By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
North Attleborough has been informed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct an approximately $4 million cleanup of surface debris from last year’s demolition of the vacant Webster Mill.
The mill property, located on Broadway, is a former silversmith factory that operated from the 1890s through the 1970s. The mill was demolished last March following a roof collapse.
“This is all really good; we’ve been talking about this for six months now, but when the EPA came to me last week and said ‘this is a go, it finally got funded,’ that was a really big deal for us,” said Assistant Town Manager Antonio Morabito on having an outside agency not only fund the cleanup, but also execute it.
According to an approved action memorandum sent to town officials, the total project cost will be $4,098,258. The EPA deemed that a “time-critical removal action be performed” due to the high levels of asbestos found at the property through a 2015 hazardous materials survey completed by Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc.
“Hazardous substances, specifically asbestos-containing waste building debris present at the site, if not addressed. . . will continue to pose a threat to human health and the environment,” reads the emailed statement.
The Webster Mill cleanup is a four-phase project, something Morabito equated to a 4-D game of chess. Demolition was the first step, which happened back in March 2024 when a previously collapsed roof put pressure onto a wall, causing the building to bow inward and pose a risk of collapsing into the street. After the owners, Webster Mill LLC cited an inability to pay for the repairs, the town was able to execute an emergency demolition order and take down the portion of the building deemed an imminent threat to residents.
A tax lien complaint was filed by the town against Webster Mill, LLC on March 3 in Bristol County Land Court, asking the court to foreclose on the defendants’ rights to redeem the property and thus grant ownership to North Attleborough. A Nov. 7, 2023, instrument of taking filed by Town Treasurer and Collector Christopher Sweet shows unpaid taxes in the amount of $1,812.62.
According to the Assessors Office’s online database Vision Government Solutions, the building and 1.64 acres of land it sits on is assessed and appraised at $363,900. Webster Mill LLC is listed as the owner, with Anthony Joseph of 417 Central Ave., Johnston, Rhode Island, as the co-owner. John Jacobi, an attorney at Coogan Smith LLP, representing the Webster Mill LLC did not want to comment at this time.
The surface cleanup will also include the demolition of the last two remaining standing structures on the property: the chimney at the back right portion of the property, and a one-story cinderblock building that sits next to the paved parking area.
To Morabito, one of the most important parts of this partnership with the EPA is that it is running the surface cleanup in its entirety.
“They’re running the project, not us,” said Morabito. “It’s not like they’re just giving us the money. They’re the ones doing it.”
Decontamination of the soil, which is phase three of the project, is not included in the $4 million surface cleanup. However, according to Morabito, the town has a revolving loan fund from the EPA that it can use to lend to itself, and there’s also the possibility that the EPA will continue funding the remainder of the project.
Verdantas, a qualified engineer professional, has been hired to test the soil to figure out precisely what chemicals have been left behind by the former silver manufacturer, and come back with an estimate to remove it.
Site history
According to North Attleborough’s Historic Commission, G.K. Webster & Co. was founded by George K. Webster in 1869 and produced sterling silver, which included products such as flatware, napkin rings, candlesticks and thimbles.
The company’s sterling silver can still be found today and is identified by the Webster hallmark: the letter W with a feathered arrow flying through its center.
Jo Anne Kittrell, the press officer for EPA Region One of New England, told the North Star Reporter on Monday afternoon that cleanup is expected to begin later this summer. Kittrell also noted that the EPA always works to first see if there is a responsible party at cleanup sites, and work is funded by the agency while that research is conducted.
The final phase of the project is development, something Morabito voiced excitement about. To Morabito, the proximity to nearby schools, High Street athletic fields and the downtown area makes the possibilities endless for what this area could be turned into, and what further revitalization efforts it could spark in this area of North Attleborough.
“This is a great piece of property—wouldn’t it be great if this could be re-developed into something?” said Morabito. “This is a great part of the town.”
Cole Hastings, the on-scene coordinator for the EPA’s Region One emergency response and removal team, will be the lead on the project and is meeting with the town on Tuesday, June 24, to do a walkthrough of the site and plan next steps. A public forum will be scheduled in the future as well, where residents can ask questions and the safety measures in place will be explained.