Brewer seizes easement for trail project

BREWER – The Brewer City Council took decisive action Tuesday on a controversial property issue and seized easement rights to a strip of river shorefront by eminent domain.

The property is behind two buildings on South Main Street known as the “old box factory.”

The property, which abuts the Muddy Rudder restaurant, is deemed essential to building a hiking trail along the Penobscot River. The proposed path is part of a development plan to improve Brewer’s aesthetic attractions for residents and tourists.

Property owner Bruce Blackmer will be paid $4,200 for the easement on his land. Blackmer called the price “ridiculously low,” though the city claims it is the fair market value of an easement over the land strip that measures approximately 20 feet by 231 feet.

The city does not own the land as a result of the action. Yet, it does have the right to access the river and to link the hiking path over Blackmer’s land. Before the trail can be built, the shorefront needs to be stabilized to lessen extensive erosion, a project that also requires access over Blackmer’s property, among others.

Blackmer debated the easement issue for almost two hours with the five-member City Council. He is opposed to a hiking trail going onto his land and, reportedly, was the only holdout among more than a dozen property owners along the waterfront.

In a speech that turned heated at times, Blackmer accused the city of treating him poorly and of failing to communicate with him. He asked the City Council to table the matter and to appoint a mediator for further negotiation.

Development Director Andrew “Drew” Sachs said talks with Blackmer had failed, apparently, over money issues. Publicly, Blackmer talks of making his home in the building. Privately Blackmer has asked for $231,000, or $1,000 per linear foot, for the city to have easement rights, according to Sachs. Blackmer also has put a price of more than $400,000 on the empty box factory buildings he bought two years ago.

Before the vote to take the easement, Mayor Gail Kelly told Blackmer: “There’s not anyone up here that enjoys using the powers of eminent domain.”

“Mr., Blackmer has been vocal, belligerent and obstructive through this whole process,” she added.

But to Blackmer, the action was another example of poor handling by city officials.

“I’m not so much a hard-ass about it, it’s the city,” Blackmer said.