Our View
Building owner can't be shocked by Norway vote
Opera House owner Barry Mazzaglia is either a good actor or completely out of touch with reality if he is "shocked" by a Norway vote Tuesday night to take over his teetering building.
A majority of the estimated 200 voters at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris voted to take the building by eminent domain and pay Mazzaglia $185,000 in compensation. Mazzaglia, contacted after the meeting, vowed to fight the action in Superior Court, where a judge will set a fair price for the building.
It's a shame the town has to pay even a dime to take over the building. Because of its damaged and unsafe condition, it's worthless on the open market. It's impossible to imagine a private owner taking over the pile of headaches beneath the building's collapsing roof and sagging walls.
The real value of the building is to the citizens of Norway, and in preserving a key piece of Norway's history and streetscape.
Mazzaglia told the Sun Journal after Tuesday night's meeting that he was "shocked that the townspeople didn't see through this." Either he was kidding or in denial about his responsibility for this mess.
A portion of the old building's roof collapsed about two years ago after rainwater was allowed to pool on its roof. The collapsing roof broke a sprinkler pipe, all of which damaged the building and forced the tenants on the first floor to move out. Now, about 60 feet of one exterior wall bows dangerously, leaving the structural integrity of the entire building in question.
Mazzaglia should be credited with entering the structure and setting up some temporary bracing. But that's about it.
Since then, however, he's done little, and two separate engineering studies have found the building unsafe and in need of complex and expensive work to restore its stability.
On Tuesday night, Mazzaglia was painting himself as the building's savior and blaming the town for its damaged condition.
"I'm very shocked the town's people wouldn't pay to fix it," he said. "It would have been a lot cheaper for them to have put a roof on it when they owned it than trying to fix it up now."
That's absurd. The town hasn't owned the building in more than 30 years.
Mazzaglia bought the building in 2003 when he out-bid a community group, the Norway Maine Opera House Corp., which wanted to buy and preserve the building.
He now says he bought it "blindly," which is an interesting admission for a guy in the construction business.
It's also irrelevant.
When you buy a building you own it, warts and all. The real damage occurred four years into his ownership.
If this building is to be saved, the citizens of Norway will have to roll up their sleeves and do it. We applaud the civic-mindedness of Bill and Beatrice Damon in donating $200,000 to help the town complete the eminent domain purchase.
Still, the path forward is clouded by uncertainty. But the first step on this path is getting the building out of Mazzaglia's hands.
editorialboard@sunjournal.com
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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest
I fear that people are
I fear that people are missing the big picture on this issue. Eminent domain is being used more and more in this country and its a very slippery slope to be treading on. What ever happened to a man's right to his property? This town vote was nothing more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. If this man wants to dump his hard earned money into the building and let it rot that's his problem. Be very careful people. Every time property is seized by eminent domain it sets precedent and your property could be next!
I am against the overuse of
I am against the overuse of emminent domain to seize private property. I am totally against it when property is seized for commercial development of any kind. This is not the case in Norway. Eminent domain was used to enhance public safety. I have been following this story since the roof collapsed. The building is in danger of falling and damaging neighboring property possibly injuring or killing someone. The next heavy wet snowstorm could be the one that collapses the building. Heights don't usually bother me but I don't want to be on the roof of an unstable structure shoveling snow to relieve the load. Barry Mazzaglia has had 2 years to stabilize the building and has failed to do so. The town didn't want to own this building. They wanted the owner to make it safe. The town's other option would be to raze the building and charge Mazzaglia for the expenses which they most likely never would have collected. The town would have placed a lien on the property, eventually foreclosed on the lien and been stuck with a vacant lot. Trying to save the building with donated money is the best thing that can be done and it's unfortunate it had to happen by force. Mazzaglia talks as if the opera house building is a valuable asset. In its current condition that is not true. The building is a liability and he should be relieved to be rid of it.
The only way that the owner
The only way that the owner Barry Mazzaglia can possibly be surprised at this action, is if he has been living with his head buried in the sand!!!
This is/was a beautiful historical building that he has allowed to fall apart, and refused to repair, causing a danger to all who pass by. I agree that Main Street Norway has gone downhill rapidly in the past 20+/- years. Can we bring back Wilsons, Newberry's, A&P, Verenis's, VH Ashtons, Elliot Hunts, Grants Citgo? No probably not. However, we need places like these mentioned to liven our towns. South Paris is also vacant. This entire area is suffering.
Something definitely needs to be done. We need places like C. B. Cummings, the shoe shops, and other places of employment. Crime would not be stopped....but it would help if residents had a place to work and shop!!
If an organization is willing to purchase and repair this historical building, I am sure they can make it handicap accessible as well. If they are moving forward, it's a good thing. Keep moving....
verified After they (moved from
After they (moved from Norway I now live in Oxford) take over the building and spend the hundreds of thousands to re-juvinate it what are they going to do with it.? Let it sit empty because they sure arn't going to rent the store fronts, they have been pretty much empty for years. Maybe if Smefley and I talk to Scrapper, Ronnie, Terry and Vira they will start playing again on Friday nights. Opps that won't work either the whole building is not handicapped acessible.
Yup live in the past let the
Yup live in the past let the future pass you bye. They rolled up the carpet on Main street Norway 20 years ago. The only tribute we have is being the murder capital of maine and the most people per capita on welfare. The town is always on the band wagon looking for grants why they even called part of the town a blightened slum to get $$$$. We seem to have lost our pride how can we move forward and get businesses back on main street ?? Can we bring back Wilsons, Newberry's, A&P, Verenis's, VH Ashtons, Elliot Hunts, Grants Citgo , MOVE FORWARD GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE GROUND.
. Pepper I am not looking for up and coming but it would be nice to see some business's on the street again or would it ??? I am a Native of Norway and I am not Going to NEVADA. I WANT OUR TOWN TO MOVE FORWARD AND FLOURISH NOT TO GO BACKWARD OR WORST YET WITHER UP AND DIE!!!!
When we reach the end of the grants and grant monies what will we do ??? My taxes are already high enough.
verified Really enjoyed the editorial
Really enjoyed the editorial as it was more than fair and I praise all the people who voted for this takeover. Down the road, they will never be sorry. I have to strongly disagree with smedley and maybe he should move to Nevada. It is a very "up and coming" State, or so I hear.
Smooth move Norway voters
Smooth move Norway voters now we are in the opera house business. SHOULD OF KNOCKED IT DOWN!!!!!! Now I suppose Scrapper Pratt and the Falcons will be reborn and we all can return to the early 60's.
Its obvious that the town wants to "idle" or just spin its tires and not move forward. The grand pavilion aint .
This is the Norway mentality keep the main street maintained for all the businesses( lol ) that are in Oxford and Paris so people can pass through and see how historic we are while they are headed to Wal-mart to spend their money.
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