The LRC owned the derelict ‘Tomato Factory’ parcel looking out on the Mill dam and Broad Creek; it had sat unused for nearly 50 years. Several potential usages were considered, both commercial and residential, over a period of several years before the LRC committed the property to a private developer who proceeded to begin building an upscale gated community of 18 Villas on Broad Creek.
Old tomato canning factory
The housing crisis of 2008-9 halted the project after 10 of the proposed 18 homes were completed and sold. With the help of a Downtown Development District large-project grant, developer Mike Meoli is completing the project with 10 smaller 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes. The Villas are now completely built out.
Benefits include: 1) transformation of unused/underused properties in the flood basin, 2) control over the manner in which the Broad Creek shoreline was developed and protected 3) LRC/private developer cooperation, and 4) the largest increase to the town property rolls in the last decade.
Located on the site of the former Oliphant Packing Company or canning factory, the Villas on Broad Creek resulted from collaboration between the LRC, RW Radish & Associates (Randy Radish) and The Meoli Companies (Tony Meoli & Mike Meoli).
The site was identified as a very important piece of the LRC’s mission to clean up the blight along broad Creek.
