NASHUA – The long-time owner of the Picker Build­ing in the Millyard told his tenants Thursday he ac­cepted an offer to sell the four-story former mill that has been home to many of the city’s artists and arti­sans.

Jack Bolger notified ten­ants in a letter that he is retiring and has accepted an offer from Clocktower Place Apartments to buy his building at 99 Factory St. Extension, tenants said.

Several tenants said the announcement didn’t come as a surprise to the artists, artisans and small-business people who occupy most of the 19th-century former cotton mill located between the Nashua River and Clocktower Place Apart­ments.

"We all went to his office and gave him a hug because we knew how hard it was for

him and we understand," said artist Bonnie Guercio, who works in digital collage and mixed media.

She and other tenants said they were given no deadline to act and they don’t believe any move is imminent.

"He wanted us to know before we heard it through the grapevine. He wanted it to come from him," said Gail Moriarty, a metalsmith who has been in the build­ing since 2008.

"We are 100 percent be­hind him," Moriarty said.

"We adore Jack. We re­ally do. He has given us so much more than we can put into words and we will for­ever be grateful to him for that," she added.

Moriarty and Guercio said tenants are looking for a place to relocate down­town or in the Millyard, where they can maintain their collective presence as an arts community.

"We’re open to anybody coming forward and help­ing us out because we do want to find a place where as many of the artists in Picker Building have a place to be," Guercio said.

Tenants said they under­stand Bolger is advancing in years and, though still active, realize there would come a day when he would want to sell.

"He is the one who fixes the roofs and fixes the floor and paints the studios and moves the equipment," Guercio said. "Just yester­day … I looked out my win­dow and Jack and the guy who helps him (were) push­ing this huge lathe down the hall."

Nashua Economic Devel­opment Director Thomas Galligani said Mayor Don­nalee Lozeau and his office will work with the tenants to help them find a new lo­cation.

"These artists are a vital part of the downtown and the Millyard," Galligani said.

Great American Down­town executive director Paul Shea said his group also looks forward to being part of the discussions "around how we might facilitate keeping them together and keeping them downtown."

"The tenants of the Picker Building are a vibrant com­munity of artists and arti­sans and a strong cultural asset to downtown Nashua," Shea added in a statement.

The building is owned by Picker Building Realty Corp., which bought it in 1986, city assessor records show.

When reached for com­ment, Rebecca Small of Picker Building Realty said "there is an offer to buy the building," but noted that "nothing has been signed."

Kathryn Marchocki can be reached at 594-6589, kmarchocki@ nashuatelegraph.com, or @Telegraph_KMar.