By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – A cupola salvaged from the Libbey Mill in 2000 likely will be part of the redevelopment there.

City Administrator Jim Bennett said the cupola, which has been kept in various public works facilities for the past five years, is likely to be part of the Island Point project.

Developers last week announced plans to renovate the vacant Cowan and Libbey mills, overlooking the Androscoggin River. As part of a $29 million redevelopment project, both buildings will be redesigned for high-end condominiums and retail.

It’s too early to know exactly where the cupola might fit, Bennett said. “We haven’t gotten into a real discussion about that yet,” he said. “There are a couple of different places it could make sense.”

The city could make it available to developers, Bennett said, or use it in one of the public projects planned for the site. The city plans to create a performance venue at nearby Veterans Memorial Park as part of the project. Bennett said the city could use the cupola there.

“We just need to see what happens before anyone starts jumping to conclusions,” Bennett said.

The cupola sat atop the W.S. Libbey Mill for 150 years and is depicted on the city’s official seal. City leaders removed it in 2000 after fire destroyed one of the two main buildings at the complex. The cupola has been in storage ever since.

Last year, city leaders toyed with the idea of making the cupola part of Raymond Park, a new green space at the corner of Lincoln and Main streets. They instead opted to include iron columns from the former Lewiston Gas Works.

The Libbey Mill cupola “just didn’t fit with the site,” Bennett said. “Besides, we were hoping we’d get a chance to redevelop the Libbey Mill.”

Developers hope to begin work on the Cowan Mill this spring and wrap up in 2006. Work on the Libbey Mill is scheduled to begin in 2006 and be completed in 2007.