News
Letter to the Editor: February 16, 2005
If all goes as planned, and Don Rivers does what he said he's
going to do, York Beach will breathe new life again and give the
area a leg up on that much needed revitalization we've
all been waiting for.
Mr. Rivers was expected to go before the Planning Board and announce
his new plans for the deteriorated Pop's Shell
Shack building on Feb. 10, but because of inclement weather, that
meeting was postponed until next week. When that meeting rolls around,
we hope the townspeople and the Planning Board will expedite and
support his plans.
As they currently read, those designs would include 5,000 square
feet for retail shops on the first floor; 3,400 square feet of a
year-round, restaurant space on the second floor; and 6,000 square
feet of residential space on the top two floors, which would eventually
become six condominiums.
As far as we're concerned, this is a wonderful
proposal. The parties involved may need to iron out issues like
parking and the fact that this project will likely be subject to
the Residential Growth Ordinance, but right now these plans appear
to represent everything the York Beach area needs and they are supported
by the town's Comprehensive Plan.
What's even better is that Rivers said he
wants to renovate the building and ensure that it's
in keeping with the historic spirit of the original structure. He
said he's also hoping to renovate the Kearsarge
House, which is around the corner from the Atlantic House (Pop's
Shell Shack).
Between these two projects and the determination of some other
beach enthusiasts like Inn on the Blues owner Joe Lipton, we're
excited and encouraged about the prospect of a York Beach face-lift
and we hope the rest of the town feels the same way.
Keep up the good work York Beach - we hope to see a new side to
you soon!
-The York Weekly
<< back to News
Copied with permission from Seacoast
Online. Seacoast Online is owned and operated by Seacoast Newspapers.
Copyright © 2005 Seacoast Online. All rights reserved. Please
read our
Copyright Notice and Terms of Use. Seacoast Newspapers is a
subsidiary of
Ottaway Newspapers,
Inc., a Dow Jones
Company.
|