Firm files suit in Stinson redevelopment Company claims breach of contract

BELFAST – A local building materials company has filed a court claim against Belfast Bridge LLC over the stalled development of the former Stinson Seafood factory on the city’s waterfront.

Viking Lumber filed a mechanics lien in Waldo County Superior Court last week, charging developer Belfast Bridge with breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Viking claimed that the developer failed to pay for $228,365 in materials.

The complaint seeks a court order instructing Belfast Bridge to pay the money owed, plus 18 percent interest and attorney’s fees.

Named in the complaint along with Belfast Bridge was Machias Savings Bank, the financial institution that holds a mortgage on the $12 million project; SME Corp. of Lewiston, the general contractor hired for the job; and the city of Belfast because it owns an easement across the Belfast Bridge property.

In his complaint, Belfast attorney Joseph W. Baiungo stated that when Belfast Bridge LLC entered into a contract with Viking, it “promised to pay for goods and materials purchased.” Baiungo added that Belfast Bridge “has not paid for the goods and materials purchased.”

The complaint further stated that the contract permitted Viking to charge Belfast Bridge 18 percent annually for all outstanding unpaid bills. As of Aug. 2, Belfast Bridge owed Viking $228,365.49.

Attempts to reach Lee Woodward, the attorney for Belfast Bridge LLC and its principal owner, New Jersey-based Tom Roberts, were unsuccessful.

Roberts arrived in Belfast in 2004 with a plan to convert the former Stinson sardine-packing plant into a mixed use, marina-residential-commercial center.

He spent more than a year ushering the project through a number of boards and committees before finally winning approval under a contract zoning program to begin work on the $12 million project.

Roberts’ outline for his Wakeag Landing project called for condominiums overlooking Belfast Harbor and the new footbridge linking the city’s east and west sides. The project also set aside retail and commercial space for restaurants and shops.

Roberts assured that the third prong of the project would be in place when he reached an arrangement with Wayfarer Marine of Camden to manage his marina and bring its boat storage and repair services to Belfast.

The city also reached an accommodation with Wayfarer to lease waterfront land abutting the project site that would provide the firm additional acreage for boat storage and repair sites.

Work on the project began last winter and for a few months the waterfront site was teaming with activity. The old factory’s concrete block walls were shored up, pilings were driven and steel was raised.

All work suddenly came to a stop in May when Roberts informed the city that he needed to reorganize his financing and design documents with his investors. Contractors working on the project removed their tools and equipment from the site and left.

Today, the property sits abandoned, surrounded by a plastic security fence, its steel skeleton pointing skyward.