Lumberyard Unlikely for Mill Valley Site

Despite their hope to bring in a new lumberyard operator when they acquired the property last summer, Matt and Jan Mathews have had to devise new plans for the site of Mill Valley Lumber, Mill Valley, Ca.

They said they called on lumber businesses throughout Northern California, but none were interested in moving in. Several said the singleacre property was too small.

As well, a long-time tenant-Mill Valley Cabinet Shop-recently moved across town after the Mathews were forced to ask for higher rent, to

ldaho Sawmill Closes Again

Emerald Forest Products. Emmett. Id., has once again closed.

"The mill has officially shut down," said owner Richard Vinson, who believes it will reopen under new ownership. "We have two different interested parties coming in, and I'm confident one of them will make a deal."

Vinson started the mill in 2010, on part of a 22-acre site formerly occupied by Boise Cascade, with the help fund costly upgrading of the historic buildings. "These buildings have been workhorses for over 100 years, but right now they need some TLC," Jan Mathews said. of investors and $4 million in federal stimulus money. He shut down in April 201 l, faced foreclosure six months later, and filed Chapter I I bankruptcy in January 2012.

The couple still hopes to recruit a general mercantile store, specialty hardware business, or other commercial operator-something that allows them to maintain the historic property. "Our goal remains to preserve the buildings and keep it something that the community can interact with and enjoy," she said.

The mill reopened last July, but continued to struggle before officially closing in mid-February. "We didn't have any logs coming in here for the last month and a half, so we kind of knew it was coming," said plant manager John Steward. "I knew we were going to have a layoff, at least."