York Village makeover delayed again: Here’s why board is fed up

YORK, Maine — Town officials were frustrated to learn from the state this week that the long-awaited York Village revitalization project will be delayed until 2026.

The project includes relocating the Soldiers' Monument and improving walkability and traffic in the Village that features stores, restaurants, offices, homes and apartments. It was originally slated to start in 2018 and has been delayed more than once. The Selectboard was told last year by the state Department of Transportation they could expect the project to break ground in 2024.

Monday, Public Works Director Dean Lessard told the Selectboard that a new timeline pushes the project out 19 months to May 2026.

“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Lessard told the board.

The project is a joint effort, with the town and state collectively covering 10% of the cost, with the remaining balance covered by federal dollars.

The news of the delay left some Selectboard members concerned the state will continue to delay the project further. Selectboard member Robert Palmer told board members he questioned whether it was worth working with the state on projects that get kicked down the road.

“If it starts construction in 2026, it will have been nine years it has been in the state’s hands,” Palmer said. “Nine years where the costs have only gone up.”

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What is the York Village revitalization project?

Town officials have said the revitalization project is based on the York Village Master Plan approved in 2015. The project would change Long Sands Road’s intersection with York Street to a T intersection.

Currently, the intersection runs around a traffic island featuring the Soldiers' Monument. The monument would be moved 15 to 20 feet away to a location where the roadway is not on each side.  Other changes include reverting head-in parking to parallel spaces and adding sidewalks, bike lanes and new green spaces.

The town voted in 2016 to approve $400,000 so they could pursue the Village revitalization project. The local match with the state allowed the town to acquire $3.2 million for the project but put the state in control of certain aspects, like right of way.

State officials said the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues have caused the project to be delayed. Last year, the Selectboard was told by DOT project manager Brian Keezer that they needed more time to establish rights to temporarily stage construction on property owners’ land, as well as to put out bids for contractors.

Lessard said Monday that Keezer told him in an email the project is being delayed to 2026 partly because there is difficulty in finding licensed real estate appraisers to conduct the right-of-way work.

However, Lessard told the Selectboard that he disagreed with needing any appraisers because the work does not involve taking property. Only temporary easements for permission to stage construction would be necessary, he said.

“It’s a construction easement. It’s not in their deed,” Lessard said. “It’s just a piece of paper saying we’re giving you 500 dollars so I can rake your lawn at the end of this to blend it in.”

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York Selectboard members frustrated with delay

Palmer said the delay has made him reluctant to work with the state on similar projects in the future. He said even if it was more expensive, it might be better to bond million-dollar projects to ensure the town has full control.

Palmer pointed to another project the town is preparing to collaborate on with the state – a study of the Route 1 corridor funded with town, state and federal dollars. He said the board should consider whether it's worth tying the town to prolonged projects that only see costs rise with time.

“We want to remember this,” Palmer said. “Sometimes it’s just not worth taking the money.”

Meanwhile, some in the Village say they would rather not see the project happen at all. Scott Berger has owned Berger’s Bike Shop in the Village for more than 40 years. He said the project has problems like the reduction of parking, a solution to which he has yet to hear from town officials. He also disagrees with moving the monument.

“Why don’t we scrap it and start over,” Berger said. “Make a solution that’s more economical.”

Town Manager Peter Joseph said rethinking the project would likely be costly and that no board members have indicated they want to change the plan. He said pulling out of a project could lead to contractually obligated costs for the town. He also said changing the layout proposed would mean undoing years of work and dollars spent.

“It’s always possible until it’s in the ground (to change the plan),” Joseph said. "It's how much support there would be for it from the town, and also whether the town would be willing to pick up any costs associated with the change."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York Village makeover on hold: Revitalization project pushed to 2026