Wauregan Mills: A New Lease on Life

0:00A historic textile mill complex along Connecticut's Quinebog River just got a fresh shot at life. The Wurgen mills in Plainfield, built before the Civil War, once powered 700 jobs with over 55,000 spindles. It shut down in the late 1950s from floods and foreign competition, sat empty after 2014 and fell into serious disrepair. Now, Michael Guitichelli, a Glastonbury real estate pro, snagged the $375,000 square foot side with a $1,330,000 mortgage. His plan starts with millions and fixes, securing roofs, swapping windows, clearing brush to boost curb appeal before pitching it for offices or industrial tenants. Locals and leaders are fired up about it. Plainfield's first-selectman, Kevin Cunningham, backs zoning tweaks and tax breaks to make it happen, warning the buildings could crumble in 5 to 10. Years without action, neighbors already see hope in the cleanup crews, taming vines and debris.

1:03Guitichelli calls this his biggest project ever, uncovering a hidden stone foundry for possible rental housing. Pass owners handle hazards and contaminants, so environmental hurdles are manageable. He's teaming with designers for renderings that nod to the site's Greek revival towers and stone walls. With Amazon and a massive U-line center drawing workers nearby, this Riverside gym could spark mixed use vibes or steady jobs, pulling the town forward, into a brighter industrial revival. That's your update from Hartford News Today, powered by AI.