The owner would prefer not to sell but faces eminent domain proceedings if he doesn’t.
LEWISTON – The city will buy a 23-unit Canal Street apartment building to make way for part of the lower Lisbon Street redevelopment.
Councilors inked a deal to purchase the apartment building at 480-482 Canal St. from owner Ray Frechette Jr. for $735,000 plus another $108,000 in heating and relocation expenses and incentives to help current tenants move.
The city will close on the building on March 1, 2004, City Administrator Jim Bennett said.
“We feel that this is the best way to deal with the building and the current owner and the tenants,” Bennett said. “We’re giving everyone time to respond and do what they need to do.”
Frechette called the deal traumatic. The building has been in his family for 30 years and he would prefer not to sell.
“But the threat of eminent domain is very real, and I don’t want to go through that,” Frechette said. “I don’t want to sell it, but you do what you have to do when you don’t have a choice.”
Frechette said he expects to meet with city Economic and Community Development Director Jim Andrews this week to discuss some reimbursement for tenants, possibly including help finding a new place to live and financial assistance.
Frechette said he currently has 18 tenants.
The sale is part of a plan to revitalize the block of buildings surrounded by Lisbon, Maple and Canal streets. The first phase began last month, with crews tearing down the old FHP Engine Building to make way for Oxford Networks headquarters. The company also installed a two-story satellite dish on top of the old Pontiac Building and is building a switching building next door.
The apartment building would come down as part of the next phase for a parking lot. Bennett said the city is still negotiating with the owners of Lincoln Street Radiator Shop.
According to the agreement signed Tuesday, the city will pay Frechette a $6,000 signing payment and another $260,000 within 30 days. Frechette will continue to manage the building until the city closes, no later than March 1, 2004.
Frechette gets $475,000 on closing, plus an additional $10,000 in heating and relocation expenses. Frechette will also receive an additional $4,000 for every vacant unit in the building. That would be worth $92,000 if all of the tenants have moved on.
Bennett said that will encourage Frechette to help the tenants find new homes.
“If he helps these people move out, those are people we don’t have to worry about them,” Bennett said. “Plus it helps Mr. Frechette. This is a very personal situation for him, and I think he wants to take care of the tenants that have been good to him.”
Tenants uneasy
Frechette said he planned to meet with his tenants Wednesday to explain the situation. Marge Bisson, who has called the building home for 10 years, said she and her neighbors don’t really want to move. Some live on meager incomes, just disability checks, and several have housing vouchers.
One neighbor who rarely leaves the building told her he’s going to refuse to leave.
“If they’ve got to fume him out of there, that’s what’s going to happen,” Bisson said.
Bisson declined to attend Tuesday’s meeting, preferring to watch it on television.
She said she’s seen people walk timidly up to the podium, carefully unfurl a piece of paper, give a short speech and then only hear a simple “Thank you.” No thanks, she said.
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