BANGOR, Maine — Bill Rae, executive director of Manna Ministries Inc., is ready for someone to make him an offer so he can move and expand Manna’s services.
“We’ve had it on the market officially for a month,” Rae said of his nonprofit organization’s 35,000-square-foot building at 629 Main St. “The asking price is $2.5 million and we’re willing to negotiate.”
Rae emphasized that putting his three-level building featuring several wings on the market doesn’t mean Manna is ceasing or even cutting back operations. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
“We heard there were some buyers looking at this building, so we decided to put it on the market and see what we can get,” he explained. “We have no intention of scaling down or shutting down. If anything, we’re going to try and expand the programs we have while making them more efficient at the same time.
“I’ve always had a goal of building a customized, green building to accommodate our rehabilitation and shelter services.”
Rae, who moved Manna to the Main Street location from Center Street 6½ years ago, said the current location is adequate and large but there are a lot of “dead spaces” that are either not easily accessible or too small to use.
Rae said one possible location he would like to investigate is some of the property near the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center in Bangor.
“We’ve heard some scuttlebutt that there’s some land out there and it would be a great location to build,” he said. “If we do build or buy another building, I’d like to move the soup kitchen closer to downtown Bangor. Other parts like our rehabilitation, Ann’s House and our outpatient clinic could be located further out.”
Elaine Pelletier, the real estate broker handling the listing, said the building, built in 1865, would be ideal for a potential hotel.
“There are already 38 bedrooms with one fully equipped apartment, a large commercial kitchen, and a separate, smaller kitchen,” Pelletier said. “They also have several offices in there and a dozen bathrooms, some with showers. They even have an elevator.”
Pelletier said the location is close to the malls, shops and restaurants.
“I think commercial sales are coming back and we’re hearing rumblings from a few investors out there,” she said. “And this is a prime location with the Hollywood Casino, Waterfront Concerts and the new arena.”
Smart move. That’s prime real estate given the new Auditorium being built next door. The homeless shelter can be located anywhere on the bus line.
They say they are not ceasing operations, something is fishy here
They’d like to a more adequate facility. How is that fishy?
Not the time or the place to say anything negative about Bill Rae. No one is perfect even Rae . From what i know of him he is not evil just not perfect.
Believe me, the Feds have more than seen a return on any money they invested in Manna. If you’d get involved on any level, you’d understand how. Or you can just keep sniping from the outside and contribute nothing (but your tax money, which I’m happy to spend).
I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Bangorian. Manna does more with the dollars it receives than pretty much any other civic organization out there.
Why would you flag for reveiw???
They don’t mention the history of the place. Or the cells.
Good site for a training school, or maybe even a college.
:-)
It used to be the campus for Beal College. Way before that it was Bangor’s City Hospital.
Not good at the sarcasm, eh? Smiley face wasn’t a hint?
Was this story edited to take out something about federal money? I don’t see anything about the money used to purchase the building.
Someone questioned whether the building was renovated using federal funds.
Why would you flag it for review. I am under the understanding that there is federal grant help buy the building is all I am saying. If so it should go back to the feds.
I didn’t flag it for review. I only asked if the article had been edited before I read it. You read a lot into nothing.
Amazing. This person has helped a number of people get themselves out of bad situations (and often OUT of welfare services) yet there is nothing but paranoia and snark. I guess he should dress in rags and drive a 1978 Buick too so that he can “prove” to people he’s not in it for the money.
Pathetic.
Bring on the “I pulled myself up by my own bootstraps and so should everyone else regardless of their situation which they probably have no one to blame but themselves…” blah, blah, blah.
Don’t forget to NOT mention anyone who helped you along the way.
I think a lot of people have the notion that if you earn a living helping people get their lives in order you are somehow a bad person. If people can’t making a living they end up in situations like those who are helped by Manna Ministries. Odd thinking.
The realtor is misrepresenting this as commercial property its NOT.
Though loans may be more difficult to get than a few years ago, 123 Refinance is still helping plenty of people. It’s back to common sense underwriting, and guidelines to make the refinance possible for you.
I’ve personally known Bill for years and reading these judgmental comments about him is making me sick to my stomach. Bill has dedicated a lot of time, effort and heart to helping people. The only time he took off was when he was spending time with his dying wife. What is wrong with him wanting to sell what he has to expand his efforts?
What the hell is the matter with you people?
“What the hell is the matter with you people?”
These are the gossip addicts (a.k.a. LOSERS) who used to meet over the back fence to practice vomiting their unsubstantiated vitriol. The advent of the keyboard changed all that.
I love seeing COWARDS, who sit behind their computers passing judgement on a man who gives countless unpaid hours to help the lowly. I know this personally because I have many friends who work there for Bill . Bill and his employees work for half the salary they could get from outside of there. How many hours do you work or money do you give to such great causes instead of whining?
Waytoocool, nice screen name, or is that your birth name. I dont think they are cowards just very opinionated people. Anyone with a brain knows most of it is garbage,most,not all.
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Really honestly can you explain to me why some donations do not get put towards christmas gifts for children. Two years in a row i bought gifts for the same family, never got them. I am finding it very odd
http://pfr.informe.org/almsonline/almsquery/CaseDocument.aspx/280DE6DF3DDA6AAB6F768818B7FFD14F9AF85DCD6F63100138C5D840038643491224EED83B4FE211A751554789A0DA9D38BA0C0E13072C57/Fish6698Consent.pdf
http://pfr.informe.org/almsonline/almsquery/CaseDocument.aspx/280DE6DF3DDA6AAB6F768818B7FFD14F9AF85DCD6F63100138C5D840038643491224EED83B4FE211A751554789A0DA9D38BA0C0E13072C57/Fish6698Consent.pdf
http://pfr.informe.org/almsonline/almsquery/CaseDocument.aspx/280DE6DF3DDA6AAB6F768818B7FFD14F9AF85DCD6F63100138C5D840038643491224EED83B4FE211A751554789A0DA9D38BA0C0E13072C57/Fish6698Consent.pdf
I think they should keep it in a place more accessible for walking. Many of the clients who need to food cupboard walk there or take the bus, but traveling home with stuff is more difficult on the bus. I know real estate is more expensive downtown, but location is important.
Does he really drive a Lexus?