Steven Sobol

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  business.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=107327&ac=PHbiz - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 5/22/2007    Last Visited: 5/29/2007  

  Steve Sobol, the owner of Riverdam Millyard in Biddeford, has put the property up for sale after two and a half years of ownership.Sobol said he has already invested more than $500,000 in the property and cannot afford all of the needed and desired improvements.
  
  "It's enormously expensive to do anything that involves a mill.Everyone who's trying needs all the help they can get," he said.
  
  Three businesses were forced to leave Riverdam Millyard after 13 violations were found in the wake of a fire in February.
  
  While the conversion of any mill property to another use is difficult, Sobol faced the additional challenge of dealing with modifications made over the years by previous owners, said Roby Fecteau, a deputy code enforcement officer.

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  blog.biddefordsacooobcourier.com/2007/03/08/tenants-rem - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/8/2007    Last Visited: 3/17/2007  

  Since a fire in the Riverdam Millyard on Feb. 19, the Code Enforcement Office has cited Riverdam owner Steven Sobol for 15 violations, including several related to fire safety.
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  Another sprinkler issue that Fecteau noted in a letter to Sobol dated Feb. 13, prior to the fire, stated that Sobol had turned the water valve off for two nights the week before.Sobol was ordered by the city to install his own water shut off valve that controls the water supply to Riverdam by May 1.Currently, Riverdam and the Bugbee and Brown building at 22 Pearl Street (directly across from Riverdam) have a joint shut off valve, which means that if one building shuts off the water, it affects the other building as well.Fecteau's letter stated that turning off the water to both buildings created "a severe life safety violation."Sobol was also ordered to notify the occupants of the Bugbee and Brown building as well as the fire department before he turns the water valve off or turns it back on.Sobol was notified that he is required to install the shut off valve for Riverdam nearly two years ago according to Fecteau, who added that Sobol had previously made some necessary upgrades to the sprinkler system that was designed for use in the original manufacturing building.Since manufacturing has ceased in the building, the mill has been divided into a mixed use space by several different developers and owners over time, the most recent sole owner and developer being Sobol."The sprinkler system was designed for the original mill plans but splitting up the space requires upgrades.A lot of work has been done on the (sprinkler) system," said Fecteau, "Riverdam has come a long way in the last two years and he (Sobol) has done a lot of improvements."Sobol said that he felt that it would be difficult to install the water shut off valve by May 1."I am sure that I have as much time as it takes, but they (code enforcement) want to see progress," said Sobol.Fecteau said he and the State Fire Marshall's Office conducted a limited inspection following the fire, covering the basement of Riverdam and several floors above the area affected by the fire.
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  "The letters refer to a list of violations, but they aren't like traffic tickets, the issues involve long term planning and long term solutions," said Sobol, "In terms of those three spaces, some of the violations are my responsibility, some are the tenants and some are impossible to comply with due to the layout of the building, such as a second exit in Karl Reed's space."
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  Sobol said he would be happy to lease other space in the building to the displaced tenants if they could find somewhere that is suitable. "As much as I am sorry to see them go, I think they have a great mission and they provide a great service," said Sobol about the loss of Imagine People Helping People in Need, "I would absolutely lease another space to them.
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  Sobol has a March 26 deadline to install several doors, repair and chain the sprinkler valves so they are locked in the open position, install emergency lighting, seal off an old elevator shaft, identify electrical panels, stair towers must be labeled in accordance with fire department guidelines and all accumulated clutter and debris must be removed from common areas.The doors, needed on several different levels of the building, are required to prevent fires from spreading throughout the mill should another one occur.During the Feb. 19 fire, the entire building filled with smoke from what turned out to be a fairly contained fire because the doors were not in place and allowed the smoke to travel throughout the building.The elevator shaft also acted somewhat like a chimney, guiding the smoke to every floor of the building.Sobol must install "vertical opening protection" on every floor of the shaft or meet two-hour shaft requirements, which are the fire prevention measures that surround a working elevator. Sobol must also perform a yearly required flow test of the sprinkler system and provide documentation to the fire department that it has been done.The fire alarm system in the building must also be inspected.
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  Another requirement Sobol must meet is to install several four inch fire department hose connections inside the building by Sept. 1.

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  blog.biddefordsacooobcourier.com/rss2.aspx - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/8/2007    Last Visited: 3/17/2007  

  http://blog.biddefordsacooobcourier.com/2007/03/08/tenants-removed-for-viol
  ations-in-riverdam-millyard.aspxBrandi NealBy Stephanie Grinnell Staff Writer     Since a fire in the Riverdam Millyard on Feb. 19, the Code Enforcement Office has cited Riverdam owner Steven Sobol for 15 violations, including several related to fire safety.     During the fire 17 of 20 sprinkler valves were turned to the off position, including the valve in the space where the fire started, and Fire and Life Safety Inspector Roby Fecteau said that the valves are so old that the sprinkler company doesn't dare to turn them on for fear that they would break off and flood the building.
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  Since the valve was off in the room with the fire, it did not trip the fire alarm and the business above called the fire department when they noticed smoke coming up through the floor, said LaBrecque.     Another sprinkler issue that Fecteau noted in a letter to Sobol dated Feb. 13, prior to the fire, stated that Sobol had turned the water valve off for two nights the week before.Sobol was ordered by the city to install his own water shut off valve that controls the water supply to Riverdam by May 1.Currently, Riverdam and the Bugbee and Brown building at 22 Pearl Street (directly across from Riverdam) have a joint shut off valve, which means that if one building shuts off the water, it affects the other building as well.Fecteau's letter stated that turning off the water to both buildings created "a severe life safety violation."Sobol was also ordered to notify the occupants of the Bugbee and Brown building as well as the fire department before he turns the water valve off or turns it back on.     Sobol was notified that he is required to install the shut off valve for Riverdam nearly two years ago according to Fecteau, who added that Sobol had previously made some necessary upgrades to the sprinkler system that was designed for use in the original manufacturing building.Since manufacturing has ceased in the building, the mill has been divided into a mixed use space by several different developers and owners over time, the most recent sole owner and developer being Sobol.     "The sprinkler system was designed for the original mill plans but splitting up the space requires upgrades.A lot of work has been done on the (sprinkler) system," said Fecteau, "Riverdam has come a long way in the last two years and he (Sobol) has done a lot of improvements."     Sobol said that he felt that it would be difficult to install the water shut off valve by May 1.     "I am sure that I have as much time as it takes, but they (code enforcement) want to see progress," said Sobol.     Fecteau said he and the State Fire Marshall's Office conducted a limited inspection following the fire, covering the basement of Riverdam and several floors above the area affected by the fire.
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  Fecteau said the three spaces will be chained off after March 12 and no one will be allowed inside, not even the tenants.     Sobol has a March 26 deadline to install several doors, repair and chain the sprinkler valves so they are locked in the open position, install emergency lighting, seal off an old elevator shaft, identify electrical panels, stair towers must be labeled in accordance with fire department guidelines and all accumulated clutter and debris must be removed from common areas.     The doors, needed on several different levels of the building, are required to prevent fires from spreading throughout the mill should another one occur.During the Feb. 19 fire, the entire building filled with smoke from what turned out to be a fairly contained fire because the doors were not in place and allowed the smoke to travel throughout the building.The elevator shaft also acted somewhat like a chimney, guiding the smoke to every floor of the building.Sobol must install "vertical opening protection" on every floor of the shaft or meet two-hour shaft requirements, which are the fire prevention measures that surround a working elevator.     Sobol must also perform a yearly required flow test of the sprinkler system and provide documentation to the fire department that it has been done.The fire alarm system in the building must also be inspected.The last flow test was done last year  (2006) in the spring and covered the sixth floor section of the building only, according to LaBrecque.     Another requirement Sobol must meet is to install several four inch fire department hose connections inside the building by Sept. 1.

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  blog.biddefordsacooobcourier.com/ - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/1/2007    Last Visited: 3/17/2007  

  Since a fire in the Riverdam Millyard on Feb. 19, the Code Enforcement Office has cited Riverdam owner Steven Sobol for 15 violations, including several related to fire safety.

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  www.mainebusiness.com/story.php?id=122498&ac=PHbiz - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/23/2007    Last Visited: 7/24/2007  

  to current owner Steven Sobol's asking price of $1.6 million.
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  building for safety reasons and cited Sobol for 13 building code violations.

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  ABOUT RIVERDAM MILLYARD - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/11/2007    Last Visited: 9/20/2009  

  OWNERS STEVEN SOBOL & JACQUELINE TAYLOR HAVE ENVISIONED THE MILL AS THEIR OWN SO-HO.

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  Business in MaineToday.com | Cultural Plan for... - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/18/2006    Last Visited: 4/18/2006  

  Following the presentation, Steven Sobol, owner of the Riverdam Millyard, will lead a brief tour of the facility.

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  CONTACT RIVERDAM MILLYARD - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/20/2009    Last Visited: 9/20/2009  

  STEVEN SOBOL, DEVELOPER: 207 571 0830 EMAIL STEVEN

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  Developers: Tax deal key to Saco Island plan - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/20/2006    Last Visited: 9/21/2006  

  "I just don't think economic development can happen in a vacuum," said Steven Sobol, owner of the Riverdam Mill.

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  HOB Board of Directors - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 1/19/2007    Last Visited: 1/19/2007  

  Steven Sobol Board Member

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