Rehab or demolish? That’s still the question for Mitchell Field building

Those seeking to rehabilitate a 70-year-old public building at George J. Mitchell Field in Harpswell should be given a chance to try to raise private funds to save the structure before the town tears it down, a Midcoast Council of Governments senior planner said.

The regional planning and economic development group was engaged last June to evaluate the prospects for repurposing what’s known as Building 126, or the administration building, and make a recommendation as to whether it should be saved or destroyed.

Built in 1954 as part of the U.S. Navy’s fuel depot for the former Naval Air Station Brunswick, the 7,700-square-foot structure became property of Harpswell when the Navy conveyed Mitchell Field to the town in 2001. The dilapidated building now sits mostly empty, used only for storage by the town harbor master.

Midcoast Council of Governments Senior Planner Max Johnstone presented his findings and recommendations during a special meeting at the Town Office on March 19. The meeting was strictly informational, as any decision regarding the structure would need to be made by the town.

Select Board Chair Kevin Johnson, who is skeptical about the rehabilitation project, said he would want residents to decide the building’s fate if the nonprofits successfully raised the needed funds.

“Anything like that I would put before the town,” Johnson said, adding that the town would likely end up leasing the building to the nonprofits if they succeeded in swaying voters.

Johnstone, the senior planner, said the building needs significant rehab work that would likely exceed $1.7 million. It needs major remediation to remove asbestos and lead paint, as well as arsenic in the boiler room, among other issues. Demolition would cost far less, at about $200,000, he said, and the town would pay for it.

Still, Johnstone said groups hoping to save the structure already have identified at least one “major benefactor” willing to contribute funds. He recommended giving supporters two years to raise the rest of the money, noting that grant money also is available for such projects.

The Council of Governments conducted interviews with various nonprofits, town officials, contractors and others to arrive at its recommendation, he said, adding that an environmental site assessment was completed by Windham-based Beacon Environmental Consultants LLC.

Johnstone said there was a lack of consensus among respondents to a 2022 survey about the best use for the property. Some favored saving the building, while others said they would rather see it torn down and the site reused for green space, parking and permanent public restrooms.

Johnstone said a coalition of nonprofits, including Harpswell Aging at Home, the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and Brunswick’s Curtis Memorial Library, has expressed interest in taking on the restoration project. The groups hope to use the building as a shared space for nonprofits and local residents, he said.

While he isn’t recommending that any taxpayer funds be used, Johnstone said it makes sense to give those hoping to save the building some time to raise private money. If the group doesn’t succeed, the town could then go ahead and tear it down.

“Everyone can agree on one thing — something needs to be done with this building,” he said.

Spike Haible, chair of the town’s Mitchell Field Committee, attended the meeting. He said the committee went through a long, thorough process of interviewing residents about their preferred uses for Mitchell Field. Many residents said they opposed any major changes or development along the waterfront.

“There’s a very strong base of people who would like to see it more as a park-like setting with some amenities, such as converting the space where the admin building is to more green space,” Haible said, adding that another project is in the works to build a boat launch at Mitchell Field.

Haible described Building 126 as an “inglorious structure” that would require “massive amounts of work” to be made presentable and attractive. He would prefer to focus efforts on other options for the property.

Johnstone said additional green space would be a legitimate choice for the site, but that it still raises the specter of new development because additional parking would be needed to accommodate visitors.

“Regardless of what the future use is going to be, people will need to park somewhere at that site, especially during some larger events,” he said.

In conclusion, Johnstone said his group sees little downside to allowing local nonprofits an opportunity to save the building before it is torn down at taxpayers’ expense.

“We’re not saying the town should just fix the building,” he said. “Our recommendation is more saying to nonprofits, you’ve got one chance to get together, and if there really is interest in this town to save the building, now is your chance.”

Have a comment or news tip? Email J. Craig Anderson at craig@harpswellanchor.org.