Waterworks development too much, too late

I read that the project regarding the old Bangor Waterworks complex had been put on hold because of the Maine Central Railroad’s concern about safe access across the railroad tracks (“Appeal from railroad poses problem for Bangor Waterworks development,” BDN, Sept. 23).

I immediately said “good,” because of my concern for the safety of those who might live there. Then I read the Oct. 17 letter, “Preservation derailed,” written by [Margaret Shalhoob], a former member of the Bangor Historic Preservation Commission, who called it a “lovely dam site and its structures” and that the commission had “flexibly allowed the demolition of one newer brick building and the dismantlement of the superintendent’s house, thus preserving the rest.”

The site sits there in its original condition. The cost of dismantling any of the buildings is very expensive. The most interesting and disturbing part of the Sept. 23 article is the intent to spend $5 million to build 40 self-contained single-occupancy housing units. This equates to a modest sum of about $171,000 per unit. A lot of us consider this much of an expenditure would build a pretty nice house for a family, let alone an individual.

Whoever came up with this boondoggle ought to reflect on the fact that several organizations that have extensive money connections thought it too expensive to undertake for their purposes, especially with the conditions of preservation being imposed on the possible developer. This money could be better spent on building housing for their clientele at another safer location at a much-reduced cost per unit.

If they do indeed have $5 million to spend, just think how many more units could be constructed in a better area. This would put those being housed in a safer location besides being right by the river and having to cross a somewhat active railroad track to get in and out of the complex and its associated liabilities. There has to be some reason to spend this much money and get so little back.

[Shalhoob] mentioned an indemnification agreement, insurance riders and release of liability clauses to protect the railroad. This is, at the very least, a poor attempt to get the project under way and I doubt the railroad would feel comfortable with it.

The writer’s taking the Mellon family to task for not stepping up with some money is inappropriate. Just because you can, does not mean you should. If the writer believes this passionately about this project, why does she not put her money in instead of getting others to do it?

The city has allowed this complex to deteriorate to its present condition. If it indeed was of such historic importance why has something not been done on their part? They don’t mind talking about a new auditorium complex and riverfront development.

Dion Seymour lives in Holden.