4:08 p.m.

The public will have several opportunities in the coming months to have a say in the future of Biddeford's massive, 19th-century textile mill complex.

City officials and consultants working to develop an overall vision for the mill district announced their goals for the 10-month project this afternoon. A finished master plan will be used to guide private and public investment in the district, which includes 2 million square feet of floor space. Put into perspective, a Wal-Mart Supercenter is about 200,000 square feet.

There are 25 buildings and 12 mill owners in Biddeford's district. The city last year recognized a need to better coordinate redevelopment efforts there, said Greg Tansley, city planner in Biddeford. The council hired Crosby, Schlessinger and Smallridge, LLC, project consultants, this spring.

The first public meeting will be held in mid-July, where consultants will discuss how other towns have successfully renovated mill districts. In the fall, consultants will present several conceptual plans, looking at issues such as compatible residential, retail and industrial uses, open space, use of the Saco River, connection to Saco Island and Biddeford's downtown and parking. A third public meeting will be held to present a draft plan.

The hope is to involve the public in the redevelopment vision project, said Robert Dodge, economic development director in Biddeford. Residents can access a Web site for the project from a link on the city's Web site, www.biddefordmaine.org, once the project site is launched next week.

"When (the mill complex) was built 150 years ago, we didn't have a shot at it, we do now," Dodge said, referring to what the district could become in the future.

The city spent $145,000 to hire the consultant to create a master plan for the mill district.

9:40 a.m.

BIDDEFORD - The city hosts a press conference at 2:30 p.m. today to announce the beginning of the Mill District Redevelopment Master Plan Project.

The mills, once Biddeford's driving force, are all but empty now. The area has been in flux for years.

But today, city officials and representatives from Crosby|Schlessinger|Smallridge LLC, (the firm selected by the city to prepare the master plan) will describe the project process and answer questions.