Historic Richmond building rehab aims for modern uses
Renovations of the 14,000-square-foot Hathorn Block, located on the corner of Main and Front streets in Richmond, are aimed for up-to-date use as a mix of commercial and residential spaces.
That’s similar to its original use when it was first opened in 1850, the Kennebec Journal reported.
“Once we started to open up the windows and let the light in, it started to feel better,” Makoto Sato, one of the carpenters, told the newspaper. The renovation, performed by Alna-based contractor Fossel Preservation Partners, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
In 1997, the building was listed by the Maine Preservation Commission as one of Maine’s most endangered historic resources.
Developer Les Fossel bought the Hathorn Block early in 2015 from a New Hampshire-based company for $1. He’s said he plans to put in retail space on the first floor and market-rate apartments on the top four floors.
A release posted on the Fossel website says work began in November 2015 with repairs to the building’s brickwork to stabilize its shell. The release quotes Peter Warner, chairman of the town’s board of selectmen, as saying, “There is a great deal of history in Richmond. This building being saved will help maintain the look of the town as it was then, and so it will be in the future.”
The project is being funded through a mix of loans, grants and tax credits.
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