The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Katahdin Region Shows Signs of Rebirth

September 28, 2007 - The Katahdin region is far from recovered from the devastation of hundreds of layoffs at the former Great Northern Paper mills, which helped create an exodus of at least 4,000 people from the region since the mid-1990s.

But besides the Northern Plaza Shopping Center renaissance, there have been several recent signs of growth in East Millinocket, Medway and Millinocket, including:

• The forced sales of 78 leased camps on half-acre to 3/4-acre plots along Cedar Lake, about 11 miles southwest of Millinocket, over the next year. The first large-scale lakefront property exchanges in Katahdin in years could really help revitalize construction companies as leaseholders or others buy the camps and improve them, town officials say.

The land sales will have a trickle-down effect on the local economy, with construction companies, related tradesmen and suppliers of their raw materials among the first benefactors.

• The pending purchase of a three-story building at 135-137 Penobscot Ave. that will become a new Wreath Factory store and factory, plus possibly a new florist.

• A new bakery and a new gas station-convenience store along Route 157.

• The Grindstone Scenic Byway, or 59 miles of Routes 11, 159 and Grand Lake Road, extending from Medway through Patten to the north gate of Baxter State Park, being named by the state Department of Transportation a new "scenic byway." That designation makes the road eligible for federally funded improvement and could lead to an increase in tourist traffic with the help of a state advertising campaign.

• The completion of the yearlong, $1.1 million renovation of the White Birch Medical Center's new Lifestyle Fitness Center off Route 157. The renovation gives residents the largest all-purpose health club, exercise gymnasium and workout center in the Katahdin and Lincoln Lakes regions.

• Two "green energy" companies continue vetting their plans to build a 17-megawatt biomass cogeneration facility worth $50 million that will employ about 45 workers and produce electricity for the New England power grid in Millinocket. Nothing has been made final.

• The Land Use Regulation Commission's unanimous approval of rezoning 244 acres on Millinocket Lake as the first step toward building a $65 million resort there. Local businessman Matthew Polstein proposed to build an 80-room adventure lodge, 20 resort homes, a dozen rental cabins, a conference center; among other things.

Construction is not likely to begin for another year.

The region has two primary economic development agencies — Magic, a quasi-public agency serving East Millinocket and Medway and assorted Millinocket businesses that pay for it; and the Eastern Maine Development Corp., which is due to sign a contract to provide services to Millinocket businesses within the next two weeks.

Bangor Daily News
9.20.2007

Lakes: Cedar Lake
Regions: Katahdin


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News