Bangor Council votes to take possession of abandoned properties, OKs one-year free lease with farmers market

BANGOR, Maine The city will officially take over a pair of abandoned properties in the city with a history of unpaid taxes after the City Council unanimously voted to move ahead with the seizures.

The city will take possession of 147 Court St., an apartment building next to Coe Park covered in graffiti and plywood to board up the entrances, as well as a vacant lot at 91 Larkin St. Both properties have matured tax liens against them and city officials have been unable to contact or identify the owners.

In past years, the city has avoided going after properties with back taxes, but recently councilors have urged city staff to acquire abandoned properties where possible in order to reduce the number of dangerous eyesores in the city.

The blighted apartment building will be torn down, allowing the city to sell off the buildable lot underneath. The city will enter talks with neighbors of 91 Larkin St. to see if they would like to add that plot of land to their property.

Also during Monday nights meeting, the council approved a one-year lease for the Bangor Farmers Markets continued use of the parking lot across the street from Bangor Public Library, at no cost to the market.

The council voted to use this lease proposal to replace one that came out of committee last week, which would have assessed a $25 annual rental fee on the seasonal market. However, that one was a three-year lease. The question of whether to assess a fee on the market sparked a contentious debate among councilors during a meeting last week.

Several councilors said they want to take time to discuss the citys policy on charging fees for use of city space. Right now, there is no written policy, and the city assesses fees on some groups for use of public space, but not others.

The farmers market organizers said they arent opposed to a small fee and want to continue operating near Bangors downtown for the long term. Bangor councilors also said they want to ensure the market continues operating in Bangor, but some want to ensure that the city is fair and equitable in whether and how much it charges groups for use of city space.

They will take up that question during a Government Operations Committee meeting in March.

In other business, the council:

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Bangor Council votes to take possession of abandoned properties, OKs one-year free lease with farmers market