By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — Two forgotten mill buildings situated along the Blackstone River near Tolman High School are poised to become the latest additions to the city’s emerging arts community.

New York developer Chance Kelly and a partner, Mark House, a Rhode Island-based environmental engineer, have purchased two adjoining properties on Blackstone Street. Kelly did not disclose the purchase price.
One is a 35,000-square foot, two-story brick building, built around 1901 at 65 Blackstone St., that has been used for various light manufacturing purposes. The other is a 25,000-square foot brick building with several wood-frame additions that was built in 1910 and once housed Orr Brothers Bleaching.
Unlike many of the city’s old mills, these two structures are not vacant. Previously owned by William F. Harty, both have tenants occupying a portion of the structures, and the new developers are not intending to chase them out.
Rather, they are hoping to attract additional tenants who are artisans, craftsmen or antiques dealers who would fit with the vision civic leaders have of a vibrant arts community.
Kelly said he has done other development projects in New York, but this is his first foray into old mill rehabilitation. He heard about the two buildings from his friend, Mark House, who had been in the Pawtucket area doing environmental work on nearby Front Street.
When he saw the old buildings and their unique riverfront location, Kelly thought they were architecturally beautiful  “and with a little bit of work, they will be even more beautiful,” he added.
He said that stylewise, the structures will be renovated along the lines of the nearby Riverfront Lofts, although Kelly’s properties are intended for commercial use. He estimates the project will take three to five years to complete.
While the concept is still developing, Kelly intends for it to be in step with ongoing local real estate initiatives.  “We want to accommodate people in any sort of creative business, who can appreciate this type of property and see the beauty and history in it,” he stated. While the buildings are currently zoned for industrial use, Kelly said, “We want to stay away from any hard industrial applications.”
He said one building has a label maker as a tenant and the other has a thread and string company, but much of the remaining space is in open floor plans  that could accommodate anyone from a artisan or antiques dealer to a dance studio or performing arts organization.
Once the tenants are secure, the second phase of the project will begin: to restore and renovate the buildings to enhance their architectural and historical charm.
Kelly said he and his partner intend to work closely with the city’s Riverfront Commission and the city as the rehabilitation work gets underway. He said he was impressed by people like antiques dealer Richard Kazarian and others who sit on the Riverfront Commission, as well as with city Planning Department officials Michael Cassidy and Herbert Weiss for their efforts at promoting the historic mill properties.
Depending on how the real estate market goes, Kelly also said he wouldn’t rule out a live/work component for his newly acquired properties. “It will come down to the needs of what the market is asking for,” he said.