BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer
HELMETTA – Though demolition of the town’s snuff mill is moving along, some of its history will in fact be saved.
In addition to the expected preservation and reuse of some of the buildings of the former Helme Tobacco Co., the borough’s Historical Society is taking steps to keep the history of the mill alive.
The society is in the process of making a DVD that will feature various parts of the mill, some of which date back to the late 1800s. Members are also putting together a walking tour guidebook of the site, according to member Kathryn Hackett-Fields.
The Historical Society has been working with the borough’s chosen redeveloper, Kaplan Cos., in this effort, Hackett-Fields said. The builder has permitted the society to take bricks from demolished buildings and use them to create walkways and benches. The group will also be taking ledgers and other paperwork left behind at the white office building on Maple Street.
There are items dating back to the 1920s inside the building, Hackett-Fields said. The mill closed in 1993.
“[The Kaplans] have a strong interest in giving the best outcome for everybody,” she said.
Kaplan is expected to build 225 age-restricted townhouses and condominiums on the mill site, along with 10 affordable housing units, 10,000 square feet of retail space and provide recreation areas to the borough. The development will be called Heritage at Helmetta.
Kaplan presented its latest building plan to the borough’s Redevelopment Committee on Sept. 15, and is expected to bring a revised plan before the Borough Council on Wednesday.
Mayor Nancy Martin said she could not disclose much regarding the latest plan until it is presented to the council. She said that Kaplan actually presented two plans to the Redevelopment Committee. The committee found one of them to be preferable, but will be making some modifications to it before it becomes final.
“We were concerned about the development that would take place on parcel two because of the residential area that is adjacent to the site,” Martin said. The mill site has been divided into five separate parcels in the redevelopment plan, with four of the five slated for commercial or residential uses, and the fifth for open space and recreation.
Martin said she still could not specify which of the mill buildings will be preserved and rehabilitated, but some will be made into age-restricted housing units.
“It would be nice if it could have been done differently,” Hackett-Fields said. “But that building has been sitting there since 1993, and there is very little interest [in preserving it] on the residents’ part. So, I think it’s working out as an excellent compromise.”