The Continental Mill along the Androscoggin River in Lewiston is seen in the aerial photo from 2019. Sun Journal file photo

LEWISTON — The Historic Preservation Review Board on Thursday afternoon unanimously approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a potential new development at the Continental Mill: Picker House Lofts.

Szanton Monks Properties is behind the 72-unit mixed income housing project at 2 Cedar St. and has a purchase and sale agreement in place with Chinburg Properties for 76,500-square feet of the massive mill, according to board filings.

“Our business model is to wait until we are ready to start construction to close on a piece of property,” Szanton’s Amy Cullen said Thursday.

As part of the project, the mill’s No. 5 Boiler House and Card Room Building would be taken down to restore a wall of windows, letting in more natural light.

“Not only does removing the small buildings allow for restoration of the exterior of No. 3 Picker House, but it makes the first floor spaces far more usable,” Travis Nadeau, an architect with Platz Associates, wrote in a memo to the board.

Szanton has been behind Lewiston’s The Lofts at Bates Mill and The Hartley Block.

Next stop: The Lewiston Planning Board with site and subdivision plans.

Quick hits about business comings, goings and happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact staff writer Kathryn Skelton at 689-2844 or kskelton@sunjournal.com.