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April 13, 2017

Houlton visitor center proving to be a hard sell

The town of Houlton, near the Canadian border in Aroostook County, is having a hard time finding a buyer for its Visitors Information Center.

The Bangor Daily News reported the town took ownership of the center six years ago after the Maine Department of Transportation said it was considering closing it down to save money. But the town subsequently decided to sell the property after maintenance costs proved higher than expected, the newspaper reported. 

“Getting someone up here to take a hard look at this has been challenging. That is why we are looking to get a local developer to purchase it,” SVN/The Urbanek Group managing director Erik Urbanek told town councilors recently.

Although he’s received calls about the property, no potential purchaser has visited yet, he said.

According to the brokerage website, the town is receptive to all redevelopment offers and proposals. As a condition of the sale, the new owner must maintain 900 square feet of tourist information space to be staffed by the Maine Tourism Board. 

Urbanek told councilors that banks or retail stores might be a good fit for the site.

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