Developer Platz Associates has another year to secure the redevelopment of Bates Mill No. 5, center left.

LEWISTON — The redevelopment of Bates Mill No. 5 has been extended — at least for another year.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 4-3 to extend developer Tom Platz’s option to buy and redevelop Bates Mill No. 5 for one more year.

The 350,000-square-foot building is the last and largest at the Bates Mill complex to be redeveloped.

The prominent site has been the subject of redevelopment efforts since the turn of the century. Opinions that the debate should finally be put to rest and that the building should be demolished were outweighed by support from the public and those invested in the project Tuesday night.

An extension signed between the city and Bates Mill LLC last year was set to expire this month, and the timing of last week’s announcement that Central Maine Healthcare is pulling out of the project has cast some doubt on the redevelopment effort. 

CMH was previously lined up to be a core tenant along with the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston, but CEO Jeff Brickman said last week that revenue shortfalls will prevent the health organization from moving forward. 

Despite the setback, Platz said he’s optimistic.

“We’re not feeling that (CMH) pulling out is going to stop this project,” he said during the meeting.

He said he’s in discussions with three potential tenants that will surpass the square-footage use once proposed by CMH. He said the tenants, if locked in, would bring more people downtown than CMH.

The vote to approve the extension was met with applause from the audience. Councilors Tim Lajoie, Shane Bouchard and Michael Lachance cast the dissenting votes. 

City administration asked the council to approve the extension based on Platz lining up tenants, as well as a Brownfields cleanup grant that is in the queue. The YMCA confirmed last week that it still intends to move into the mill. 

Lincoln Jeffers, director of economic and community development, said the city must retain ownership of the mill until after the $200,000 grant and subsequent environmental work is complete. At the time of completion, which he estimated to be early 2018, Platz would close on the property. 

Lajoie was one of three councilors who said their optimism has run out.

“This is not anti-economic development,” he said. “How long do we sit and wait?Let’s move on, and let’s look at something else. I’m tired of talking about it.”

Lachance, who said he has never supported the project, said he’s “heard the same arguments from the same people” for the past four years. 

“It’s never going to end at this rate,” he said. 

Jeffers said Platz Associates already has invested $600,000 in the redevelopment project. 

“We were all disappointed,” he said of the announcement from CMH. “But there are certainly other prospects that could equal that. A project of this complexity and scale takes time.”

A number of residents, including prospective tenants, spoke out in favor of granting the extension — holding out hope for a redeveloped mill. 

Emily Fournier said she plans to open a bakery and event hall in Bates Mill No. 5. She said she’s been working on the project for more than a year.

“We’re here once again, disappointed in another extension,” she said to the council. “But we are moving forward and hope you will support the extension.”

Lewiston resident Chantel Pettengill said the extension and Platz redevelopment is “still our best option to support Mill 5. Lewiston has trouble attracting developers that stay south of us.” 

Steve Wallace, executive director of the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston, also spoke in favor of the extension. He said the organization has spent $140,000 studying the project. He said establishing a new YMCA in a new building would not be as economically feasible as the developed mill. 

Finance Committee Chairman Robert Reed opposed the extension, saying the council approved the extension a year ago, promising another year wouldn’t happen. 

“Another promise, another year,” he said.

The one-year extension will last until Feb. 28, 2018. 

The city will next meet with Platz to hammer out the details of a joint development agreement, which will lay out the public-private partnership between the city and the developer and their respective responsibilities. 

Mayor Robert Macdonald thanked Platz for his work to get the project moving. He said big projects tend to elude Lewiston.

“I hope they don’t pull the plug here,” he said.

“I’m willing to wait to help make this happen,” Councilor Jim Lysen said. 

When asked what the city has spent on keeping the property idle, Finance Director Heather Hunter said roughly $400,000 was spent for structural improvements in 2002. She said it was not taxpayer money.

City Administrator Ed Barrett said if the mill goes away, its debt will stay with the city.