LEWISTON – Demolition crews should begin tearing down what remains of the W.S. Libbey Mill complex next week, making room for future development and a nearby hotel.

The city has hired Middleboro, Mass.-based Costello Dismantling Inc. to knock down the downtown Lewiston landmark.

That company bid $63,793 to do the project, the lowest of six bidders vying for the job.

“All this does is take it down and remove the concrete debris,” said Norm Beauparlant, the city’s director of budget and purchasing. That will include the tall stair tower and five stories worth of broken windows facing Veterans Park and Main Street.

City Administrator Jim Bennett said city councilors are scheduled begin discussing development rules and timelines for the area’s redevelopment at their Oct. 2 meeting.

Developer Travis Soule still intends to redevelop the Cowan Mill – the remaining building on the site – and Winston Hotels Inc. plans to build a three-star or better hotel on the parking lot north of Veterans Park on Main Street.

“We’ve created a development district for that area, but we haven’t specified any rules for that district,” Bennett said. “That’s what we have to do next. It’s all about getting the site ready.”

The demolition project will bring the Libbey Mill’s long history to a close.

It was built in 1846, part of a two-building complex that used power from the Androscoggin River to make cotton, woolen and rubber-coated fabrics.

The mill continued to operate until 1991, when then-owner Armand Favreau moved the operation to South Carolina.

The buildings were abandoned and changed hands several times before they were purchased by the Miracle of the Living Waters, a nondenominational ministry.

The city eventually took ownership of the property, which carried an extensive debt of back taxes.

The mill’s No. 2 building was damaged in a pair of major fires and finally demolished in 2001.

The historic cupola, which is featured in the city’s seal, was removed and remains in city storage.

City crews demolished the 75-foot-tall smokestack outside of the remaining building in February.

Costello has a long history with the city as well, Beauparlant said. The company razed Libbey Mill building No. 2 in January 2001, followed by the F.W. Webb building and St. Peter’s School last year.

Costello was also responsible for demolishing the Cressey, Kora and Greely buildings this year along Lisbon Street.

Those buildings were damaged by a fire last Christmas season.