HOULTON, Maine — Contractors on Thursday started tearing down a downtown building that most recently served as the location of the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
The building, located at 2 Pleasant St., recently was purchased by Chris Anderson, president of F.A. Peabody Company. The property is owned by Anderson, not F.A. Peabody.
“It (the building) has fallen into bad disrepair and has no redeeming value at this point in its life,” Anderson said Monday, March 26. “It was the longtime home of McGillicuddy Furniture and in the last 10 to 15 years various occupancies with the most recent as a Salvation Army store front.”
Anderson said he did not recall what the property was used for prior to McGillicuddy Furniture, but it was believed to be the site of several apartment dwellings.
Anderson added that while he has no immediate plans for the property, future developments could be a possibility.
“I have no immediate plans for the site,” he said. “It is a good lot with over 400 feet of prime river frontage, close to downtown and although this building (and all buildings) have historical value, this one in particular has no antiquity value, is in disrepair and has become a safety hazard to the community.”
Gerald Dickinson, who formerly worked for Dickinson and London construction and is now with J. McLaughlin Construction, was selected to oversee the demolition project. The firm also obtained a fire permit to burn some of the debris as part of the demolition.
Financial details on the purchase were not released.
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- Demolition was set to begin Thursday on the former Salvation Army Thrift Store in downtown Houlton. The building was purchased by Chris Anderson, president of F.A. Peabody Company. (Joseph Cyr)
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- Jerry Dickinson uses an excavator Thursday afternoon to demolish the former Salvation Army building on Pleasant Street in Houlton. (Joseph Cyr)
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- Jerry Dickinson operates an excavator Thursday afternoon to dismantle the former Salvation Army Thrift Store on Pleasant Street. (Joseph Cyr)
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- Chris Anderson surveys the demolition progress at the former Salvation Army building Thursday afternoon in Houlton. Anderson purchased the property for an undisclosed sum. (Joseph Cyr)
