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South End of New Bedford – Reclaimed Berkshire
Hathaway Mills provide space for hundreds of jobs
Opportunities for success, growth abound at diverse Cove
Street complex
New Bedford Economic Development Council
 A
diverse mix of 40 manufacturing, office and industrial
tenants occupy the former Berkshire Hathaway mills and
there’s still substantial space available for sale or
rent, according to Roland Letendre, developer.
The complex boasts an array of uses ranging from an
architectural salvage and antiques company to importers
of Portuguese fishing nets, Chinese antiques and
furniture replicas, an electric motor scooter warehouse
facility and a plant that provides packaging to the
fishing industry.
“Historic buildings in general have a lot of character
and are ideal places to house your businesses,” said
Letendre, who bought the one million square feet of
space back in 2000. Dating back to the late 1880’s, the
site’s 30 buildings spanned across 17 acres and the
company employed more than 5,000 textile workers.
Investor Warren Buffet gained control of the company in
1965 and closed the mill operation 20 years later.
Times have changed but the ethics and loyalty of the
city’s employees remain intact. “The work force in New
Bedford is excellent and many of our tenants are long
standing and their companies keep growing,” Letendre
said. Other pluses of the location include its proximity
to beaches and water views, neighboring farm and coastal
communities, easy access to Route 18 and other highways,
ample parking and limited traffic.
“The whole south end area is great,” Letendre said.
“It’s near downtown but not in the middle of it. This is
a hub zone and as such, special consideration is given
by government agencies to companies when bidding on
contracts that are located in this zone.”
The Division of Marine Fisheries is among the agencies
to recently rent space. Additional examples of tenants
include a photographer, a medical practice supply
warehouse, a surveyor and bookkeeper, and Letendre’s
company, a leather goods manufacturer that supplies
equestrian riding products as well as saddlebags and
riding chaps for motorcycles to vendors nationwide.
“There’s ample, affordable space and a lot of
opportunities here,” Letendre said, adding that it
wouldn’t be unheard of to add a restaurant or artist’s
apartment/studio into the mix. Letendre is looking for
buyers to purchase or rent the buildings.
In the past, the New Bedford Economic Development
Council has provided assistance and Letendre expects
that partnership to continue. “It made a huge difference
having the NBEDC involved and helping with financing.
They are an asset to the city.”
September 24, 2007 |
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