NORWAY – Voters at a special town meeting Thursday narrowly passed a motion to declare an area around the C.B. Cummings & Sons mill “slum and blighted.”

The designation, which may make the town eligible for a $500,000 grant for improvements to the mill site, was approved 19-13. Nearly two hours of discussion preceded the vote as residents shared concerns about labeling a section of town a “slum.”

“Are there any other equivalent options to getting the money we need in order to do this plan?” asked Pleasant Street resident Maureen Birtic.

“I can assure you, we’re leaving no rock unturned in looking for options,” said Brett Doney, president of Western Maine Development, which owns the property.

Doney presented plans for an initial phase of the mill redevelopment. If the state awards Norway the $500,000 Community Development Block Grant, he said, the money would cover improvements such as a new stormwater drainage system, a parking lot on Water Street, landscaping and some utilities. It also may cover new signs and trees for the town’s historic district, and new signs at the entrances to Norway.

“The total costs here are estimated at $748,500,” Doney said.

Western Maine Development would solicit contributions and raise money for the $40,000 not covered by the grant.

No one at the meeting protested the redevelopment plans, but some asked whether Doney’s organization will be able to find tenants for buildings that are improved or erected on the site. It was pointed out that many buildings on Main Street already are empty.

Some asked whether properties apart from the mill would benefit. Referring to a map of the area under consideration for the “slum and blighted” designation, Cherrie Bonney wondered whether there was a plan to address Water Street.

“The crime rate is very high there, nothing is done about that – what are you going to do about that area?” she asked.

Norway Selectman Leslie Flanders said the mill was a place to start. “If we don’t do something, Main Street is going to die,” he said, adding that there won’t be jobs for people if no redevelopment goes forward.

Others asked how long the area under consideration, which includes the southern side of Main Street from the old Aubuchon building to Water Street, the northern side of Water Street, and a few properties off Pikes Hill Road and Orchard Street, would retain the “slum and blighted” designation. They were told the title would be dropped once the mill improvements are complete.

Doney said Western Maine hopes to have the mill property sold to private developers or investors within three years.