Category: Uncategorized

Construction Continues

Construction continues despite no building permit in place for the proposed hotel at 20 Central Street in downtown Rockport.

Have you been down behind the buildings on Central Street lately, construction continues on the site? Once they finished the excavation and fill work on the 20 Central Street lot the developer started building framing and rebar for their foundation. While they continually deny that the work done is construction work or even that it relates to the foundation for the building, the work ties directly to the foundation plans submitted to the town office in their building permit application. As always, we encourage you to draw your own conclusion. Compare for yourself the foundation plan submitted to the town and a current view of the site from Central Street:

Specific elements of the work can be seen more clearly by focusing on key areas:

  • Rear wall, harborside, view from 22 Central
  • Wall from harborside along 22 Central
  • Components along 18 Central from harborside toward road

Construction continues. Yes, there can be no doubt that this extensive framing and rebar work is neither excavation nor fill, the only authorized work on the site. Why has the town enabled the developer to get all this done in advance of a building permit? We certainly do not know, and have been pushing on the matter for months. Perhaps you can help by writing to Scott Bickford, Code Enforcement Officer, and Bill Najpauer, Planning Director.

Rockport Hotel Update

If you happened to pass through downtown Rockport on Thursday, September 10 you may have noticed some disturbing activity at the site of the proposed Rockport Hotel.

Not missing a beat in eradicating the centuries old scenic view from Goodridge Park and Shepherd Block

Conversations with the town office confirm that no building permit has been issued, but that “test boring” does not require a permit.

You may think that the overwhelming vote of the citizens of Rockport in favor of Article 4, limiting hotels in the downtown district to 20 rooms, would have caused the Rockport hotel developer to revise the plans for the property. Their assertions throughout the run up to the Town Meeting vote that they need not modify the exterior design may, in fact, be true.

This merely reinforces the need for your support for the citizens based appeal of the Planning Board’s approval of this Rockport hotel design with its 68 exterior lights, 30 balconies, ‘rooftop bar’ and ‘valet parking.’ Look here for details on the date, and please consider contributing to the Friends of Rockport at PO Box 624, Rockport, ME 04856, everything helps.