Bastrop's I-P Mill May Be Redeveloped

There may be some good economic news for Bastrop in the future. This comes one day after International Paper announced its plan to demolish the mill in Morehouse Parish It’s been less than two years since Bastrop’s economy was dealt a huge blow by the closing of the mill. Now, the owners - International Paper - are planning to tear it down. But that announcement has caught the attention of other companies who are taking a closer look at the site Everywhere you turn in Bastrop you see International Paper with its stacks touching the sky. People around town say it’s hard to imagine it no longer standing on this spot after 80 years. "It's going to be a sore spot cause your used to seeing it there your used to seeing the light blinking at the top of the building,” said Bastrop resident Pam Duncan. International Paper officials say over the next six months parts of the facility will be re-used and by early next year the plant will be wiped off the Bastrop map. It’s the announcement of demolition that Morehouse economic development CEO Kay King has turned positive "I've been bombarded with calls all morning with different types of companies,” said King. King says with I-P’s demolition several big companies are interested in re-developing the Bastrop site. She couldn't go into much detail about the companies, but she says they deal with timber. "Everyone is looking at the biomass and the timber in the area and the renewable resources we have here and those are the kind of companies that are going to be attracted,” said King,. King says the Bastrop mill site is attractive to businesses because of the resources that are available to be used. "Two rail services go into that site we have a water supply from Bayou Bartholomew,” said King. Even Bastrop Mayor Betty Alford-Olive is not willing to give up hope that the I-P mill could be something different some day. "The effort is not over that's an ongoing process that you always try,” said Alford Olive. But king says getting a new business requires patience and the process can take up to ten years to develop. The years will not come quick enough for people like Pam Duncan. "I have neighbors that worked for them for 19-20 years and they might sell their house. To jumpstart this town again, get it happy and joyful instead of bad news,” said King. We spoke to International Paper Today and as of now, they have no further comment other than the statement about the demolition; that was released yesterday. King also reminds everyone that even the demolition process is positive news. She says companies are also calling about tearing down the I-P mill and that will also create temporary jobs.