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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Milltown Moonshot': Big ideas on the table for redevelopment of Canton paper mill site
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 7—A high-ranking member of Gov. Josh Stein's administration visited Canton last week as the former paper mill site continues its transition — a project that is massive in terms of both scope and ambition. Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Reid Wilson met with Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers, new mill site owner Eric Spirtas, Haywood County Commissioners Kevin Ensley and Brandon Rogers, and others during the visit. Their wide-ranging conversation served as a recommitment of the public/private partnership upon which Canton has pinned so much of its hopes for the future. "Obviously DEQ has this regulatory part to it, but these are people that are coming with solutions that want to see us succeed. And so, I see (Secretary Wilson) not only as a partner, but as a family," Mayor Smathers said. "What's exciting about this is, it is bold. It's not just, 'let's get back to where we were before,'" Secretary Wilson said. "It's thinking about, 'How do we make this town more resilient? How do we protect water quality in the Pigeon? How do we protect our environment? How do we redevelop in a way that brings jobs and people to this beautiful town?'" DEQ's job is to review permit applications and ensure that laws are followed, Wilson said, adding his department also is a ready and willing partner in the future of the mill site. "And I just wanted to come out today to learn more about everything that is planned so that we can make sure we're doing what we need to do to assist and help the bold dream become a reality," he said. The Green Mountain Plan Much of the meeting involved Spirtas giving Wilson a rundown of how the mill site was impacted by Helene and what the plans for the site will be moving forward. Spirtas stressed that it is early days (demolition only began last month), and much is still up in the air. But Spirtas didn't see uncertainty as a bad thing. He pointed toward his company's experience with such projects. "No one has to be embarrassed about not knowing what's in front and not knowing exactly what's going to happen. We've done it before, and we can do it again," he said. Spirtas called his vision for the mill site "The Green Mountain Plan." In this vision, which he stressed is just one possible outcome for the site, there will be a large reservoir dug next to the Pigeon River to help ameliorate future flooding — 10 to 15 acres of the site's 50-acre expanse. Along the reservoir would be a public event space, a greenway, and other "town friendly" infrastructure. "The mayor had a vision well before (I did), and I embrace that, and I say it will be walkable, it'll be enjoyable," Spirtas said. He also proposed residential zones in areas that are higher up off the river. "This will be a nine-figure development," Spirtas said of the potential project cost. Clean water Environmental issues were also a topic of conversation. "We're not looking past the fact that this had 115 years of stuff," Spirtas said, placing heavy emphasis on the word stuff. "And so, for anybody who will listen and everybody who wants to know, whatever material we're dealing with flows in one direction. And that's good. Because you can catch it." The environmental clean-up plan is "voluminous," and involves creating a system that will harvest and process any residual mill pollution before it reaches the Pigeon River. By working with the previous owners and the EPA, Spirtas said, his group is aware of below-ground contamination, and there is a plan to deal with it as development of the site progresses. "The collection of environmental materials will be symbiotic with redevelopment. It won't all be done when we're redeveloping, but it'll be in control, and it will not impact the river," he said. The wastewater treatment plant on the mill site was also discussed, with Spirtas pointing out that the plant had reached pre-storm levels of operation and that the partnership between his company and the Town of Canton was "looking for the next steps." "I lose sleep over a lot of things, but the future of that wastewater plant and being able to provide the wastewater needs to this town isn't one of them," Smathers said. "We're going to figure that out. The plumbing is working in the town of Canton right now, and we'll get to the other things. It's with partnerships with DEQ, finding the grants, the creative. You have a sincere cooperation because we believe what this site could be, and it is nothing without infrastructure and wastewater." Spirtas was also hopeful that the future of wastewater treatment in Canton was secure. "It can be done. It will be done," he said, calling out the experience of longtime wastewater treatment plant workers who went on Spirtas' payroll after the mill sale. "I look at the guys that are supporting us here. These guys are powerhouses. We have months of running (the wastewater treatment plant) in the current state with people I'm so proud of." The meeting wrapped with Mayor Smathers once again highlighting the ambitious nature of the site's future. "This is not the Milltown Miracle. This is the Milltown Moonshot. Why shouldn't we be bold?" Smathers said. "There was a time in this country we were drawn to those types of projects. We let politics and pettiness bring us down. But that's how this town was built. No one came in here and said, 'Let's go small.' So, honoring that tradition is by going bold again."
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mill site owner outlines possibilities for property
Mar. 7—LAKE JUNALUSKA — Eric Spirtas, the Canton mill's new owner, shared his vision for his latest acquisition with 105 attendees at Haywood County Chamber of Commerce's Issues and Eggs event Wednesday, a vision that includes the possibility of setting aside some land for protection against flooding. And he is still open to suggestions. Spirtas held the crowd captive as he described his journey toward acquiring the 185-acre mill site, various downtown Canton buildings and land parcels across the county, including Lake Logan and its dam. "There will be enhanced green space, new building opportunities and hundreds of jobs," he said. After sharing his experiences as a tomato pie and chili contest judge where he met dozens of Haywood residents to chat with about their ideas for the property, Spirtas gave an overview of flooding at the Canton mill through the years. Becoming a bit emotional at the most recent devastation in the community, he vowed to do his part to prevent future flooding. He said he is working with regulatory officials and others to devise the best way to do that. "I'm prepared to work with FEMA to do what past owners couldn't do — give up five to 20 acres," he said, explaining ways to protect the river and make the mill and community less susceptible to flooding. He encouraged all to check into Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheater that touts both its natural history and event location features. For now, Spirtas is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take the steps that will give the site a clean bill of health when finished. That includes pumping out several concentrated spots of black liquor, which will be run through the onsite wastewater treatment system. He also is working to address several fuel oil spills. Spirtas emphasized the underground contamination found during the recent environmental testing predated the Pactiv Evergreen years. "They did a good job of keeping the chemicals clean," he said, speaking of a concrete substrate that helped immensely. "The contamination is from Champion." Many of the structures on the mill site will be demolished, something that's the new owner's specialty. "I can wreck anything in a month," he told Lisa Johnson in response to a question on the development timeline. But there are other considerations such as coordinating with environmental regulators, figuring out the right master plan for redevelopment and then implementing the plan. Multi use There are varying plans and potential uses for each area of the 185-acre site. There's the distribution center that has manufacturing potential; the large quantity of energy available from both natural gas and electricity that could be ideal for data centers needed to power the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector; recreational potential along the Pigeon River; a large number of land tracts and downtown buildings such as the former post office and mill administration offices. Then there's the landfill where former mill waste was deposited that has to be continually monitored under environmental requirements. Spirtas found a way to quickly monetize the asset and is using it as a private facility that accepts flood waste from both inside and outside the county. Two Banks has contracted with DH Griffin, another demolition company, to work on the Canton project to get things rolling since other projects are keeping him too busy, Spirtas said. He's working with the nationally acclaimed landscape architect Tom Woltz, who lives in Waynesville, along with Andrew Fox of N.C. State College of Design's Coastal Dynamics, and Dan Rasmussen, economic development coordinator. He also has a grant writer on staff. "I would like town, county and state support," he said. Lake Logan Spirtas got more than just the mill site property in his purchase. He's also now the owner of Lake Logan, the dam and land under the lake. What will happen to the lake and dam is unknown. Lake Logan Conference and Retreat Center surrounds the lake and would be impacted by any decision Spirtas makes regarding the body of water and dam — particularly if the dam ceases to exist and thus so does the lake. Spirtas said he has had a discussion with the bishop of the Episcopal diocese that owns the property surrounding Lake Logan. The lake was built by Champion in the 1930s to supply water to the Canton mill during times of drought. The company built an executive retreat around the lake where national figures such as the late President Richard Nixon and the late Rev. Billy Graham were entertained. When the Champion employees purchased the mill, the Episcopal Diocese of WNC purchased the retreat acreage, while the surrounding timber lands came under state and federal ownership. Spirtas told the group he had a conversation with the Episcopal bishop about creating and marketing riverfront property where the lake is now located. "This is just the beginning," Spirtas told the group. "Someone here might have an idea, and I'd like to hear it," he said. He encouraged those with possibilities he could consider to contact him at
