BANGOR, Maine — Five unoccupied residential properties in Bangor, all of which are at least three years behind on property tax payments, will be seized by the city after a unanimous vote Monday by City Council.
The properties are 3 Charles St., belonging to Len Adams and owing $23,804 in taxes; 5 Grove Street Court, belonging to Betty White and owing $9,434; 45 Patten St., belonging to Thu Ha Goodwin and owing $4,149; 65 Curve St., belonging to Dino Levi and owing $1,548; and 130 Thirteenth St., belonging to Maurice Knowles and owing $3,441.
The house at 45 Patten St. also was the site of a fire Friday morning. City officials are planning to rehabilitate the house.
City Manager Cathy Conlow said plans for what to do with the seized properties would be decided and disclosed in the future, but Community and Economic Director Tanya Emery said Tuesday that 5 Grove Street Court and 130 Thirteenth St. likely would be demolished.
Additionally, she said, 3 Charles St. may be rehabilitated, depending on its condition, and the future of 65 Curve St. remains undetermined.
City Councilor Gibran Graham on Monday speculated the Curve Street house may have some notable history as possibly being the one featured in a 1973 short story by Stephen King titled “Gray Matter.”
Graham said Tuesday he based that on a description from the story, but the only person who could say with any authority was King himself.
The seized properties were among nine identified by city staff in March as having multiple years of unpaid taxes and having the greatest detrimental impact on their neighborhoods.
As of June 15, city officials reported a total of 1,569 outstanding tax accounts.
Follow Evan Belanger on Twitter @evanbelanger.