BREWER – For more than half a century, the city of Brewer’s Public Works building was located on waterfront property on the Penobscot River at the end of Hardy Street. That building was demolished Jan. 28 to make room for the city’s Penobscot Landing redevelopment plans.

The original structure was built in 1952, when the Penobscot River was used heavily by industrial interests and served as a sewer discharge for many communities along its banks. Since then, the river has been cleaned up and people have started to use the river for recreational and residential purposes.

In 2000, Brewer completed a redevelopment plan for the waterfront area and committed to making better use of the shoreline. The demolition and removal of the Public Works facility had high priority in that process.

Last year, the city moved the Public Works operation to Green Point Road and its former site is now proposed for a performing arts center, which will seat more than 300 people, informally known as the Penobscot Landing Arts Yard, PLAY. A portion of the property will be used to provide open space and to augment the Children’s Garden next door, scheduled for construction this year.