are interested in redeveloping the mill, which contains more than 713,000 square feet of floor space, he said one potential buyer was even interested in starting up some type of manufacturing.

“This mill is in the best shape of any mill building I’ve been in,” said Corson, who said he’s sold a number of mill buildings in the course of his career. “It’s a very unique opportunity for a developer or someone who just wants to own a piece of history.”

Interest in the mill buildings is coming from people both locally and out-of state, said Corson. One local man who has expressed interest in the property is Doug Sanford, owner of WestPoint’s neighbor, the North Dam Mil.

Sanford has a vested interest in what happens to the neighboring plant since they share a heating and sprinkler system.

While “the job loss is painful,” said Sanford, “I’m excited for the future of Biddeford.”

He said that the 120 jobs being lost at WestPoint is about equal to the number of jobs that have been created at his redeveloped mills. Like many in the city, he believes that redevelopment of the mills is the answer to revitalizing Biddeford, which has been stagnating since the last of the massive mill closures in the 1950s and 1960s.

Whoever purchases the property will have to have their eye on the future, said Sanford. He said he has been working on developing his three building complex for years.

A mill district master plan commissioned by the city alludes to the fact it will likely be one or two decades or longer before the entire district is full.

The plan notes that for further development in the mill district to take place, additional parking is needed and greater access into the district would be very helpful.

City Manager John Bubier said that the city would like to work with the new owner, whoever that may be, to create more public access to the district and build a parking garage that can be used by all the mill buildings.

“The bad news is the loss of 100 jobs,” said Bubier, The good news is this gives us a chance to work with the entire district.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.