Home › News ›

Former NBA Star To Revitalize Historic Section Of Maine's Capital City

Posted by: Mike Lydon

18 April 2006 - 5:00am

Former NBA star Christian Laettner's development company, Blue Devil Ventures, is working with state and local officials to revitalize the Kennebec Arsenal, a historic parcel of land across the Kennebec River from Augusta's downtown.

"While plans aren't complete, developers who specialize in preserving history envision a new village on a site that was long an active military post, said Michael Duguay, economic development director for the city of 18,500."

"Sen. Elizabeth Mitchell, who led the push for the tax credits, said taxpayers stand to gain long-term benefits after the properties go on the tax rolls in four years. Also, taxpayers will realize savings from the project because the state no longer will be responsible for maintaining the aging structures.

'The state is now paying $250,000 a year just to keep the buildings heated and from falling apart,' said Mitchell, D-Vassalboro. 'Not only are the buildings historic, but the parade grounds are historic.'"

Full Story: Finding history in the weeds
Source: Portland Press Herald, April 17, 2006
»
Bookmark and Share
“
Planners, architects, artists, and other community members can make the exploratory walk a key tool in re-making places, stemming from the emotions and atmospheres perceived by people who live there or visit them, and plan outward from the experiential, toward trajectories, shapes, and physical structures.
”