The former Lunn and Sweet shoe factory, seen in 2019 top left, at 67 Minot Ave., is among properties that could be considered by the city of Auburn to be taken by eminent domain. The City Council will hold a workshop Tuesday to discuss the process, but has not identified any specific properties. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal file
AUBURN — The City Council will conduct a workshop to discuss the eminent domain process Tuesday, and while a specific property has not been identified, Mayor Jason Levesque outlined a goal earlier this year to acquire “derelict” properties, including The Barn at 67 Minot Ave.
The council memo from city staff only states that the Business and Community Development department was asked to provide an overview of the eminent domain process.
Asked for further detail on the workshop Monday, City Manager Phil Crowell said the council may see an eminent domain request in the near future.
“The workshop is to explain the process to them and the public. We will not be discussing any particular property at the meeting,” he said.
In February, Mayor Jason Levesque said in his “state of the city” address that he’d direct staff to come up with a plan to acquire “corporate-owned, derelict and undeveloped land and properties” through eminent domain by May 1.
“We can no longer sit by while corporations practice speculative land monopolies and refuse to address crumbling buildings,” Levesque said in the address. “We must face this head on and act in the public interest.”
Asked for an example after the speech, Levesque pointed to The Barn, the former Lunn and Sweet shoe factory built in 1908. The brick building has four floors and 120,000 square feet. It was once part of an ambitious $40 million plan backed by Chinese investors to create a health and wellness hotel aligned with Central Maine Medical Center. That plan never materialized, and the aged building has sat idle.
The building was purchased by Miracle Enterprise in 2015, a sale that also included a former car dealership at 81 Minot Ave. Later that year, the company also bought the former Auburn police station at 1 Minot Ave. In 2019, all three properties were listed together for $5 million.
According to the city’s property tax map, the 2.3-acre property and the building at 67 Minot Ave. are assessed at a total of $713,800.
Jay Brenchick, director of economic development, said the city has been in communication with the property owners to “encourage redevelopment.”“They have been paying their taxes and have kept the building secured, but have yet to submit a plan for development,” he said.
Asked about Tuesday’s workshop discussion, Levesque would not confirm a specific property, but said, “This is a necessary first step before we take action to combat the blighted buildings within our city.”
“Considering the amount of programs the city offers for rehabilitation of unsafe buildings, there is no excuse for a property owner to let their buildings fall to the point where they are a public safety issue,” he said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
