Bangor considers offer for long-vacant building

BANGOR – The city is entertaining an offer for a long, narrow brick building that has stood vacant since Dow Air Force Base closed in the 1960s.

Known as Building 26, the structure at 113 Maine Ave. originally was used by the U.S. Air Force as a telephone switching building. After the base closed and the property was conveyed to the University of Maine System, it was used for cold storage.

As a result of a property swap with UMS, the city now owns the one-story building and has been actively seeking a redeveloper for at least two years.

FGS/CMT, Fessendon Geo-Environmental Services, which now works out of a facility at 136 Maine Ave., has made the city an offer which was considered Wednesday night by members of the City Council’s business and economic development committee.

The company specializes in a range of geo-technical, environmental and construction materials testing for municipalities, state agencies, corporations and individuals, according to its Internet site.

After a brief discussion in open session, the committee entered executive session to discuss negotiation-related details. No action was taken after the session.

The 4,747-square-foot building is in disrepair and will need new heating and utility systems and extensive renovations before it can be reused. Its roof needs to be either repaired or replaced, according to Rod McKay, the city’s community and economic development director.

In its proposal, the company said it would invest between $300,000 and $350,000 in building upgrades and spend $30,000 to $40,000 on a new access road, parking lot and walkways, McKay noted in a background memo to the committee. Machias Savings Bank is prepared to finance acquisition and improvement costs.

Given the level of investment it would have to make to bring the building up to par, Fessendon has offered the city $50,000 for the building and land. The offer was among the details committee members wanted to consider in their executive session.