Groundbreaking Brings Governor

August 03, 2006
By: Charlotte Boynton
Wiscasset Newspaper

Wiscasset's maritime heritage was the theme of the Point East Maritime Village groundbreaking ceremony in Wiscasset last Thursday morning, at the former Mason Station Power Plant location.

"The Point East Maritime Village is one of the largest mixed use, residential and marina projects on the coast of Maine," said Scott Houldin, Vice President of Point East.

The maritime village, a project of Point East's parent company National RE/sources, is expected to provide over $1 million in tax revenue a year when it is finished, according to a press release from the governor's office. It is also expected to create jobs in maintaining the buildings and grounds and at on-site retail businesses, "including restaurants, art galleries and markets."

Governor John Baldacci, who attended the ceremony, said the project "will rejuvenate this region, beautify the Sheepscot riverfront, and return Wiscasset to its maritime heritage."

"It is like getting back to our roots. When Maine Yankee closed, Wiscasset lost 95 percent of its tax revenue. Despite this economic loss, the town and region envisioned a bright and productive future and is working hard to achieve this goal. The state has been working toward this end as well," he said.

The governor also congratulated Point East for their selection of Maine contractors to work on the project: The Hinckley Company; Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers; Waterford Homes, LLC; and The Kennebec Company.

The groundbreaking ceremony was an opportunity for a trip down memory lane for State Senator Dana Dow, and State Representative Peter Rines.

Dow said his father, Wilmot, a state senator from 1953 to 1961, sponsored a bill in 1955 to allow the Lincoln County Cultural and Historical Association to buy the old county jail on Route 218 for $1. The bill was signed by Governor Ed Muskie in March of 1955, and the old jail, built in the early 1800s, became a museum and opened in August of the same year.

"Therefore it is befitting, that I am here today shoulder to shoulder with Governor Baldacci, in Wiscasset on this beautiful day, for the groundbreaking of the Point East Maritime Village," Dow said.

State Representative Peter Rines spoke about his father, Benjamin Rines, Sr. working at the Mason Station generating plant, built in the 1940s, and coming there as a young boy.

He said his father always called it "the Point." One day his father asked him if he wanted to go to the Point with him.

"I was really excited to see the place my father came to every day," Rines said.

"We drove to the guard house, and a voice said, "What do you want?' My Dad said, `tell him you want your father's paycheck.' So I said, `I want my Dad's check.' The gate opened, and we came in to the place where my father had worked for over 30 years. It was a really exciting time for me."

Rines told how he went up the stairs and saw the generators that could be powered by either coal or oil.

"I had a great time walking down the iron stairs. My dad told me to hang onto the railing as I was walking down, which I did. However, when I got home, much to my mother's chagrin, I didn't know the railing was greasy. I had wiped greasy hands on my shirt."

Town Manager Andrew Gilmore told the 100 people gathered on the lawn that Wiscasset voters overwhelmingly approved a zoning change to allow the company to build more homes on less acreage than the town would have permitted.

"Nearly 500 people attended the special town meeting, on one of the worst nights of the year weather- wise, to support this project," Gilmore said.

"We are thrilled to have such a highly talented team, a true class act, to begin this new chapter in Wiscasset's bright economic future," he concluded.

The village will be located on the banks of the Sheepscot River. The $150 million project will include 80 single-family homes, 160 condominiums, a 200-car underground parking garage, a fitness center, and a 239-slip marina to be operated by the Hinckley Company.

The plan for the Mason Station five-story building is to eventually refurbish it for offices, retail shops, restaurants, a hotel, and culinary school. The large smoke stacks will soon be removed from the building.

Phrase one of the project, which has all its approvals and permits, includes 15 cottages and 16 waterfront condominiums. There will be five cottage models ranging from 1,400 square feet to 3,000 square feet. The pricing will begin in the mid $400,000 range, up $1.5 million.

The cottages will be named for the midcoast rivers. The cottages will be called Sheepscot, the Penobscot, the Androscoggin, the Kennebec and the New Meadows.

According to a press release from Point East, many of these cottages will feature first floor master bedroom options, one-car garages and basements.

The first multi-story waterside condominium building will include 16 residential units, ranging from 800 square feet to 1,500 square feet.

Houldin announced that 37 families are on Point East's waiting list.

"This project will also work to preserve environmental resources and public use of a former industrial site, which is good for both local people and wildlife," Baldacci said. "This project really is about providing something for everyone right here in this community."

Others who took part in the groundbreaking included Joe Cotter, President of National RE/sources; Bill Cotter, Lynne Ward, and Poe Cilley, Vice Presidents of Point East Village; Gerry Dischino, President and CEO of The Hinkley Company; David Ott, State President of T.D. Banknorth; Lawrence Wold, Executive Vice President of T. D. Banknorth; Robert Schoetz, Principal, Roth-Schoetz LLC; Harry Fraser, CEO Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers; David Moser, owner/designer Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers; Ed Keiser, Principal, and Jim Peavey, President, The Kennebec Company.