Inside Chinburg Properties’ Renovation of the Stevens Mill
During an overcast Tuesday afternoon last week in Franklin, we stopped by the Chinburg Properties field office where we were greeted by Site Supervisor Dave Daigneault who welcomed us in and offered to set up a tour for us. The next day we sat down with Daigneault, Commercial Project Manager Rob Pearson, and Assistant Site Supervisor Matt Boisvert who explained to us the overall scope of the Stevens Mill renovation project, one of the biggest in Chinberg Properties history. After our conversation, Boisvert guided us on a tour of the Stevens Mill complex. This is what we found out:
“Wherever Chinburg goes, the properties’ values rise.” — Dave Daigneault
In 2017, Chinburg Properties bought Stevens Mill in Franklin, the largest old textile mill in the city which they are currently renovating into a multi-purpose building with both residential and commercial units.
The mill is separated into four different quadrants: Building A, Building B, Building C, and Building D. Buildings A and C are dedicated to residential properties, and will eventually house 153 apartments (up from the 147 units in the original plan), most of which will look out on the Winnipesaukee River just downstream from the new whitewater park. These apartments will range in size from 400-square-foot efficiency units to spacious 1400-foot lofts, some of which will have 20-foot ceilings and communal rooftop decks. Buildings B and D are commercial, and part of this commercial space will house a 4000-foot brewing facility and tasting room for Kettlehead Brewing Company, which is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The entire Stevens Mill complex is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
“The Chinburg marketing group looks to see where the potential is. I think they did their homework and said that this is the next big area that is ready to be developed and to grow. Even in the time that I’ve been here, I’ve heard about all the new developments and the upgrades and all the money pouring into Franklin — it’s really good for them.” — Chinburg Commercial Project Manager Rob Pearson
Chinburg Properties was founded by Eric Chinburg in 1987. Since 2002, Chinburg Properties has been dedicated to building upscale residential and commercial spaces, with a special interest in the restoration of old mill buildings throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. From previous projects, Chinburg Properties has a great reputation for their quality craftsmanship and the success of their properties. Chinburg’s good name has already convinced businesses like the Kettlehead Brewing Company to move into the Stevens Mill site and is expected to draw additional businesses into the other units, expanding Franklin’s revitalization efforts.
When we sat down with Franklin Mayor Jo Brown, she explained to us how critical the renovation of the Stevens Mill is to the success of the revitalization efforts in Franklin:
“The Stevens Mill is a $32 million dollar project. The tax-assessed value of all the businesses downtown — from the bridge near Cumberland Farms to the whitewater park — is only $28 million. Which means that this one project alone is worth more to the city than the whole business district combined.” — Franklin Mayor Jo Brown
All of the people we spoke to believe that the Chinburg Properties renovation of this old mill building will anchor the revitalization of Franklin’s downtown. This may be the most important development project in the Franklin Falls Historical District since the construction of the original mills themselves.
“Revitalization is a community effort. It’s part of cleaning up a town. The natural progression of Chinburg coming in is going to raise everyone’s property values. It’s not just about pushing people out, it’s about rising everybody up.” — Commercial Project Manager Rob Pearson
This article was written by Josh Hou, Liam Murphy, and Tom Morgan.
The Telling True Stories Project is a Proctor Academy production.
