BANGOR, Maine — Six years after first planning and proposing the idea to build a large condominium building on the Fern Street site formerly occupied by New Franklin Laundry, Bob and Suzanne Kelly are close to building.
But instead of 15 condominiums, the Kellys have ripped up the old blueprint and drawn up a new one for six energy-efficient houses.
The Kellys, a husband-and-wife team that owns and operates House Revivers and Kelly Realty Management, are excited about seeing their plan finally start to take shape. They may see groundbreaking as early as late summer.
“We’ve been working on construction and insulation details, and now we’re working on floor plans,” said Bob Kelly. “About 60 percent done, and I’d like to start building the first building by September and have it done by early spring.”
The net-zero-energy houses, which essentially produce or save as much energy as they consume, would use air-to-air heat pumps, which double as air-conditioning units in the summer, Kelly said.
“There’s less expense that way because you don’t have to put in a big furnace or heating system, or central AC,” said Kelly, a Lincoln native who envisions two-story houses with two or three bedrooms and two full bathrooms.
Kelly said the initial expense of building more energy-efficient homes such as these can be higher in some areas — thicker walls, sealed windows and labor costs, for instance — but the fuel and energy savings will pay for themselves eventually.
“It’s a lot more manageable and you know your costs will be a lot better controlled with less fluctuation,” he said.
“Usually we save old buildings, but in this case the building [New Franklin Laundry] is in really bad shape,” Bob Kelly said. “Originally it was supposed to be a condominium, but that was before the housing crunch. A year ago, we started thinking in terms of single-family homes, and the advantage there is we can build them one at a time as demand warrants.”
The Kellys, who own and operate 80 office and apartment rental units in Bangor, said there is already interest in the homes, especially from married couples like themselves who are eyeing retirement and want comfortable but scaled-down houses that are less expensive and easier to maintain.
Bob Kelly said the houses will be done in a Cape or bungalow style with an average price around $200,000 apiece.
David Kelly, Bob and Suzanne’s son, also is involved with the project’s planning and building. Suzanne concentrates on marketing and interior decoration aspects.
Bob Kelly says it’s gratifying to see his vision and planning work finally nearing the construction phase, and he credits the Bangor Planning Board and Bangor Savings Bank for sticking with him.
“We got approval awhile ago for the condos, and since this is considered a minor site revision, we don’t have to go through the whole process all over again,” said Kelly. “The neighbors have been very patient with us.
“I’m really excited about it. It’s been a long time getting it together.”
after seeing the work they have done on other projects in bangor, i am sure this will be another great job. i think they did a couple buildings on hammond across from superior court and the building at union and high.
who the heck can afford a 200,000 dollar house in this area!? it’s a nice idea for the rich maybe….
they are only building 6 homes so all they need is 6 people…
Think the City Council will let this project go ahead? Six houses on the New Franklin lot. The Council just turned down a single four unit building on two lots on Pier St. that are huge, that would have gotten rid of building in worse shape than the New Franklin, and would have supplied affordable housing for 4 disabled people.
I hope HR is successful but if they are it will be yet another example of the Council’s bizarre behavior.
The land involved is equal to 8 or 9 of the existing single-family house lots in the area.
As were the lots on Pier and Sixth where they wanted to do a single 4 unit building for people with special needs. It was going to have almost 1/2 acre of greenspace- more than some of the downtown parks
I don’t know what the problems were over on Pier St., but the Fern/Pearl site was already approved for 15 units. With his long experience, I would be surprised if Mr. Kelly has not already negotiated this project with the city before announcing it.
“we don’t have to go through the whole process all over again” I suspect you do, read your contract agreement with the City, the once approved plan has lapsed.
That neighborhood is teetering on the brink. Here’s to hoping that this project is classy enough to save it.
Remember the old dry cleaning business on Palm street? That seemes to have turned out pretty well.
A small house $200,00o. This is not an upscale neighborhood . I hope it works out. More about this Heat pump deal please. No way they are doing geothermal in Bangor. Sounds more like electric heat cheap to install but cost a lot to run.
My wife and I live across the street and it will be a welcome project. Likely 4 houses on Fern and 2 on the Pearl Street side. Everything I’ve seen House Revivers do has been first rate. We’ve been in this neighborhood for 13 years and after 12 of those years being across the street from an empty hulk of a building, it will be good to see it removed and replaced with new homes.
My wife and I live across the street and it will be a welcome project. Likely 4 houses on Fern and 2 on the Pearl Street side. Everything I’ve seen House Revivers do has been first rate. We’ve been in this neighborhood for 13 years and after 12 of those years being across the street from an empty hulk of a building, it will be good to see it removed and replaced with new homes.
Another publicity stunt to attempt to “revive” an old pipe dream. This story, and the faded For Lease signs on the property have been around forever . Never going to happen. There are thousands of great houses everywhere, cheap.