Oakland Township Solicits Ideas for Paint Creek Cider Mill

Oakland Township hopes to find a tenant for the Paint Creek Cider Mill who will continue the tradition of running a seasonal cider-and-doughnuts operation at the site, as well as a year-round restaurant, according to a request for proposals posted on its website.

The township will accept proposals until 4 p.m., Monday, March 11, and a tenant will be selected no later than April 15; see attached PDFs for more information.

Township Manager Jim Creech said there have been inquiries about the property, but that he expects most of the proposals will not come in until the last minute.

"Usually that stuff comes in the day of, usually within the appointed hour of the deadline," he said.

Creech said , also has applied for an extension; Granchi could not be reached for comment. The Paint Creek Cider Mill currently is closed for the winter.

"The township wanted to explore creative and innovative proposals which would most reflect and represent the historical nature of the Paint Creek Cider Mill as a township landmark," Oakland Township Supervisor Terry Gonser said via e-mail.

Raymond Nicholson, who purchased the property located at 4480 Orion Road in 1997, donated it to the township in 2005.

"The Township has remodeled the Cider Mill and, among other things, added (an Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant bathroom facilities and an elevator. The second floor was completely remodeled and the second floor is now being used for office space by the Township," according to the request for proposals. "The Cider Mill has electricity, water, sewer and natural gas service. The Township provides fire and police protection services and customer and service employee parking is available on the site."

Open the attached PDFs to learn more about the property and request for proposals and how to submit an idea.