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October 3, 2018

Bar Harbor officials consider whether to demolish 'eyesore'

Photo / Listing by Acadia Cornerstone Real Estate Town officials are considering whether to demolish a large building at 79 Cottage St. in downtown Bar Harbor, which is notable for its derelict condition in an area otherwise known for tidy eateries and shops.

A large building at 79 Cottage St., in downtown Bar Harbor, is notable for its derelict condition in an area otherwise known for its tidy eateries and shops. Now the town council has set its regular meeting on Oct. 16 as the date to hear public comments on what should be done about the building.

The council’s action was prompted after receiving a memo signed by five members of the town’s design review board.

Two properties, 79 Cottage St. and 77 Cottage St., are listed for sale by Acadia Cornerstone Real Estate for $995,000. According to the listing, “this prime property located in the very core of Bar Harbor's business district affords a great opportunity for a commercial development.”

77 Cottage St. was also in derelict condition and collapsed under the weight of snow a number of years ago. The property was cleared, with the slab left in place.

According to the Mount Desert Islander, the property is owned by the Pelletier family, doing business as St. Sauveur Development Corp.

“We have a building that has been an absolute eyesore sitting in the middle of downtown Bar Harbor,” Councilor Judy Noonan said at the council’s Sept. 18 meeting. “Nothing has been done about it. It’s been in plain sight. The obvious code violations have not been addressed.”

She added, “I applaud these citizens for saying, ‘This is not what we want downtown Bar Harbor to look like.’”

“I think it’s a real issue on Cottage Street,” said Council Chair Gary Friedmann. “If it were off in some alley we might not care about it. But we do care what the downtown looks like.”

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