05/08/2026
Our Katahdin wanted to weigh in on the proposal Acadian Timber presented to the community this week in an open forum at Stearns High School library this past Tuesday, because we have seen some social media posts that contain mischaracterizations about our organization that we’d like to clear up.
First, Our Katahdin has never contemplated low-income housing — not at our Hilltop parcel (water tower), not anywhere. Our interest in new housing is straightforward: to complement the existing workforce that exists in the region by attracting a skilled workforce to support the industrial and commercial tenants we’re working to bring to the mill site. Workforce housing and low-income housing are very different things.
Second, we have not been active participants in the Acadian Timber proposal. As an adjacent landowner and a nonprofit focused on economic development for the community, Acadian shared their early development concept with us. Since then, we have seen iterations as their plan developed but have not been “hatching under cover” as presumed by some. We have been impressed with the experienced team Acadian has assembled and are encouraged by their professionalism and commitment to involve the public. What was presented at the public meeting this week was still a concept level design, which the public process will inform toward a final design.
As for our own housing plans, we hold a parcel with a subdivision plan originally approved back in 1966. Because of its proximity to existing town infrastructure, we believe it could be one of the most cost-effective sites in Millinocket for new housing development, with some updates to reflect how homeownership has evolved since then. That said, our housing thinking is still very preliminary. Our primary focus remains the mill site (namely, landing the biofuel and aquaculture mega-projects), and we simply don’t yet have the capacity or resources to push housing redevelopment forward on our own. That’s why we’re intrigued by Acadian Timber’s proposal, as tenants always mention housing constraints as an issue.
We also heard at this week’s public forum that a 1,000-foot buffer zone would be maintained around Jerry Pond, so we’re confident the pond will be well protected. A new housing development, thoughtfully designed and with that kind of environmental protection in place, could be an asset in building a community with an increasing tax base and that attracts the workforce One North needs.
Lastly, we want to say: community voices matter, and the public process that the Town and Acadian Timber appear to be working through is exactly the right venue for these questions to be asked and answered. We encourage everyone in Millinocket to stay involved and make their perspectives heard.
— Our Katahdin
