WESTFORD — A few years ago, a massive building adjacent to Abbot Mill was, in the words of developer Chris Yule, “absolutely jammed with printing equipment” while it was still a factory for Courier Corp.
Now, less than two years after the company folded into RR Donnelly and the factory closed, the space buzzes with construction equipment working to build a sports facility and a restaurant. Six multi-use courts with basketball hoops and two indoor turf fields have been constructed, and officials said more amenities are on the way.
“I think it’s going to be a hub, not only for Forge Village but for the greater community,” said Sandra Habe, director of operations for The Mill Works, where the facility is located. “We want to have tons of activity in here for people of all ages.”
The title is informal, but Yule considers the facility “phase III” of his project to redevelop Abbot Mill. The first phase, completed in 2012, and the ongoing second phase encompass more than 230 apartment units built in the former brick mill buildings. Yule said he views the sports complex and restaurant — located a few hundred feet from the mill — as part of that “continuum.”
“I did this as an amenity for the mill — that was its initial justification,” Yule said. “I’ve since expanded it to make it an amenity for Forge Village and also an amenity for the town and the area. It’s grown from its first initial concept.”
Despite his experience with the nearby mill, Yule said the latest project is a new experience and that his team is “adapting and adapting and adapting as we go.” He wants to maintain the original character as much as he can, much like he did with the apartment buildings that an industrial aesthetic.
“It’s been printing for its entire life, so why hide that?” Yule said.
The future sporting complex houses the town’s recreation department. Yule described the renovation efforts as a public-private partnership.
Plans also call for developing a dedicated 2,000-square-foot portion of the building into a “brewpub” restaurant. Town Meeting last month authorized seeking a liquor license for the property.
However, the brewpub will likely come toward the end of the process, with priority given to the indoor fields and courts, Habe said.
The sporting complex will likely operate on a membership plan.
In addition to the hard courts and fields, the facility will include two volleyball and badminton courts, fitness and cardio rooms, and a print shop where uniforms can be produced, Yule said. It is not yet clear when the project will be complete.
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisLisinski.
